What are some of your favorite minor characters? I have lots of them. Here are three which come to mind immediately.

Joe Versus the Volcano "May you live to be a thousand years old, sir."





No Country for Old Men "Are you jackin' with me?"





Hell or High Water "We don't sell no goddamn trout."

Michael Parks in Kill Bill Vol II

Are those minor characters? The three I cited have one short scene in their respective films. Ben Johnson and Michael Parks were well-known actors.

I know how these threads go. Next thing you know, we'll be calling James Caan a minor character in The Godfather.

One brief scene and then out is what I had in mind. I should have been more clear.

I thought so, para. You could argue against Johnson since I recall three scenes that he was in: this one, Shane’s return to the bar and their fight, and finally his warning to Shane. I certainly believe Parks’ portrayal of Estaban Vihaio was a minor character though—this one scene, then (as you put it) out.

Beverly Hills Cop

Regarding Michael Parks in that film, honestly, I couldn't tell you how big a role he had. I've never seen it and have no interest in seeing it.

Roman Polanski (eeew) comes to mind in Chinatown.

The Coen Bros are masters in their use of interesting bit characters.

I think the luggage salesman from Joe Versus the Volcano is related to the sommelier from John Wick 2.



Speaking of John Wick, I like Officer Jimmy who was smart enough not to get himself killed through two JW movies.
"You working again, John?"

I also like the brief exchange w/ Francis.
"Why don't you take the night off."



Nowhere near as smooth and polished as the other two previously mentioned salesmen, but Don from Keeping the Faith is much funnier.



Cameron Klein, a SHIELD tech in Captain America: The Winter Soldier - with a HYDRA agent holding a gun to his head, Klein maintained his resolve, "I'm not going to launch those ships... Captain's orders."



Klein reappears in a cameo appearance aboard the helicarrier in Avengers: Age of Ultron and is name dropped by Nick Fury at the end of Infinity War.

I always liked Wedge Antilles in Star Wars Ep 4-6 but his throwaway cameo in Ep 9 was the worst kind of fan service.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: iron chef,

Not only the culmination of a great scene, but the guy's expression, delivery, and big buck teeth just kill me.

...the guy with the megaphone.

Clifton James in Man With the Golden Gun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xta3sWd4fho

quote:

Originally posted by tigereye313:
...the guy with the megaphone.

I thought of Steven Spielberg in The Blues Brothers,(then Frank Oz, Ray Charles and others) but I think those and yours would cross the line and drift into cameos.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:

quote:

Originally posted by tigereye313:
...the guy with the megaphone.

I thought of Steven Spielberg in The Blues Brothers,(then Frank Oz, Ray Charles and others) but I think those and yours would cross the line and drift into cameos.

True.

 
I don't think this guy is really a minor character, based solely on his lifetime of acting. He's mostly a supporting actor (with a few exceptions), which makes him a minor character in some sense. My favorite is M. Emmett Walsh.

Right, but which film?

Matt Damon, Rangorok.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Right, but which film?

Blood Simple is in my opinion his best work, but he's hardly "minor" in that one, more supporting. For a minor role, the Group W sergeant in Alice's Restaurant.

Javier Bardem