1.
supporting actor — a male actor in a supporting rather than leading role
A male actor who plays a supporting role rather than the lead in a film, stage play, or television program. Most frequently encountered in the names of film-industry awards such as 助演男優賞 ('Best Supporting Actor').
彼は助演男優賞を受賞した。
He won the Best Supporting Actor award.
その映画では助演男優の演技がとても印象的だった。
In that movie, the supporting actor's performance was very striking.
アカデミー賞の助演男優賞には、主役を食うほどの存在感を見せた俳優が選ばれることが多い。
The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor often goes to an actor whose presence overshadows even the lead.
Compound of 助演 ('playing a supporting role') and 男優 ('male actor'). Specifically refers to men; the female counterpart is 助演女優.
USAGE:
- Most commonly seen in the fixed award name 助演男優賞 ('Best Supporting Actor award'), used in Japan for the Japan Academy Prize, film festivals, and as a translation of the Academy Award (アカデミー助演男優賞).
- In everyday language, speakers more often just say 脇役 ('supporting/side role') when talking generally about non-lead acting work; 助演男優 has a more formal, industry-term feel.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 助演男優賞: Best Supporting Actor award
- 助演男優賞を受賞する: to win the Best Supporting Actor award
- 助演男優にノミネートされる: to be nominated as Best Supporting Actor
- 名助演男優: great supporting actor
RELATED TERMS:
- 助演女優: supporting actress — female counterpart.
- 主演男優: leading actor — male actor in the lead role.
- 主演女優: leading actress.
- 脇役: supporting role — the everyday, less formal term.
- 助演: supporting performance — the base noun.