When starting out in the acting world, actors are always after the largest roles they can find. Many people who dabble in acting don't tend to make it very far because they aren't willing to settle for anything less than a leading role. This is due to the belief that the larger the role one has, the more impactful it will. That belief is wrong. Minor characters have been leaving their marks on audiences for decades. It's not about how many lines someone has, it all comes down to what they are able to do with what they are given. Here's a look at 40 characters from film and television who found a way to make the most out of their roles, no matter how brief they may have been.
"I Was Never A Very Good Practical Joker"
If we're going to talk about minor roles that have made big impacts, we may as well start with one of the masters of making a big impact with very little to go on...Bill Murray.
Bill Murray shows up about halfway through "Zombieland" (2009) when the core cast members have decided to squat in his home, without knowing he'd be there, of course. The subsequent few minutes are filled with unexpected hilarity and a very memorable appearance by one of the original Ghostbusters.
"It Has Been A Privilege Playing With You"
Those who survived the catastrophic sinking of the Titanic, in 1912, had said that heroic bandleader and violinist, Wallace Hartley, continued to lead the 8-member band right up the last possible moment. The man who played Hartley in the film, Jonathan Evans-Jones, did all he could, with his small role, in order to properly show the large impact Wallace left on all those who survived.
In the 1997 Academy Award Winning film, "Titanic", audiences were moved by Jonathan Evans-Jones' portrayal of Wallace Hartley. Even after he tells the rest of the band to go to the lifeboats, they stay on board with their leader, and Hartley and his band continue to play in order to keep the passengers as calm as possible until ultimately going down with the ship.
"Poor Little Guy"
When a character is able to show up periodically throughout a film and, without saying anything, control the attention of an audience, it's fairly clear that their impact is larger than the role they've been given.
From the first moment that Scrat, the sabertooth squirrel from the Ice Age franchise, lays eyes on that acorn, it's love at first sight. Audiences couldn't help but root for the little fellow, even if his luck was equal to that of Wile E Coyote.
"And A Slant To The Left"
Lost among the many messages of Adam Sandler's film, "Happy Gilmore"(1996) is the feel-good story of Happy Gilmore taking a homeless man from the parking lot and converting him into a member of high society. Okay, well, maybe not high-society, but he does hire him as his caddie.,
How can anyone forget Otto (Alan Covert), the homeless man who ends up as Happy Gilmore's caddy? He does everything from caddying with one shoe to cleaning his laundry in the ball washer. As seen above, he even looks great in a hat.
"Howdy Ho!"
In the very first season of South Park, when Trey Parker and Matt Stone were still testing the waters as to what was acceptable to put on television, Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, was introduced to the world.
It wasn't just Kyle who felt Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo's impact, Mr. Hankey became so popular among viewers, that toys were made of him and he was given his own Christmas Special. Not bad for a piece of s**t.
"I Can't Wait To Quit This Job!"
The 2005 Ryan Reynolds comedy, "Waiting", is to restaurants what "Dazed and Confused" is to the '70s high school experience. Anyone who has had the privilege of working in a restaurant environment has almost certainly experienced working alongside a cook like Floyd.
As evident by how much he hates his job, his disdain for customers, and his willingness to tamper with their food, Floyd (Dane Cook) has clearly been working in the restaurant industry for too long.
"He Just Wanted His Cigarettes"
Miloš Forman's Oscar-winning 1975 film, "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", was full of insanity from start to finish, and not just because it took place in a mental institution. Jack Nicholson may have taken home the hardware for Best Actor in a Leading Role, however, that's not to say that some of the other "patients" didn't leave their marks as well.
When Cheswick (Sydney Lassick) breaks into one of his childish fits and throws a tantrum, it's difficult for viewers to pay attention to anything else, and considering the talent that was in this film (Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd), that speaks volumes for Sydney Lassick's ability to control a room.
"I'm Not Even Supposed To Be Here Today"
With its dry wit and honest dialogue, Kevin Smith's "Clerks" (1994) was a landmark for independent filmmaking. With a low budget and few locations, the success of "Clerks" relied heavily on the impact of each and every role in the film, no matter how big or small.
