Another aspect of entertainment in the acting world goes to television. TV series (or also called episodes) are an American pastime. The average 65 year old American will have spent almost a decade of their life glued to a television set. Needless to say, a lot of talent can build careers from starring or making cameo appearances in a hit series.
Before a talent hits superstardom in the world of television, they will frequently do extra work or work as a day player. A day player is usually a smaller role, like a character with lines and an applicable purpose to the storyline, but not a character who will be on future episodes. Day players are called so because they are only on set for a day or two at a time usually. They make a day rate negotiated upon being hired.
Day players get the opportunity to practice a wide variety of character types and personalities. It is also a great opportunity to build the actor’s network by cultivating relationships on different sets. (The hope being that the day player experience will lead to future work with that production.) Day player roles are also a great way to begin building footage for a reel.
Who is a day player (or their character) from a television sitcom or episode that really made an impression on you?
From Days of Our Lives: character - actor
(And, I haven't seen this soap in over twenty-five years!)
Maggie Horton - Suzanne Rogers
(Maggie was such a nice wife and friend)
Andre DiMera (AKA The Salem Slasher) - Thaao Penghlis
(Evil son of Stefano and murderer)
Dr. Marlena Evans - Black and Samantha Evans (evil twin sister) - Deidre Hall
(The nice girl next door who everyone roots for)
Stefano DiMera - Joseph Mascolo
(Evil, scheming, rich - the ultimate bad guy)
Abe Carver - James Reynolds
(Great partner, policeman and nice guy - friend of Alex North)
Alex North - Wayne Northrop
(Married to Marlena, but alas, fate stepped in to ruin it all)
Posted by: Jack Cook | 08/30/2011 at 06:36 AM
Jane Leeves when she played a virgin on Seinfeld.
Posted by: Barbara Mathieson | 08/30/2011 at 08:05 AM