Theater Roles

noun a man who plays the role of the serious or conventional partner in a comedy duo

• In a comedy duo, the straight man plays the role of the serious and logical character.
• The straight man in the group always keeps things in check when the others get too wild.
• The straight man at the party was a real buzzkill, always trying to bring the mood down.
• She saw herself as the straight man in their relationship, always having to be the voice of reason.

noun a person who performs in plays, movies, or television shows

• The actor delivered a powerful performance in the Shakespearean play.
• I heard that actor is going to be in the new movie coming out next month.
• That actor is totally killing it in the TV show right now.
• She is a great actor in the sense that she can adapt to any situation effortlessly.