"The chewing gum guy", played by Scott Schiaffo, was one of the most memorable minor characters in "Clerks". He shows up near the beginning of the film and goes off on a diatribe about the negative aspects of smoking. After a few minutes of demonstrations as to why smoking is bad, we learn that he doesn't care as much about people's health as he does about selling "Chewlies" gum.
"No, Not The Buttons! Not My Gumdrop Buttons!"
Out of all of the fairytale creatures and heroes who made appearances in "Shrek" (2001), it was one of the smallest and most fragile of them all who, with his acts of heroism and bravery, made one of the largest impacts.
Simply put, anyone who was not moved by what Gingy went through, doesn't have a heart. He endured torture at the hands of Lord Farquaad and his men but refused, with all his might, to turn on those who put their trust in him.
"You Rush A Miracle Man, You Get Rotten Miracles"
Many people believe that "The Princess Bride" (1987) is arguably one of the funniest and most adventurous love stories ever told through film. But the love story would have ended long before true love had been reunited if it weren't for Miracle Max and his wife Valerie.
When we first meet Max and Valerie (comedians Billy Crystal & Carol Kane), they come across as absolute lunatics. After we get to know them, however, and see how they interact with one another, they still come across as lunatics, but they tend to remind most viewers of their own grandparents. Then, of course, there's the scene where Miracle Max uses a "bouffadou" (fireplace blower) to blow life back into Westley. "Inconceivable".
"...All Night Long"
Although Rob Schneider has starred in a few of his own films, it's when he stepped out of the spotlight that he truly began to shine. He managed to take four simple words, and turn them into one of the catchphrases of a generation.
The "You can do it!" guy has been giving character's in Adam Sandler's films encouragement ever since his first appearance in 1998's "The Waterboy". Since then, he has made appearances in 5 of Adam Sandler's films (6 if we include the deleted scenes from "Click").
"What's The Point In Prolonging The Inevitable?"
The Toy Story franchise has introduced (or reintroduced) us to many characters from our pasts that most people, much like Andy in the film, have forgotten about over the years. Everyone had their favorite toys growing up but we also had toys that we played with for a short time before quickly growing out of them.
In "Toy Story 2" (1999), viewers are introduced to Wheezy, the squeaking penguin. Or, at least, he was supposed to squeak. Due to his older age and lack of being played with, his squeak has been transformed into a wheeze. Although he only makes a brief appearance in the film, Wheezy's sob story left a big impact on audiences.
"But Seriously, A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job."
Tom Cruise's performance as movie producer Les Grossman, in 2008's star-studded comedy "Tropic Thunder", is a fantastic example of an actor stepping out of the spotlight of a leading role and stealing the show in a minor one.
Les is a loud, boisterous, money-driven, work-crazed producer who will do anything in order to get the job done. From the get-go, whether he's having key grips punch directors or dancing like no one's watching, the character is amazing. Once audiences realized that Les is played by Tom Cruise, however, and that Cruise created the character himself, the impact of this minor role went from big to huge.
"Cut To The Left, I'll Take The Leader"
Wedge Antilles (Denis Lawson) flew alongside Luke Skywalker as part of the Red Squadron that destroyed the first Death Star in "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977). Sadly, by the conclusion of the Battle of Yavin, Wedge along with Luke were the only surviving members of the squadron.
As the film series progressed, as did the legend of Wedge Antilles grow larger. Although his role was minor, he ended up playing a large part in the destruction of the second Death Star in "Return of the Jedi" (1983). Antilles left such a large mark on viewers that 36 years later Denis Lawson was asked to reprise the role in the final installment of the Skywalker Saga, "The Rise Of Skywalker" (2019).
"I Would Rather Die Than Betray His Trust"
There obviously had to be, at least, one character from the Harry Potter series on this list, and who better than a wizard whose minor role was taken on by an actor with major comedic talent.
Played by John Cleese, Nearly Headless Nick appears throughout the series to help the kids in the off-hand way that only Cleese could have done. After 45 chops with a blunt ax to the neck, it's tough to blame Nick for being a little moody.
"All The Great Ones Leave Their Mark"
For anyone who has seen the 1990 family holiday classic, "Home Alone" (which should be everybody), it's difficult to forget Roberts Scott Blossom's portrayal of the McCallister's neighbor, Old Man Marley.
