© 2026 Spokane Public Radio.
An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Movies 101

Character Actors

From left to right: Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz; M. Emmet Walsh in the 1984 film Blood Simple; Strother Martin in the 1969 film True Grit.
From left: Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz (1939); M. Emmet Walsh in Blood Simple (1984); Strother Martin in True Grit (1969).

Movies tend to be built around their stars, but just as important—and, at times, arguably even more important—are the actors cast in supporting roles. On this week’s show, Dan Webster, Nathan Weinbender and Mary Pat Treuthart discuss who they think are some of the most effective, not to mention memorable, character actors—most of whom may never have headlined a movie but whose performances in many cases made a profound impact.