Chicago Author Celebrates Character Actors of Hollywood's Golden Age
WDCB’s Gary Zidek talks to Chicago-based author David Lazar about his new book, CELESTE HOLM SYNDROME: ON CHARACTER ACTORS FROM HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN AGE.
LISTEN
“Character actors said more interesting things, to some extent for me. And of course during the Golden Age (with) the Hays Act, the code was in effect, and character actors frequently elided the code, they escaped it.” - author David Lazar talking about why he’s always been interested in actor characters when watching films.
Author David Lazar
All actors play characters, but only some are described as character actors. The term is sometimes defined simply as an actor who plays unusual or interesting characters instead of being one of the main characters. These actors never get top billing, but we recognize their faces instantly when they show up on screen. Think, Paul Giamatti, Dianne Wiest, Margo Martindale and Chicago’s own Michael Shannon, each of them is known for specific characteristics, yet is able to disappear into role after role.
A new book from Chicago-based author David Lazar celebrates the character actors of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Titled CELESTE HOLM SYNDROME: ON CHARACTER ACTORS FROM HOLLYWOOD’S GOLDEN AGE, the book features a collection of essays on some of the most talented, but also somewhat forgotten, character actors of the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. One of Lazar’s favorite character actors is … Academy Award winner Celeste Holm.
Celeste Holm
Thelma Ritter, Edward Everett Horton or Jack Carson are among the other Golden Age character actors featured in the book. Lazar writes lovingly about these actors that often got second billing, but were sometimes the most interesting on screen.
Thelma Ritter
