Supporting character

A character in a story who is not the protagonist and helps develop the plot, setting, or main characters.

Connect

Protagonist: The central character whose goals and choices organize a story’s main action. Supporting characters are defined partly by their contrast with the story’s central figure.
Foil (literature): A character whose contrasting qualities highlight traits in another character. A foil makes the protagonist’s values or weaknesses more visible through contrast.
Subplot: A secondary storyline that develops alongside a work’s main plot. Supporting characters commonly carry or connect the story’s secondary threads.
Samwise Gamgee: A hobbit in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth stories and Frodo’s loyal companion. Sam supports Frodo’s quest while displaying courage and loyalty of his own.
Antagonist: A character or force that opposes the protagonist’s goals. An antagonist can be a supporting character while driving the protagonist’s conflict.
Sidekick: A companion who supports a central hero, often by assisting or advising them. Sidekicks are a familiar supporting role built around loyalty and practical help.
B-story: A secondary plot strand that runs alongside a screenplay’s main storyline. Supporting characters often anchor the B-story and give the central plot contrast.
Dr. Watson: The physician and narrator who accompanies Sherlock Holmes in many detective stories. Watson provides companionship, narration, and a contrast to Holmes’s reasoning.
Characterization: The methods by which a story reveals a character’s personality, motives, and change. Supporting characters often reveal traits of the protagonist through interaction.
Confidant: A character trusted by another with private thoughts and feelings. A confidant gives the protagonist a natural way to express inner thoughts.