A television actor is a performer who primarily appears on television shows. A television actor prefers or specializes in television performances. While actors may perform live on stage, for film to be projected in movie theaters, or only using their voices over the radio, they prefer or specialize in television performances. Many actors who work on television comedies or dramas will enroll in acting classes in order to learn specific acting techniques that will aid them in their performances.
The majority of television actors appear in pre-recorded episodes of a show. An actor on such a show could be a member of the main cast who appears in every episode, a member of the supporting cast who appears frequently but not in every episode, or a guest star who appears in a single or limited number of episodes. To indicate their involvement and to recognize a television actor who is important to the show, principal cast members are usually featured or listed during the opening credits of a television show.
A member of a television show’s supporting cast is rarely mentioned or shown during the show’s opening credits. This could change over time, and an actor could start appearing during the opening credits if a character becomes popular with the show’s viewers or writers. Although supporting actors are rarely paid as well as the main cast, it can be a great way for a new television actor to start his or her career.
Actors who are already well-known or renowned can occasionally make guest appearances on television shows. This could be a guest appearance by a well-known movie actor who does not usually appear on television shows, or a guest appearance by an actor from another well-known show. This type of appearance, also known as a “cameo,” can help a show’s ratings or allow the show’s writers to have characters from another show appear briefly on another show.
Though being a television actor is sometimes regarded as less difficult or deserving than being a movie actor, particularly in the United States (US), this perception began to fade in the late twentieth century. During the mid-to-late 1990s, some well-known television actors began to receive pay comparable to that of film actors. Similarly, some shows began to be recognized for their writing and storytelling, which often outperformed some of the year’s award-winning films. As a result, the perception of being a television actor shifted, and many of these actors began to be treated with the respect they deserved.