Top 20 Supporting Actors Who Stole the Show
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for actors who walked away with a movie despite not playing the most important character. This list does not include movie villains, as they tend to have more screen time than the average supporting character.
#20: Ryan Gosling as Ken
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“Barbie” (2023)
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This 2023 hit gave us memes, discourse, and the joy of combining the name Ken with other words. That’s just the start of its cultural impact. Kenadian actor Ryan Gosling is extremely lovable as Ken, whose cartoonish masculinity and blonde fragility provided many of the movie’s most memorable laughs. It’s a spirited and Kenergetic performance made up almost exclusively of big swings, and every single one Kennects. Okay, Kenough with the puns. Sure, some naysayers may say that Ken unleashed the patriarchy onto Barbie World. But Gosling plays him as a confused and ultimately good-hearted guy suddenly challenged to have a purpose in the world.
#19: Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito
“My Cousin Vinny” (1992)
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Let’s face it. Comedy performances don’t get a lot come awards season. So, when Marisa Tomei won an Oscar for “My Cousin Vinny,” it was proof of just how unforgettable she was. Tomei plays Mona Lisa Vito, the formidable fiancée of novice lawyer Vinny Gambini. She devours the character’s vulgar monologues, and has a knack for making every single line of dialogue feel completely spontaneous. Someone else might have turned her into a sketch comedy caricature. But the way she makes us believe she truly loves Joe Pesci’s bumbling lawyer is what grounds even her wildest moments in total reality.
#18: Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller
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“Doubt” (2008)
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When you’re sharing a ten-minute scene with a screen legend like Meryl Streep, you better bring your A-game. It’s safe to say that Viola Davis rose to the challenge. In “Doubt,” she plays Mrs. Miller, the deeply conflicted mother of a boy caught up in a complicated web of rumors and alleged abuse. The actress plays several notes at once and they’re all pitch-perfect. She sells this woman’s pain for her son’s experience. She even sells the hardest and most difficult part of the scene, where she rationalizes a priest’s possible inappropriate relationship with her son. It’s not nice, but it is achingly real.
#17: Tommy Lee Jones as Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard
“The Fugitive” (1993)
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There’s a particular kind of disgruntled, callous, and morally upright character that Tommy Lee Jones knows like the back of his hand. As Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard, he’s not concerned with Harrison Ford’s innocence. His job is simple. Catch the fugitive fleeing from the law. But Gerard isn’t a cardboard cutout of a person. He’s eerily competent and devoted to catching the bad guys by any means necessary. A less capable performer wouldn’t be able to make such a streamlined character seem human. Jones’ ability to infuse him with a sense of menace and determination is ultimately what won him an Oscar for the role.
#16: Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson
“The Help” (2011)
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Look, it’s safe to say that after this movie, we never looked at a chocolate pie the same way again. For that scene alone, Octavia Spencer is “The Help’s” shining star. But even more than the humor she brings, her Oscar-winning, breakthrough performance as maid Minny Jackson is a beautifully rendered portrait of profound strength in the face of inequity. Minny may be given some of the movie’s funniest lines, but it’s her compassion and patience that make even the broadest moments work. While many reviews of the movie argued it was a simplistic portrayal of the racism faced by domestic workers, Spencer’s work was consistently highlighted.
#15: R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
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“Full Metal Jacket” (1987)
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In Stanley Kubrick’s deeply unsettling war film, a group of U.S. Marines experience extreme degradation and abuse. And that’s before they even get to the battlefield. Their horrors start at home, under the brutal supervision of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. If actor R. Lee Ermey’s authority in the role feels a little too authentic, it might be because he was an actual drill instructor. Hartman’s twisted yet innovative insults for his cadets were actually devised by Ermey himself. The performance is disturbing because he doesn’t read like an actor. There’s an unhinged viciousness to his approach. This guy feels all too real, and that thought is terrifying.
