Mark Schilling articles

They're the faces you recognize onscreen but can't quite place. They're the actors that make you say, "I know that guy, he was in..." We know you’ll recognize the awesome character actors on this list—and now you’ll finally remember where exactly you saw them.

Movies and shows are often built around a well-known name or a character designed to be the project's heart and soul. Sometimes, however, a character emerges from the background and takes on a life of its own—as was the case with these unforgettable side characters.

Fame can come at a cost and what many of these notable people have in common was a public face and an inability to cope with fame and money. Something else these stars have in common was that their flames burned out young, living hard lives and dying dire