comma with apposition (name): Charlie Azacrul the actor is playing at

[Thomas Tompion]

I suspect that this is more a matter of taste than of rules, but I wondered what people felt about:

Charlie Azacrul, the actor, is playing at the Bling Theatre, Croydon.

Are those first two commas too fussy? Would it be better to write

Charlie Azacrul the actor is playing at the Bling Theatre, Croydon?

How about

We went out to dinner, and Charlie Azacrul, the actor, was at the table next to us?

I'm inclined to include the commas. I am preparing a publication and would like to get it right.

 

[reganse]

The commas are necessary!! And according to the AP Stylebook, they are definitely needed.

 

[Natalisha]

I agree with Reganse. "The actor" is a parenthesis. When I read this sentence aloud I make a slight pause before "the actor" and another slight pause after it. As far as I know, in writing a parenthesis should be marked by commas .

 

[cuchuflete]

Many years ago I was taught that an appositive phrase needed both a leading and a trailing comma, unless it came at the end of a sentence, in which case the trailing comma was omitted. I don't know if this is a "rule" of grammar, but I like it as stylistic guidance.