#14: Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday
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“Tombstone” (1993)
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This old-fashioned western from the early 90s features Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, and several of the biggest stars of the era. But as Doc Holliday, the western gunfighter whose life was mythologized in stories of the Old West, Val Kilmer leaves a lasting impression. As a gunslinger and drunkard with a lot of old-fashioned Southern charm, the actor infused the mythologized Holliday with modern vulnerability. As a result, Kilmer’s performance received consistent praise. Even critics who weren’t too keen on the movie singled him out as the movie’s MVP. More than thirty years on, fans are still outraged he didn’t even get an Oscar nomination for it.
#13: Robert Shaw as Quint
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“Jaws” (1975)
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Police Chief Brody needs help catching the Great White Shark that’s terrorizing the seaside community of Amity. He turns to the eccentric, gruff, and altogether terrifying fisherman, Quint. English actor Robert Shaw was a last-minute addition to the cast, but he turned out to be so natural that things he said off-screen would often be incorporated into the character’s dialogue. Shaw’s best moment in the role is easily his haunting monologue about surviving a massive shipwreck and nighttime shark attack. Quint’s story is based on the real-life sinking of the USS Indianapolis, and the thousand-yard stare he takes on as he tells it is as powerful as any of the shark attacks we actually see.
#12: John Goodman as Walter Sobchak
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“The Big Lebowski” (1998)
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A case of mistaken identity, kidnapping, ransom, and a soiled rug leads Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski on an odyssey of crime and corruption beyond his own comprehension. But the star of the show has to be his bowling buddy, Walter Sobchak, played by dependable character actor John Goodman. If the Dude is the good cop, his Walter is the insane, gun-waving cop who thinks everyone else needs to calm down. Goodman sells every bit of his cognitive dissonance, from his genuine desire to help his friend to his unchecked passion for official bowling league regulations.
#11: Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
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“The Karate Kid” (1984)
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Ralph Macchio may have been the title character, but it was Japanese-American actor Pat Morita who gave “The Karate Kid” its soul. It’s the classic story about a young kid who learns the art of karate to stand up to bullies. Amazingly, Morita wasn’t supposed to get the role of the bonsai-tending, karate-teaching handyman. He was a character actor primarily known for his comedy, having played Arnold on the sitcom “Happy Days,” and producers were hesitant to cast him in a role that required such gravitas. But Morita proved to be the missing ingredient. He earned incredible notices for playing Miyagi, and his “wax on, wax off” became a cultural touchstone. The role netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
#10: Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey
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“The Green Mile” (1999)
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You’d think it’d be hard to stand out among a movie cast that includes Tom Hanks, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell and Gary Sinise, but that’s exactly what Michael Clarke Duncan does as John Coffey in this fantasy crime drama. The film adaptation of the Stephen King novel sees the actor playing a convicted rapist who slowly but surely reveals himself to be more than meets the eye. In fact, the death row inmate is more gentle giant than dangerous killer – and one with a magical secret to boot. Duncan’s portrayal was so touching and effective it earned him an Oscar nod for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
#9: Melissa McCarthy as Megan
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“Bridesmaids” (2011)
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“Bridesmaids” follows Kristen Wiig's Annie as she attempts to be the best bridesmaid for her friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. While they give pretty good performances, it's Melissa McCarthy's Megan who proved to be the scene-stealer and gave the movie its biggest belly laughs. Most of the movie's signature raunchy humor comes from McCarthy, and she pulls it off with confidence. While she was a regular on “Gilmore Girls,” it was “Bridesmaids” that shot McCarthy into Hollywood superstardom, as everyone realized what a magnificent and hilarious actress she really is.
#8: Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund
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“The Fighter” (2010)
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Mark Wahlberg dominated the ring in this drama about a boxer who is trained by his troubled brother. However, it was Christian Bale who dominated the silver screen with his exceptional performance. Bale plays Dicky Eklund, a former boxing hero fallen on hard times. The method actor transformed himself to fit the role, losing a significant amount of weight and completely changing his traits and accent. He effectively captures the heartbreaking and tragic character that is Dicky, and won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his troubles.
