Catch the introduction to what was formerly Supporting TV Cast—with the same roots, but with an upgraded style and an expanded concept. Comments on the Cast Notes/Blog are what we hope will be a lively new feature, so don’t hesitate to leave a fresh reflection on an old blog post.

Rouse Your Appreciation for the Complimentary Cast

Actors Under the Stars is dedicated to the illumination of under-recognized supporting players from television and big screen cinema. It features both vintage and contemporary actors whose work is so reliable that audiences—and often the industry itself—are able to take them for granted. But it’s much more fun to focus on them! Have a hopefully awakening visit to Actors Under the Stars. In the meantime, here are a few supporting performances to enjoy.

SEASONAL

This highly familiar face is associated mainly with soap opera and prime time TV. But, since it’s Halloween season, you might want to check out Nicolas Coster served up in a little horror presentation (in which you can also enjoy Danny Trejo). The Last Exorcist (2020) streams free on Tubi and Fawesome or can be rented from Prime Video. However, he has another surprising tie to horror. Visit “Feeling Culty” here

Be patient; you’ll get it.

TURN OF THE MILLENNIUM & FORWARD:

Reactions to It Ends With Us (2024) are, for multiple reasons, a mixed bag of controversy. I, for one, am thumbs-down on this one (and the legal acrimony between the film’s stars will, undoubtedly, continue to grab attention for months to come). The performance of Jenny Slate

in the supporting role of Allysa, however, is splashy but organic, and the frequent voice performer is well worth watching. Photo by Mingle Media TV. It Ends With Us is Streaming on Netflix.

TOTALLY TIMELESS:

Who doesn’t know James Hong by face—if not by name? At the current age of 96, Hong has given us decades-spanning entertainment, and he’s in several new productions coming out soon!!!   You can snare an early work in his appearance in the 1959 “Lady Windbell’s Fan,” season 1 episode 33 of the super cool, polished-gritty TV series Peter Gunn. It streams for free on Tubi.

Jump cut three decades to his pretty much unforgettable appearance as the hilariously frustrating restaurant manager in the classic “The Chinese Restaurant” (1991) season 2 episode11 of Seinfeld. Available with a subscription to Netflix.

And, of course, there was his surprising turn as the unpredictable Gong Gong in 2022’s Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Rentable on Prime Video, Plex, and Fandango at Home.

If this takes off, more in-depth Actor Profiles will follow. So, enjoy and spread the word!

~FW

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The photos of Nicolas Coster and James Hong, and the still from Carnival of Souls are in the Public Domain.