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36 Small TV And Movie Roles That Actually Had A Huge Impact As Shared By People On Twitter
Surely every one of us has a favorite (or at the very least a liked) movie or a TV show where none of the main characters are actually who you’d say is the MVP of the show. Sometimes, a smaller role ends up having a big impact—perhaps even bigger than that of the main role!
Well, Twitter has been sharing times when these same small roles actually had a big impact in various movies and series. Brett (@baeburke) asked the people of Twitter that exact question, sharing his two cents: June George in Mean Girls (2004), and Fred (the My Leg fish) from Spongebob Squarepants.
Image credits: baeburke
Soon after, many other tweeters began sharing their own thoughts on what are some small roles with a big impact, making the thread go viral with over 125,000 likes and 13,000 retweets.
Bored Panda has turned the thread into a list for you to enjoy, so go comment and upvote the ones you enjoyed the most, and why not suggest your own small roles with a great impact from movies and series!
More Info: Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Edna "E" Mode In The Incredibles Universe
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#2
"Old Man" Marley, Potrayed By Roberts Blossom, In Home Alone (1990)
#3
Yondu, Portrayed By Michael Rooker, In Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
#4
Crush, Voiced By Andrew Stanton, In Finding Nemo (2003)
#5
Paulette Bonafonté, Portrayed By Jennifer Coolidge, In The Legally Blonde Movies
#6
Roz, Voiced By Bob Peterson, In Disney's Monsters Franchise
#7
Gingy The Gingerbread Man, Voiced By Conrad Vernon, In The Shrek Series
#8
Mr. Chow, Portrayed By Ken Jeong, In The Hangrover Movies
#9
Pigeon Lady, Portrayed By Brenda Fricker, In Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)
#10
Honey Best, The Wife Of Lucius Best, A.k.a. Frozone, Voiced By Samuel L. Jackson, In The Incredibles Universe
#11
Doug Judy, Portrayed By Craig Robinson, In Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
#12
Barb, Potrayed By Shannon Purser, In Stranger Things (2016)
#13
Lilly Onakuramara, Portrayed By Hana Mae Lee, In The Pitch Perfect Movies
#14
June George, Portrayed By Amy Poehler, In Mean Girls (2004)
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
Oh god when the dog bites her XD and the camcorder....well everything really they're quite right this character was fantastic!
#15
Boba Fett In Star Wars (1977-2020)
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
I have to admit I was never on the "Boba Fett's the coolest thing ever" train, and I grew up on the Original Trilogy. The Mandalorian finally gave him the moves and scenes so he could live up to his legend.
#16
Dill And Rosemary Penderghast, Portrayed By Stanley Tucci And Patricia Clarkson, In Easy A (2010)
#17
Cabbage Merchant, Voiced By James Sie, In Avatar (2005)
Chrissie M. 3 years ago
I love it that in Korra, he (or I guess his descendants) own "CabbageCorp"
#18
Bethany Byrd, Joan The Secretary, Jonathan Malen And Others In Mean Girls (2004)
#19
Madame Zeroni, Potrayed By Eartha Kitt, In Holes (2003)
#20
Any Role Played By Rob Schneider In Any Adam Sandler Movie
#21
Cynthia Swann, Portrayed By Stockard Channing, In The First Wives Club (1996)
#22
Asian Jim (Steve), Portrayed By Randall Park, In The Office (2005)
#23
Mrs. Muller, Portrayed By Viola Davis, In Doubt (2008)
Paloma Valenzuela 3 years ago
this should be much higher! In a movie full with great performances, Viola Davis shines
#24
Bruce Bogtrotter, Potrayed By Jimmy Karz, In Matilda (1996)
#25
Woman In Red, Portrayed By Fiona Johnson, In The Matrix (1999)
#26
Casey Becker, Portrayed By Drew Barrymore, In Scream (1996)
cassiushumanmother 3 years ago
Oh my god i'm old! Scream was released in 1996? Nooooooooo This fact is less funny than the movie and pretty scary.
#27
Hannibal Lector, Portrayed By Anthony Hopkins, In Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
#28
Chessy, Portrayed By Lisa Ann Walter, In The Parent Trap (1998)
#29
Laura Palmer, Portrayed By Sheryl Lee, In Twin Peaks (1990)
#30
Jennifer Barkley, Portrayed By Kathryn Hahn, In Parks And Recreation (2009)
#31
Vice Principal Gupta, Portrayed By Sandra Oh, In The Princess Diaries (2001)
#32
Fred, Voiced By Doug Lawrence, In The Spongebob Squarepants Series
#33
Bem, Portrayed By Ekow Quartey, In Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
He's the character who pops up and explains crucial plot points, in the third movie I think :)
#34
Zara Young, Portrayed By Katie Mcgrath, In Jurassic World (2015)
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
I have to admit I normally see a twist coming a mile away but they got me at the end there :)
#36
Laura Hall, Portrayed By Alicia Silverstone, In The Lodge (2019)
Candace Fitzpatrick 3 years ago
Im not easily shook, but this movie shook me in a couple scenes
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What do you think ?
Lila Launehase 3 years ago
Stanley Tucci in every role when he is supporting a strong woman. Like the devil wears Prada, Julie and Julia. Or anyone else like Shall We Dance? Sorry, I love Stanley....
