Brewer's: Heavy Man

(The), in theatrical parlance, means an actor who plays foil to the hero, such as the king in Hamlet, the mere foil to the prince; Iago is another “heavy man's” part as foil to Othello; the “tiger” in the Ticket of Leave Man is another part for the “heavy man.” Such parts preserve a degree of importance, but never rise into passion.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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