character actor

British  

noun

1. an actor who specializes in playing odd or eccentric characters

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Example Sentences

After “The Godfather” made him a movie star in his 40s, he remained a beloved character actor for half a century, adding “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” to the cultural lexicon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

The crowd ate downhome food cooked by character actor Wilford Brimley, who had flown in from Tennessee.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

And while Madigan is a beloved, Oscar-nominated character actor, she’s not necessarily what many — at least those with power in Hollywood — would consider a major, ticket-selling movie star.

From Salon • Jan. 6, 2026

Baxter always considered himself a character actor rather than a comedian and was a reluctant celebrity, giving few interviews and declining to appear on chat shows.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

Mr. DeVere was a clever character actor, and had created a number of parts that had won favor.

From The Moving Picture Girls First Appearances in Photo Dramas by Hope, Laura Lee