You've probably seen character actor Brian Thompson even if you don't know his name

Brian Thompson is a character actor. A character actor essentially specializes in playing unique and memorable side characters. They're actors who find a niche rather than aim for the highest heights of stardom.

• Admiral Valdore in Star Trek: Enterprise.
• Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
• Alien Bounty Hunter in X-Files. I don't remember if this was a named character or just a generic credits name, like "guy in bar."
• Robert Black in Crusade, the Babylon 5 spinoff.
• Captain Curry in a two-part episode of Seven Days. I seem to be the only person who remembers this show about traveling back in time to fix things. Curious...
• Both The Judge and Luke in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• Brok in Dragonheart. Every entry in this movie series is good.
• Toman'torax and Inglatu, from two completely different Dominion species, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. That's the best part of character actors. Star Trek is full of people who've played multiple characters on the same show.
• Klingon helmsperson in Star Trek: Generations.
• Second Officer Klag in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• A different character in the TV and movie interpretations of Alien Nation.
• A bit part in Three Amigos!
• A character in an episode of Knight Rider, presumably the villain or one of his goons. I haven't seen this show in a long time.
• One of the punks in Terminator.
• Drogen in The Orville. Good show. I did not expect a Seth MacFarlane show that's basically Star Trek fanfic to be that good. All his popular, immortal cartoons were a long game to earn the clout to become a starship captain.

Do you have any character actors who you always take note of when you see them in something new? Let me know down in the comments.