The nickname given to a dependable blue collar grunt type of person always in the background doing the hard
work supporting the
hero, leader or boss but never getting the glory or basking in the limelight. A common name used by the
American film industry for a minor supporting actor's character.
Because Corporal Bradshaw
always accomplished the mission without incident or
drama and
never received recognition from his superiors, the platoon called him Kowalski.