A character actor is one who predominantly plays a particular type of role rather than leading ones. Character actor roles can range from bit parts to secondary leads. However, character actors often play supporting roles, for characters who do not undergo a major change in the course of the plot, and whose role is less prominent.

While movie-goers may not recognize character actors' names, their faces are instantly recognizable to movie fans. Character actors such as John Turturro and Steve Buscemi have built their careers around small, yet distinctive roles. Some character actors play essentially the same character over and over, and get typecast, as with Andy Devine, who often played a humorous but resourceful sidekick or Dennis Farina, who often plays a tough cop or gangster.