Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
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
RELATED:
#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)
#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 :)
it's Wednesday my dudes. 3 years ago
yup! he explains how the black dog (forgot what they call it lol. I'm a bad potterhaed) was an omen
Load More Replies...
Ella Greenman 3 years ago
I always laugh when he says- "Catch Serius Black? It's like catching smoke... With your bare hands"
#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
Add New Image
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.
You May Like 80 Amusing (Or Rather Tragic) Movie Titles To Describe Sex Life 50 Underrated Movies Revealed for Your Cinematic Nights “They Died?? I Thought They Fell Asleep!”: 50 Worst Cases Of People Misunderstanding The Plot
Lina D.
Linas Simonaitis
Mantas Kačerauskas
Related on Bored Panda