Rumors surrounding what had happened to Marley's family were enough to give Kevin (McCauley Culkin) the heebie-jeebies for most of the film, however, things changed once Kevin got to know the man behind the shovel. The heartwarming conversation that the two shared in the church scene not only humanized Marley but also helped to show Kevin how lucky he was to have such a large and loving family.
"I Sold A Guy A Fake Pekinese. 'Twas A Cat."
Some of the most memorable characters in television history were originally written to be nothing more than minor characters in one or two episodes. Due to the impact that their first appearances have had on audiences, some characters end up with leading roles. Doug Judy from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" hasn't developed into a lead character, however, the impact that his first appearance had did lead to a reoccurring role with an annual episode revolving around him.
As Jake Peralta's best "frenemy", the "Pontiac Bandit" has been singing, dancing, conning, and "smooshing" his way into audiences' hearts since season one. Talk about a long con, but how could anyone resist that smile.
"That Is Correct..."
Chris Farley is another of the great comedians who made the most he could out of a role he had in a classic Adam Sandler film from '95.
Always one for theatrics, Chris Farley ate, screamed, and stripped his way into the hearts and memories of movie fans everywhere as the child-hating bus driver in "Billy Madison" (1995).
"What Are You Smiling At?"
In his coming of age masterpiece, "Dazed and Confused" (1993), Richard Linklater was able to incorporate all the different types of characters that one would have found in a Texas high school in the '70s. One of these characters was Fred O'Bannion (Ben Affleck), the quintessential bully who peaked in high school.
Who better than a 21-year-old Ben Affleck could there have been to play Fred O'Bannion. O'Bannion's role in life was to terrorize those younger than him and act like a douchebag while doing so. It's tough to tell which is more memorable, his hairdo or the paint shower that O'Bannion took towards the end of the film.
"Hey! Will You Stop Going Crazy In There?"
The reimagination of "Battlestar Galactica", which premiered in 2004, introduced sci-fi fans to one of the most honest and straightforward doctors in television, Doc Cottle (Donnelly Rhodes).
So what if he had the habit of smoking cigarettes while treating patients. Through everything that he has been through and seen over the course of his illustrious military career, Doctor Major Sherman Cottle never forgot the oath that he took upon becoming a doctor.
"Get Some Rest, Dear. You Look Appalling."
Diana Rigg made her first appearance in the third season of the hit HBO series "Game Of Thrones", as Olenna Tyrell. Olenna didn't have the loudest character in the series, but her actions most definitely helped to influence the final outcome.
After her arrival at King's Landing, with her passive-aggressive sarcasm and wickedly sharp wit, it didn't take long for the "Queen of Thorns" to leave quite a large impact on viewers.
"It's Just A Flesh Wound"
Throughout their films, the fellas of Monty Python have had countless minor, yet memorable, characters. In "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975), John Cleese was responsible for portraying more than one of these characters, most notably, "The Black Knight".
When King Arthur has his "run-in" with "The Black Knight", the knight is protecting a wooden plank (that he refers to as a bridge) which he will let no man pass without a fight. The subsequent battle is hilariously unfortunate for "The Black Knight" and has kept audiences laughing for decades.
"You Can't Bulls**t A Bulls**tter"
Prior to her starring role in "Glee", Jane Lynch had become legendary for her ability to take a small role and make it her own. It even got to the point where directors would allow Jane to go off-script, knowing that whatever she came up with, would most likely be comedic gold.
In "Role Models" (2008), Jane plays a former drug addict, who admittedly used to eat cocaine for breakfast, Gayle Sweeny. We don't know much about Gayle except that when she says she doesn't mean to be graphic about something, chances are she's about to be.
"Shame Be Damned. Caution To The Wind."
There are some characters in film and television who have become so good at playing a character, that audiences could not possibly imagine anyone else in the role. Lucille Austero from "Arrested Development" is one of these characters.
Lucille Austero (Lucille Two) is the vertigo-ridden, eccentric neighbor, an old friend of Lucille Bluth (the matriarch of the Bluth Family). With flamboyant outfits and a crazy hairstyle, Lucille Two (played by Liza Minnelli) is a wonderful bit of quirky comic relief in an already ridiculous show.
