Talk:List of fat actors

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Articles for deletion This article was nominated for deletion on 13 March 2007. The result of the discussion was keep.

Some actors fatness was central to their onscreen personnas. Sidney Greenstreet was "the Fat Man" in Casablanca and other movies. This article might include the observation found in some of the references or external links that a male actor can be old (Sean Connery) or fat (Greenstreet) and work all the time, but there is a harsh standard for actresses (Elizabeth Taylor). For many, their fat was their fortune, howevermuch it might have contributed to their early demise.

The fact that a man has gained a few pounds probably should not be sufficient to place him on this list. He should have played the screen role of a "fat man" in such ways as menacing (Greenstreet, Buono) , jolly (Lou Costello), troubled (Jackie Gleason in serious roles such as "Gigot"). To avoid this being mere "listcruft" and deletion bait, names placed here should have a verifieble reference to the fact that the man was known as a fat actor. Those who merely donned fat suits obviously don't count. It should be easy to search via Google for, say IMDB.com references to the name as that of a fat actor. Wikipedia articles referring to him as fat are not good references, but may provide a link to a verifiable and reputable reference.Edison 04:08, 16 September 2006 (UTC)(edited to clean up)Edison 07:14, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Removed PROD of article being "inherently subjective." Adding verifiable sources for actors whose career was based on being fat, such as a New York Times article describing them as characteristly playing fat characters, or a book about the late, great fat actors. This was about as much a casting category as "leading lady," "gangster type" or "heavy" (in the bad guy sense).The editing process should remove those who have simply put on a few extra pounds, but who lack verifiable sources referring to them as typically playing overweight characters. Half of the plot of "The Honeymooners" was Alice referring to how fat Jackie Gleasen was, and comedian Jack Benny always used comic hyperbole about Don Wilson's girth. Hollywood typecasting was more definitive than if we tried to determine "fat actors" by measuring their Body Mass Index.Edison 05:18, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

Added new intro. Questions: 1)should this be renamed "Fat Actors" or "'Fat' Actors" ((to acknowledge lack of political correctness in the label)? 2)How should it be linked to other Wikipedia articles? I have searched and found many refereces to actors as playing predominantly fat characters, but only in blogs and not in "reputable" sources like newspapers. I suppose some of those listed can be removed if no verifiable source is found, however sure we are they were playng a fat character per se and were not just an overweight actor playing a part, such as some of the Star Trek actors in the later movies of the series, when Captain Kirk and Scotties' coustumnes wer bursting at the seams. I am not familiar with some of the names I found in the list. Edison 17:45, 16 September 2006 (UTC)

In a week from now 9/24, I will remove those names which lack a verifiable reference to show they are known for being and playing characters who are "fat," "rotund," "roly-poly," "portly" or synonymous terms. Some actors are barrel-chested strong men who may be heavy but per the intro are "big" rather than "fat." In this class I suspect James Earl Jones, Brian Dennehy, and others belong. Ackroyd through most of his career did not play fat characters per se, to the best of my knowledge. Edison 19:51, 17 September 2006 (UTC)

Well, I gave it more time and no one added cites to show the actors had been of the subject genre, so I deleted them. They can be added back if references are found.Edison 15:55, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
More names which lacked sources for their acting in this genre removed from main page:

Edison 23:38, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

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