Supporting Roles You Will NEVER Forget

[michiruwater]

Pamela Franklin and Celia Johnson in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Robert Stephens & Gordon Jackson were excellent in that film at well)[/B]

Oh gosh, how did I not say this yet?? Pamela Franklin in Jean Brodie might be my all-time favorite supporting turn. She's absolutely brilliant. I am incensed that she didn't win the Oscar for it. She was beyond picture-perfect and I actually prefer her performance to Maggie Smith's (which, don't get me wrong, I also love).

I thought Robert Stephens kind of seemed like he slept-walked through his role, but Johnson and Jackson were also quite good. IMO, Franklin stole the show.

[Scintillation]

Speaking of Imelda Stauton, I know some people didn't like her in this but I thought her performance as Dolores Umbridge in HP5 totally stole the whole film. In that particular film, Maggie Smith also stole a great scene when the two squared off.

And in every single HP film, Alan Rickman stole every scene he was in and ultimately the entire series with his supporting turn as Severus Snape.

Agreed. It was especially easy for Alan Rickman to be a scene-stealer when the main three spent the last four films acting like they had been given sedatives before the cameras started rolling.

[Simka]

Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost.

[Cyn]

Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost.

Whoopi had what I think is the funniest line in that entire movie. Our family "stole" it from her and use it whenever it applies .

[loulou]

Cynthia Rhodes in Dirty Dancing 1987 (the former Rockette that gets pregnant).

If anything, because her kicks were nothing short of amazing.

Oh, would you consider her role in Staying Alive 1983 supporting? If so, then that one too.

[VALuvsMKwan]

You're absolutely right (I corrected it as soon as I read your post). VAluvsMKwan will never let me live that mistake down .

Are you high, Ouiser, not to know which movie made you (in)famous? You must have been barhoppin' dressed up as a nun again.

Speaking of nuns, Kathy Najimy in "Sister Act" and Mary Wickes in that movie and "The Trouble with Angels" (and in any movie in which she appeared in a VERY long career).

Whoopi as Oda Mae in "Ghost" is a great comic performance as well.

The "Steel Magnolias" connection again - Olympia Dukakis in "Moonstruck".

Mary Boland as the Countess de Lave in "The Women" (the classic 1939 version - her role as played by Bette Midler in the otherwise execrable remake was criminally shortened). So many great lines - "L'amour, l'amour...", "La publicite!", "Get me a bromide - and put some gin in it!"

[Nomad]

...

Mary Boland as the Countess de Lave in "The Women" (the classic 1939 version - her role as played by Bette Midler in the otherwise execrable remake was criminally shortened). So many great lines - "L'amour, l'amour...", "La publicite!", "Get me a bromide - and put some gin in it!"

That last is one of my favorite lines in any movie EVER. To quote Virginia Grey from the same film, "Holy mackerel, what a line!" There were a lot of great lines in that movie. "Oh, my dear, your skin makes the Rocky Mountains look like chiffon velvet!"

[kwanfan1818]

Marion Ross as the grandmother in "Brooklyn Bridge".
Maggie Smith in "Gosford Park"
Steven Hill in "Mission Impossible" and "Law and Order".
I'm not sure ensemble casts count as "supporting", but if they do, Andre Braugher in "Homicide: Life on the Streets", Lily Tomlin in "Nashville", John Goodman in "True Stories", Harriet Andersson in "Smiles of a Summer Night", Seiji Miyaguchi in "Seven Samurai"
Julie Kent was wicked in "Center Stage"
Allison Janney (stepmom), J.K. Simonds (dad), and Olivia Thirlby (best friend) in "Juno"
Juliet Stevenson in "Emma"
Lauren Ambrose in "Six Feet Under"
Bebe Neuwirth in "Frasier" and "Cheers"
Dan Butler in "Frasier"
Felicity Huffman in "Frasier"
Leslie Nielson in "Men with Brooms"
Patricia Gage in "Perfectly Normal"
Gael Garcia Bernal in "Don't Tempt Me/"Sin noticias de Dios")
Martha Scott in "The Turning Point"
ETA: Cynthia Harris in "Mad About You". The scene in which she's being driven to her husband's -- Paul's father's funeral -- and she tells Jamie to go look at that two-bedroom apartment they'd lose if she went to the funeral -- is a quintessential New York moment, and her expression and delivery was priceless.

[WindSpirit]

Bebe Neuwirth in "Frasier" and "Cheers"
Dan Butler in "Frasier"

I would add Harriet Sansom Harris who played Bebe Glazer, Frasier's agent.

The Best of Bebe Glazer: Part 1

Bebe: Niles, thank god you're here. Back me up. Give him some sound, brotherly advice.
Niles: She's the devil, Frasier. Run fast, run far.

Frasier is my favorite TV show ever. Superb acting and writing. I don't think there was a character there that wasn't well-written or acted.

[kwanfan1818]

Harris' Bebe Glazer was one of the most wonderful over-the-top characters ever! Thank you for the link

[AshleyN]

I'm currently making my way through Breaking Bad (almost finished Season 3) and Aaron Paul is every bit as amazing as I had heard. He switches from hilarious to heartbreaking on a dime and makes it look so easy.

Speaking of Imelda Stauton, I know some people didn't like her in this but I thought her performance as Dolores Umbridge in HP5 totally stole the whole film. In that particular film, Maggie Smith also stole a great scene when the two squared off.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaat???

Along with Kenneth Branagh as Lockhart, she's probably the most spot on casting in the entire series for me, in terms of matching up with how I imagined the characters when I read the books. Utter perfection.

