The greatest character actor in cinema history, according to science
Throughout the history of Hollywood, there have been many notable actors who crop up on our screens despite us having no idea who they are.
We might be familiar with their work, but after playing inconspicuous supporting roles and expertly blending into their characters throughout their entire career, we forget who they actually are.
Over the years, we have seen many actors who have completely disappeared into their roles, bearing no resemblance to their true selves and becoming almost chameleon-like in their appearance. They no longer seem like a real person, but an extension of a story and part of a constructed world, with few actors who are able to truly lose themselves in this way.
However, in another brilliant study conducted by Daniel Parris, he managed to use only science and sound logic to deduce who the greatest characters of all time are, compiling a list of all the most recognisable yet mysterious actors who grace our screens.
Some might describe Philip Seymour Hoffman as the greatest character actor of all time, with a sprawling body of work that boasts appearances in beloved classics like Almost Famous, Boogie Nights and Happiness. From his portrayal of a manic music journalist to a boom operator, the actor has never shied away from the challenge to add life to a story through a supporting role, something that very few can achieve.
But Hoffman and many other greats like him cannot be considered in this specific study due to leading roles in other projects, with less widely known or instantly recognisable actors like Danny Trejo, John Carrol Lynch and Judy Greer being the sorts to flesh out this survey.
In order to assess who was the most popular, Parris grouped together the actors with the greatest number of supporting roles, with the likes of Allison Janney, Margo Martindale and Stanley Tucci cropping up on these lists.
While Tucci has had a staggering career, he is mostly known for his supporting work, leading him to star in some of the greatest projects of the 21st century alongside actors like Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan and Ralph Fiennes. Whether it be his early work in the independent scene, his brief stint as a director or his sneaky optimism in The Devil Wears Prada, he is without a doubt, one of the reigning kings of this cinematic domain.
The same goes for Janney, who has starred in everything from 10 Things I Hate About You to I, Tonya, with a versatile depth that can shine through in comedies and dramas. However, there are two actors that come at the top of the list in both categories, with Keith David and Lin Shaye appearing in the greatest number of supporting roles and stealing the prize as the greatest character actors of all time (according to the statistics).
David is known for his work in films like Nope, Requiem for a Dream, The Thing, and even voicing the Cat in Coraline. Shaye has a similarly eclectic body of work, with supporting roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Insidious and A Cinderella Story. While they might not be certifiable movie stars, they have made their own unique impact through these lesser-appreciated roles, making them some of the most understated actors in the business.