#7: Brad Pitt as Jeffrey Goines
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“12 Monkeys” (1995)
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Before Pitt became a massive worldwide star, he was just a kid from Oklahoma. After starring in bit parts, 1995 proved to be the breakout year for Pitt, as he starred in “Seven” and completely stole “12 Monkeys” from Bruce Willis, playing the mental Jeffrey Goines. Pitt realistically portrays a hyperactive mental patient, and his energy is infectious, as audiences immediately fell in love with him and his exemplary commitment to the role. He's both lovable and a little freaky.
#6: Jennifer Hudson as Effie White
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“Dreamgirls” (2006)
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Hudson was a contestant on the third season of “American Idol” before appearing in this movie, based on the Broadway musical of the same name. While Eddie Murphy's performance is also exceptional, there's no denying that Hudson is the true show-stealer. Her success is entirely deserved, as her performance as Effie White was a revelation. The winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Hudson commendably draws attention not only through her unbelievable singing talent, but also from her realistic temperamental attitude, which she plays with respect and appreciation.
#5: Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Schultz
“Django Unchained” (2012)
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While we can't include Waltz’s role as Landa in “Inglourious Basterds” due to his antagonist status, the Austrian-German actor absolutely deserves a place on this list. Supporting Jamie Foxx as Django, Waltz plays Dr. King Schultz, a bounty hunter who helps the title character free his wife from a slave owner. Waltz oozes with certainty, and his speeches are both intelligent and a delight to listen to. He not only plays the mild-mannered Schultz perfectly, but his brief bursts of violence and anger are made even more powerful through Waltz's hypnotic delivery.
#4: Robin Williams as Dr. Sean Maguire
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“Good Will Hunting” (1997)
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While Robin Williams proved long before this movie was released that he could be an unbelievably good dramatic actor, his role here as Sean Maguire cemented him as one of the all-time greats. Complete with a wonderfully bushy beard, Williams is in full dramatic mode for this movie. He delivers with rousing speeches about love and introspective observations about life itself, all with his typically calm and alluring voice. While he was definitely helped by the movie’s great writing, Williams knocked his performance out of the park and won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
#3: Leonardo DiCaprio as Arnie Grape
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“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993)
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Even as a teenager, DiCaprio knew how to command a scene and stole the movie from the likes of Johnny Depp and Juliette Lewis. Playing Grape's developmentally challenged brother Arnie, Leo's quest for that coveted Oscar began over twenty years ago. His performance is difficult to watch due to his troubling mannerisms and jerks, but through that hardship, he makes the movie that much more compelling and important. He spent a few days with real mentally challenged individuals, and it's safe to say that it was time well spent, as he beautifully and respectfully acquires all the touching nuances of Arnie Grape.
#2: Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito
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“Goodfellas” (1990)
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Even though he's a little guy, Pesci proved to everyone that he could be just as tough as anyone else through his mesmerizing performance as Tommy DeVito. As the wildcard of the gangster group, Tommy is often prone to significant bouts of brutal violence, and his temper is easily sparked. Pesci occupies Tommy's unfriendly character with intensity, and we legitimately fear for everyone when he's around. Even if Pesci is the nicest guy in the world, we can't help but be scared of him after watching the brutality that he gives off in this movie. Before we get amazed by our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
#1: Harrison Ford as Han Solo
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“Star Wars” trilogy (1977-83)
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The “Star Wars” films are some of the most beloved movies of all time, and Harrison Ford's iconic performance as Han Solo has earned him respect and admiration from generations of movie lovers. Ford easily outshines the other actors and becomes the true star of the trilogy. He's equal parts hilarious and badass in the role, and Ford lends Han a sarcastic attitude that no other actor could have possibly matched. While the special effects were groundbreaking, we all know what the real draw of these movies is.
