A companion volume to Quinlan's illus. directory of film stars. B/W photos.

This is a guide to over 850 character actors and actresses. The people covered include John le Mesurier, Irene Handl, Dora Bryan and Sam Kydd from the British studios, and Elisha Cook, Iris Adrian, Hattie McDaniel and Irving Bacon from Hollywood. There is a photograph to accompany every entry in the book. After a short account of each actor's career and characteristics, all their known film credits are given, including many fleeting appearances never previously recorded, plus shorts and TV movies.

Including over 1800 entries, this guide provides a short biography for each star, with a complete filmography of all film, television, voice-overs and guest appearances. Those featured include Jim Carrey, Uma Thurman and Brad Pitt, and there is also updated information on all stars with re-assessments of career turnarounds, such as John Travolta and Tommy Lee Jones.

This illustrated volume documents the careers of 850 top film character actors and provides a character summary, a role-type description, a detailed filmography, and a photograph for each

Profiles over three hundred comedy actors, describing their personal life, professional methods, and career histories

This reference guide looks at the career histories of nearly 300 comedy stars, some of whom have a prodigious reputation resting only on one or two outstanding films. The author examines their methds and their sense of physical comedy with background stories as to how comic effects were achieved. Over 350 photographs illustrate entries for nearly 300 comedy stars, including John Cleese, Steve Martin and Danny De Vito and older favourites, the Marx Brothers, Mae West and Danny Kaye. Each entry is accompanied by a complete filmography, including film, TV and guest appearances, plus voice-over narrations and films directed.

Quinlan, who is familiar to most film librarians and scholars for his numerous articles and reference guides, has updated his Quinlan's Illustrated Directory of Film Character Actors (1996). It features over 1200 living and dead actors, primarily from the English-speaking world, who made their careers as character actors, those familiar faces who often appear in dozens if not hundreds of feature films without star billing. Although previous editions favored British actors, this one abounds with U.S. personalities, including Steve Buscemi, Janeane Garofalo, and Danny Glover. Arranged alphabetically by last name, each entry includes a black-and-white photo, brief biography (including cause of death, when applicable), and lengthy filmography. The biographical sections are especially pertinent, as they identify character traits (e.g., 'hound dog eyes,' although Quinlan focuses on hair quality more often than not) that help typecast the player. Little-known facts about some of these actors only add to the fun of browsing through the book. Bottom Line Although users will have to leaf through the pages to connect a face with a name, Quinlan's guide is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.--Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., TX 408pg. CAHNERS PUBLISHING, c2004.-