SandraG_lak 3 years ago
Stanley for me as well. Pretty much since seeing him in Undercover Blues as Muerte.
Load More Replies...
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 3 years ago
What about foaming mouth guy from Avatar: the last airbender?
Paul Budhram 3 years ago
Holes has another one. The person who sells the vegetables, you know him? He added a bit of romance and love in a needed place, and combined with his humble character he really adds a big part to the movie
ns 3 years ago (edited)
Sam the Onion Man, he also highlighted racial inequalities (at least in the book he did)
Load More Replies...
Chewie Baron 3 years ago
Any role played by Joan Cusack. That woman can act everyone off the screen.
Peppermallow 3 years ago
Off topic, but Popeye was a side character in Thimble Theater, a cartoon, by EC Segar, who ended up becoming the main character due to his popularity
Jordan Smith 3 years ago
Georgie in IT. Not sure if it's a minor role, simply because the whole series is set up because of his 5 minutes of screen time.
Rae Reyn 3 years ago
Margarita guy in Jurassic World (TIL: it was Jimmy Buffet) r4pefbdyws...a59e0b.jpg 
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
The one armed fruit selling guy in Amelie who was upset over Lady Di. I loved her revenge on his boss!
Florence Hastings 3 years ago
You forgot Nichelle Nichols who played Lt. Uhura in the original Star Trek series. She inspired many young people.
Marnie 3 years ago
Nobody seems to love Denise from The Walking Dead as much as I do. I think she was a very talented actress, and the character was adorable. Watch this. She never says a word: https://youtu.be/b4UcDRrqfLU?t=36
Anna Repp 3 years ago
Let me add Figwit in Lord of the Rings movies (played by Bret McKenzie of the Flight of the Conchords.) He appeared for just a few seconds, and has exactly one line (My lady! We cannot delay!) but had such a huge fan following that got a much bigger role in the Hobbit - and his character got a name of Lindir. (Originally the character did not have a name - Figwit stands for "Frodo is great - who is THAT!?")
Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago
Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek. She had so little to do onscreen she was thinking of leaving, but MLK himself told her, "You're there. That's important."
kalastaja774 3 years ago
This might not technically qualify but... I'm gonna say the cat-bus in Totoro. And i stand by it!
Tantalum_Radium 3 years ago
I can not believe Kaliko Kauahi aka Sandra in Superstore wasn’t mentioned in this list!
Phoebe Bean 3 years ago
The little girl in a red coat, in Schindler´s List, played by Oliwia (sic) Dabrowska.
Lila Launehase 3 years ago
Stanley Tucci in every role when he is supporting a strong woman. Like the devil wears Prada, Julie and Julia. Or anyone else like Shall We Dance? Sorry, I love Stanley....
SandraG_lak 3 years ago
Stanley for me as well. Pretty much since seeing him in Undercover Blues as Muerte.
Load More Replies... The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 3 years ago
What about foaming mouth guy from Avatar: the last airbender?
Paul Budhram 3 years ago
Holes has another one. The person who sells the vegetables, you know him? He added a bit of romance and love in a needed place, and combined with his humble character he really adds a big part to the movie
ns 3 years ago (edited)
Sam the Onion Man, he also highlighted racial inequalities (at least in the book he did)
Load More Replies... Chewie Baron 3 years ago
Any role played by Joan Cusack. That woman can act everyone off the screen.
Peppermallow 3 years ago
Off topic, but Popeye was a side character in Thimble Theater, a cartoon, by EC Segar, who ended up becoming the main character due to his popularity
Jordan Smith 3 years ago
Georgie in IT. Not sure if it's a minor role, simply because the whole series is set up because of his 5 minutes of screen time.
Rae Reyn 3 years ago
Margarita guy in Jurassic World (TIL: it was Jimmy Buffet) r4pefbdyws...a59e0b.jpg
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
The one armed fruit selling guy in Amelie who was upset over Lady Di. I loved her revenge on his boss!
Florence Hastings 3 years ago
You forgot Nichelle Nichols who played Lt. Uhura in the original Star Trek series. She inspired many young people.
Marnie 3 years ago
Nobody seems to love Denise from The Walking Dead as much as I do. I think she was a very talented actress, and the character was adorable. Watch this. She never says a word: https://youtu.be/b4UcDRrqfLU?t=36
Anna Repp 3 years ago
Let me add Figwit in Lord of the Rings movies (played by Bret McKenzie of the Flight of the Conchords.) He appeared for just a few seconds, and has exactly one line (My lady! We cannot delay!) but had such a huge fan following that got a much bigger role in the Hobbit - and his character got a name of Lindir. (Originally the character did not have a name - Figwit stands for "Frodo is great - who is THAT!?")
Easily Excitable Panda 3 years ago
Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek. She had so little to do onscreen she was thinking of leaving, but MLK himself told her, "You're there. That's important."
kalastaja774 3 years ago
This might not technically qualify but... I'm gonna say the cat-bus in Totoro. And i stand by it!
Tantalum_Radium 3 years ago
I can not believe Kaliko Kauahi aka Sandra in Superstore wasn’t mentioned in this list!
Phoebe Bean 3 years ago
The little girl in a red coat, in Schindler´s List, played by Oliwia (sic) Dabrowska.
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