Character actors/actresses, do you have favorites, do you admire the skill and  

I have to agree with all three talented actors you have mentioned. I loved Kevin Spacey in Pay It Forward it was such a great movie, and the man could make you feel so much emotion in that movie. Yet In the Garden of Good and Evil he just seemed so I am not sure, he wasn't evil but he was, he wasn't psychcotic but he was, he portrayed that role so that you couldn't quit label him, in any one way or another. you liked him and yet you didn't.
And as Mel Profit in the Wiseguy tv series he was truly a mess, and was superior at it.

Anthony Hopkins is in a class by himself, the man has done so many roles, so many types of characters, that you can't even begin to describe his talent.

As for Robin Williams, I like many was so surprised when he began portraying more serious characters, I have seen him take a small cameo and make it memorable, such as in Dead Again, What Dreams May Come is one of the strongest love stories I have ever seen, and the depth of love he showed was amazing. Good Will Hunting, and Dead Poets Society are all time favorites of mine.

yet his comedy is still amazing, I can laugh so much even when he is doing a drama, I saw him do an interview, there was an announcement prior to airing of the show, it seems that one woman in the audience laughed so much and so hard she was taken to the hospital, she hurt herself.

Ad to that the voices and characters he brings up as he did when he did the voice of teh Genie in Aladdin, or when he did Good Morning Vietnam, he has got to be one of the all time greats.

I have to agree, for me some of the most memorable moments in say Armageddon were the scense with Steve Buscemi, same thing is true in Con Air, while the movie was good, for me when people mention that movie the first thing I think of is the line by Steve Buscemi, this is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear about that movie. ["Sweet Home Alabama" plays in background] Garland Greene: Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash.

His character Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs explaining why he doesn't tip has to be tops on my list.

He made that movie. It had some good elements but for me Steve Buscemi ties it together.

Most popular along those lines would be Dustin Hoffman's performance in Rain Man.
Slingblade wasn't that Billy Bob Thorton?

I remember Sean Penn performance in I Am Sam, it was very strong.

And yes both Johnny Depp and Leonard DiCaprio were great in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Depp for the role of the family caretaker, and DiCaprio for the performance of the challenged Arnie, he had such an innocent look about him when he played that character.

yes it is a fact that character actors as males have more opportunities than women do, so Linda Hunt unfortunately doesn't get enough good quality roles, or enough roles at all.

I love some of the characters you have mentioned and I have wanted to see the Libertine since it came out I just haven't had the chance yet. Glad to know it is a good one. I think one of the things I like about Edward Norton is that the first thing I saw him in he was just there, which was the way the character was supposed to be, kind of blending in, but then he played a role where I really coudn't stand him, and kept hoping his character would get shot, I think that when an actor can make you really not like him because of the character he portrays then he is really talented.

I remember when I was a kid, I had that conversation with an adult, who was surprised a kid would notice. But think about, it shows a real talent if you can't stand someone based on the character they portrayed, rather than on who they are, because they obviously did something right in their performance.

I think that is why I like Edward Norton, because he is either a real sleaze in real life lol or very talented. I am opting for talented since I don't know him, I figured I give him the benefit of the doubt.

I forgot two that I really like. One is Roddy Mcdowell. He was a fantastic character actor. One of his best roles in my opinion was on Fantasy Island when he played the Devil.

The other is Tim Curry. He plays such a variety of characters but is always so good. From Rooser in Annie to Pennywise in Stephen King's IT or even the Second Best Terrorist in McHale's Navy he always does a fantastic job. I've liked him in everything I've seen him in.

Yes, and when he did the butler in Clue, I enjoyed that movie, because it was entirely cast with characters rather than stars. Though some have become well known, It was the character actor's showcase movie.

When Tim Curry stood there and so seriously said "I Buttle" I still smile when I remember that.

Yes I remember Roddy McDowel, and he could do anything from sweetly innocent, to evil. Most know of him from Planet of the Apes, but I enjoyed so many of the films and tv shows he performed in. An example of how talent can take someone from child actor to a good career. Not many can do that.
I enjoyed him as Octavian - Cesar Augustus, in Cleopatra.

Roddy McDowell played so many things and you are right to go from child star to an adult one shows how great he was. Did you know when he did Planet of the Apes he would sometimes drive home in full make up in a convertable no less? Could you imagine drivnig down the road and seeing that?

Clue was fantastic. I loved it. I watch it a lot but Tim Curry could steal a scene with just a line. I've seen him in a lot of things and he's always top notch but that movie is definitly one of my favorites with him. The other is Stephen King's IT.

It is funny to think that Tim Curry could go from the Butler and he played it so straight that you had to laugh, then realize he did some crazed manaical clown as he did in It. I had seen live an interview with Rene Auberjunois, as it turns out he turned down the role of Father Mulcahy in MASH the tv series, he said that he never regretted it despite how big that show became because it gave him the chance to do so many diverse roles.

I had to laugh when I thought of Roddy McDowell driving around in a convertable in full Cornelius make up, especially since the movie was being made so no one had any idea.

To me there is so much talent in those "supporting" roles that with out them the films they are in would just flob. I remember Jean Reno, in Da Vinci Code, I also like his performance in Godzilla, while the movie wasn't that great the best scenes had him in it. If you didn't see watch him when they are going through the check point, it is funny. And he does the accent really well.

There are just to many great movies with Anthony Hopkins to mention. And Johnny Depp has done so many good films, and transforms himself it seems each time.

I don't deny that he is a good actor leading man, but I was thinking more along the lines of the character actors, rather than those who are the stars.

They are good leading actors, though not character actors. Thanks for sharing, but are there any character actors whose talenst you admire?