"The Trial Never Ended..."
In the pilot episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" Trekkies were introduced to Q, a being with immeasurable power who can control space and time and an affinity for testing Captain Picard and driving him a little crazy. John de Lancie was so well received as Q, that over the course of the show's 173 episode run, he was brought back 7 more times (for a total of 8 appearances).
Q's impact was so large on the Star Trek universe, that even after "Star Trek: The Next Generation" concluded, the creators of the show brought him back to make appearances in both "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager". Everything Q does throughout the franchise is done in order to test those he comes in contact with. Why? To see if they deserve to continue existing.
"What's Your Favourite Scary Movie?"
When the first trailer was released for Wes Craven's horror film "Scream" (1996), audiences were abuzz with the thought of seeing a grown-up Drew Barrymore starring in a slasher flick.
By the time the opening sequence of the film had concluded, so had Drew's part in the film. Although moviegoers were gutted to see Casey Becker (played by Barrymore) for only a few minutes at the start of the film, the impact that her gruesome murder left on viewers still lingers two and a half decades later.
"Did You See That Unicorn? Its Horn Was So Shiny..."
An otherwise minor role is usually given a shot of adrenaline when actors are able to poke fun at themselves on film. When actors play themselves, audiences are usually in for a bit of a treat.
After all of the shenanigans that Harold and Kumar have gotten into throughout the film series that bear their names, it's Neil Patrick Harris' drunken drug-fueled cameos that left the greatest impact on the films.
"I'm Sick Of You Being So Dark When I'm So Impish And Whimsical! I'm Sick Of It!"
"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007) was full of amazing cameos by brilliant actors. With so many memorable roles to choose from, it was too difficult to pick just one, so I went with the most fabulous foursome from the film that I could think of.
In the film, Jack Black, Jason Schwartzman, Justin Long, and Paul Rudd play the Beatles. And they do so brilliantly. What starts off as calm exchange of pleasantries between the "Fab Four" and Dewey Cox's band quickly turns sour when Paul McCartney (Jack Black) and John Lennon (Paul Rudd) begin taking dirty shots at each other's characters. The interaction between the two is the arguement that fans of the Beatles have been waiting for for decades.
"Get The Gimp!"
Considering how many big-time roles there were in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic, "Pulp Fiction", it's rather amazing that one of the characters that most viewers remember had less than 5 minutes of total screen time.
Then again, it's understandable why the scene with Zed left such a large impact on audiences. After all, it's not every day that a film shows a redneck and his gimp kidnapping and raping one of the film's leads. Unless we're watching "Deliverance", of course.
"That Tasted Like Shellfish"
As the title of the film suggests, "40-Year-Old Virgin" is about a 40-year-old man named Andy who is, that's right, a virgin. With the goal of helping him out of his rut, Andy's colleagues take him out to a bar in hopes of finding him a woman to take home...or, to take him home. And they did...
Those who have seen the film will remember Nicky (Leslie Mann) as the crazy woman who drove home while extremely intoxicated, threw up, and then kissed our leading man with a mouth full of seafood-flavored vomit.
"What Aren't We Going To Do?"
As iconic as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was, and with as many memorable moments and characters as there were in the film, there is no scene from the movie that has been quoted more, than when Ferris' economics teacher is taking attendance at the start of class.
"Bueller. Bueller. Bueller." By repeating one word over and over in his monotoned voice, Ben Stein left an astronomical impact on an already legendary film.
"I Won't Forget To Remember You"
Although Old Man Marley from "Home Alone" (1990) left a great impact on viewers, as evident by his reaction to The Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2 Lost In New York" (1992), the lessons that Kevin McCallister learned from their encounter seem to have faded from his memory after only 2 years.
The Pigeon Lady (played by Brenda Fricker) helps to remind Kevin that we can't always judge someone by their appearance or situation in life. Sometimes people are dealt a bad hand and need the kindness of a stranger to remind them that the world isn't all bad. It might have been the message she was there to send or the copious amounts of bird poop on her jacket, either way, Brenda Fricker's minor role left a large impact on viewers.