[Wyliefan]

That last is one of my favorite lines in any movie EVER. To quote Virginia Grey from the same film, "Holy mackerel, what a line!" There were a lot of great lines in that movie. "Oh, my dear, your skin makes the Rocky Mountains look like chiffon velvet!"

"Yippi-ki-yay, Crystal!"

[pollyanna]

Lesley Ann Warren as Norma Cassady in Victor/Victoria

And then, before you know it, you are impudent!...................What's with the soap?

[Cyn]

Last night/Early this morning, I did a list of memorable supporting actors in Comedies. This time (if I can stay awake, that is, as I still haven't been able to sleep ), it's Dramas....


- Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter on E.R. (in the early seasons, before he became a Lead Actor)
- Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson on 21 Jump Street
- Jimmy Smits as Detective Bobby Simone on NYPD Blue
- John Corbett as Christ Stevens on Northern Exposure
- John Hillerman as Jonathan Higgins on Magnum, P.I.
- Edward James as Lt. Martin Castillo Olmos on Miami Vice
- Larry Drake as Benny Stulwicz on L.A. Law
- Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci on Quantum Leap
- Jimmy Smits as Victor Sifuentes on L.A. Law
- Chad Lowe as Jesse McKenna on Life Goes On
- Ray Walston on Picket Fences as Judge Henry Bone
- Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff on Law & Order
- William Shatner as Denny Crane on Boston Legal
- Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos
- John Spencer as Leo McGarry on The West Wing
- Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto on The Sopranos
- Mark Harmon as Dr. Robert Caldwell on St. Elsewhere
- Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura on Heroes
- John Slattery as Roger Sterling on Mad Men
- Victor Garber as Jack Bristow on Alias
- Robert Sean Leonard as Dr. James Wilson on House
- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones

Women:

- Stephanie March as ADA Alex Cabot on Law & Order: SVU
- Jill Hennessey as ADA Claire Kincaid on Law & Order (Original Recipe)
- Kristy McNichol as Buddy Lawrence on Family
- Katherine Heigl as Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy
- Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy
- Jennifer Morrison as Dr. Allison Cameron on House
- Allison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson on Little House On The Prairie
- Coté de Pablo as Ziva David on NCIS
- Amy Carlson as Alex Taylor on Third Watch
- Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes on Weeds
- S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Van Buren on Law & Order (Original Recipe)
- Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife
- Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne on Twin Peaks
- Marg Helgenberger as Karen Charlene Koloski on China Beach
- Juliana Margulies as Carol Hathaway on E.R.
- Della Reese as Tess on Touched By An Angel
- Camryn Manheim as Ellenor Frutt on The Practice
- Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg on The West Wing
- Rachel Griffiths as Brenda Chenowith on Six Feet Under
- Lorraine Bracco as Dr. Jennifer Melfi on The Sopranos
- Margo Martindale as Mags Bennett on Justified

I'm sure there are more, but these are the actors/actresses I could think of at the moment.

[VALuvsMKwan]

That last is one of my favorite lines in any movie EVER. To quote Virginia Grey from the same film, "Holy mackerel, what a line!" There were a lot of great lines in that movie. "Oh, my dear, your skin makes the Rocky Mountains look like chiffon velvet!"

I used the "bromide" line as my signature here for a very long time, though I worried that many people wouldn't get the comedy within it.

The 'chiffon velvet" line is just another of so many great lines in that film.

[DarrellH]

Madeline Kahn - Paper Moon
Cloris Leachman - Young Frankenstein

[michiruwater]

Lesley Ann Warren as Norma Cassady in Victor/Victoria

And then, before you know it, you are impudent!...................What's with the soap?

Oh yes. I adore this film and she's just picture-perfect. I can't stop laughing every time she's on screen, and that ridiculous performance of 'Chicago, Illinois'... wow.

[danceronice]

Sam Elliot in "Gettysburg" (General Buford) and "Tombstone" (Virgil Earp)
Robert Jordan in "The Hunt for Red October" ("Andre..you've lost another submarine?")
Bernard Hill in "Lord of the Rings" (Theoden) and "Titanic" (Captain E.J. Smith) (no one gives "oh crap" face better.)
Sam Shepard (yes, he also writes plays) in "The Right Stuff" (Chuck Yeager--debatable whether it's a supporting role)
Jon Voigt and Helen Mirren in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (Helen Mirren can be a VERY funny lady when she's given good parts)
Every Adult Actor in the Harry Potter films with more than two lines per film.
Desmond Llewellyn in almost every James Bond film from "Goldfinger" to "The World Is Not Enough" as Q/Major Boothroyd (yes, he had a name.)

TV:
Andreas Katsulas in "Babylon 5" as Ambassador G'Kar
Nicholas Woodeson in HBO'S "Rome" as Posca.
David Bamber in HBO's Rome (Cicero) and in "Pride and Prejudice" (Mr. Collins)
Zeljko Ivanek in HBO'S "John Adams" as John Dickinson
Tom Wilkinson in HBO'S "John Adams" as Benjamin Franklin (he is amazing in everything, but I can't count his creepily real turn in "The Kennedys" as that was a lead role)
Sarah Bolger in "The Tudors" (Lady Mary Tudor)
Anthony Brophy in "The Tudors" (Ambassador Chapuys)

[Kasey]

Aaron Ekhart in "Erin Brokovich" (but I always think Julia Roberts is overrated anyway)

[kwanfan1818]

Tom Wilkinson in HBO'S "John Adams" as Benjamin Franklin

Yes -- he was the first to come to mind, and then I left him out