The Different Types of TV Acting Roles

From background actors to series leads, there many types of acting roles on TV sets. Whether you’re booked as a background actor, stand-in, or double, it’s important to know who you’re working with and their role on set.

Keep in mind, an actor’s responsibilities can vary by contract and, in some cases, actors can negotiate the way they are credited, so these classifications are just a general overview of the various types of acting roles in television.

Background actor

Background actors appear in non-speaking roles, often in the background of scenes, and perform in a variety of categories, like jurors in Law & Order, football players in All American, spaceship crew in For All Mankind and firefighters in 9-1-1. Background actors bring life to movies and TV shows to help them look and feel authentic.

Whether you’re interested in advancing your career in the entertainment industry or just want an opportunity to see how your favorite TV shows are made, being a background actor gives you a chance to work on popular productions. Haven’t signed up yet? Start now, it’s free and no experience is required.

Series regular

A series regular is a principal actor and part of the main cast. They are contracted to work on a show for a period of time, often for multiple years.

Actors may be credited as series regulars even if they don’t work on every episode. The opposite is also true. Even if an actor appears in most episodes of a season or if they are part of the main storyline, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are series regulars.

Central Casting and production companies also book stand-ins and doubles who have the opportunity to work closely with series regulars throughout their run on the show.

Recurring

Recurring actors appear in multiple episodes, either over the course of a season or the entire series. Sometimes these actors are under contract for a specified amount of time or are brought on as the story demands.

Guest star

Guest stars are actors who appear in one episode (sometimes more) whose characters are often in multiple scenes and play a significant role in the story. If the role is particularly meaningful, a show may cast a well-known actor as a guest star.

Co-star/day player

Co-stars and day players play characters with a limited number of lines allowed and are typically only in one or two scenes. The term co-star is used more often when describing the screen credit while day player is more commonly heard when referring to the type of contract or role. Day players could be roles like a witness being interviewed at a crime scene on FBI, a barista taking an order in Matlock, or an emergency room patient on Grey’s Anatomy.

Sometimes actors will refer to each other as “co-stars.” In this context, they mean “co-worker” instead of a day player who appears on a show.

Cameo

A cameo is when a well-known actor or celebrity briefly appears in a scene. Depending on the reason for the appearance, the actor may or may not have a line. Cameos are used for many reasons, from creating a fun moment to honoring creators like Stan Lee in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Knowing the types of acting roles and who does what on set helps you be successful the next time you’re booked as a background actor, stand-in, or double on a TV show.