"I'm Not 'Super Prepared'"
It seems as though every character that "Arrested Development" has provided us with, has been quite memorable in their own ways. Due to the absurdity of his character and who it was that played him, attorney Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler) left a larger than expected impact on viewers.
Barry constantly shows up at inopportune times and is usually nowhere to be seen when he's actually needed. Between his workplace harassment suits and the confusion that he has about his own sexuality, Barry Zuckerkorn provides audiences with an endless barrel of laughs.
"I Think A Stork, He Umm, He Drops It Down..."
When husband and wife, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, decided to give their daughters, Iris and Maude, minor roles in the 2007 romantic comedy "Knocked Up", it's doubtful that either one of the parents had any idea just how big of an impact the two would have on the film.
During the breakfast scene, Iris and Maude have a conversation about where they believe babies come from. What ensued was a reenactment of a hilarious conversation that the two had had with their parents. The girls' innocence and authenticity throughout the conversation was the "aww" factor that the film was missing.
"Brooks Was Here"
We met a lot of people throughout Andy Dufresne's stay in Shawshank prison, and few had as large of an impact as the prison's librarian Brooks Hatlin (played by James Whitmore).
Brooks only shows up a few times throughout "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), but each time he does, whether he is feeding his pet crow or delivering Andy a new book, his impact grows larger. No one in that prison was happier to be there than Brooks. He adapted so well to prison life that, as we saw through his demise, he wasn't able to survive independently once he was released after 50 years.
"He's No Good To Me Dead"
Including "Rogue One" and "Solo", there have been eleven Star Wars films to date. Amongst those eleven films, there have been dozens upon dozens of minor characters who all have their own elaborate backstories. I think it's fairly safe to say that one minor character has garnered more fame than almost, if not, all of the others.
In the Star Wars franchise, Boba Fett is THE bounty hunter. In the original trilogy, Fett spends his time following Han Solo around the galaxy, until falling into the Great Pit of Carkoon and meeting Sarlaac (the pit monster) up close and personal. It wasn't until the prequel trilogy, however, that viewers truly got to know the extent of the role that Boba Fett would go on to play in what was to come.
"The Price Is Wrong B****!"
For more than 3 decades, Bob Barker was the host of "The Price Is Right". As a result, he was invited to take part in a variety of celebrity events, including golf tournaments. In 1996, Bob was paired up with an, up and coming, new golf talent by the name of Happy Gilmore.
Bob's cameo in Adam Sandler's 1996 comedy was anything but a disappointment. Barker didn't just leave his mark on viewers but, with his left hook and right uppercut, he left quite the impact on Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) as well.
"I'm A Psycho! Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Prior to Jason Segel landing his breakthrough role on "How I Met Your Mother", he had minor roles in a couple of Judd Apatow-produced television shows, including the cult classics "Freaks and Geeks" (1999) and "Undeclared" (2001). The former of the shows had a larger following, however, it was in the latter of the two that Segel's performance left viewers wanting more.
In "Undeclared", in a time before the world knew who he was, Jason Segel played Eric, the overprotective (borderline psychotic) boyfriend of Lizzie. He didn't appear in very many episodes, but when he did, viewers didn't know if they should be laughing or cringing at his performance.
"All Right, All Right, All Right"
If Fred O'Bannion was the quintessential bully who peaked in high school, then that would make David Wooderson (Mathew McConaughey) the guy who is too afraid to grow up and desperately clings to his own past glory.
In 1993's "Dazed and Confused", Wooderson is just the right amount of "crool" (creepy/cool). McConaughey leaves a major impact with his perfectly delivered lines and a sensationally dirty 'stache.
"You Are Ready To Be Taught The New Way"
"Wet Hot American Summer" (2001) is a film about an overnight camp, set on the last day of camp, from the councilors' point of view. With great actors like Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, and David Hyde Pierce making up part of the film's cast, it was actually Christopher Meloni, as the camp's cook Gene, whose performance made the greater impact.
Gene is a Vietnam War veteran who is clearly going through some stuff. Throughout the film, we learn of his desire to fondle sweaters and hump fridges, but it's the acceptance of these bizarre habits, through an emotionally charged speech to the entire camp at the end of the film, that truly leaves its mark.