# Actors / comedians who played a worse version of themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [February 18, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737 "2024-02-18T18:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/1 "2024-02-18T18:22:38Z")
I’ve been watching the final season of ‘Curb your Enthusiasm’, and I’m currently listening to Larry David being interviewed on Conan O’Brien’s podcast. Conan (half?) jokes to Larry at one point that he’s supposed to be playing a worse, more unlikeable version of himself on the show, but he’s really just being himself verbatim. Which got me to thinking, there are a lot of times an actor, especially a comic actor and usually for comedic purposes, has played a more unlikeable, annoying version of themselves. Of course, there’s David’s longtime partner Jerry Seinfeld, who again may not even have been playing a worse version of himself, but more or less his own actual self. And comedian Marc Maron had his show Maron, where his ‘Maron’ character also may not have been much worse than his famously cranky a-hole actual self. Then off the top of my head…there’s Neil Patrick Harris in the ‘Harold and Kumar’ movies, James Van Der Beek in the short-lived series ‘The B in Apt. 23’. And going back aways, ‘The Jack Benny Show’ in which Benny played himself as a miserly skinflint. And George Burns and Gracie Allen. I’m sure there are many more… ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/2 "2024-02-18T18:44:47Z")
Julia Roberts plays a character playing Julia Roberts in “Ocean’s 12”, arguably a worse version of the real Julia Roberts. Briefly the “real” Julia Roberts is on the phone (voiced of course by Julia Roberts) with the fake Julia Roberts. Also, John Malkovic in “Being John Malkovic”. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/3 "2024-02-18T18:48:47Z")
One more - isn’t this the premise of the old “The Larry Sanders Show”? Celebrities appeared on the show as exaggerated versions of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/4 "2024-02-18T18:55:08Z")
**Jury Duty** with James Marsden playing a supposed exaggerated version of himself. ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/5 "2024-02-18T19:03:22Z")
Jennifer Grey played approximately herself on “It’s Like… You Know”, and I believe at one point her father, Joel Grey, was a guest on the show and screamed something at her like “You’re not my daughter” or “I don’t even recognize you anymore” or something like that. So I would like to nominate Joel Grey. (Don’t know enough about Jennifer Grey or her character to nominate her.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/6 "2024-02-18T19:04:43Z")
As I remember, Jennifer Grey appeared on that show after getting a nose job that dramatically changed her appearance. That probably explains the “I don’t recognize you” joke. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/7 "2024-02-18T19:06:50Z")
“Evil Wil Wheaton” was a semi-regular on **The Big Bang Theory.** ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/8 "2024-02-18T19:08:25Z")
Loads of stand-ups play worse version of his, her, or themselves on television. Lucille Ball in all her tv shows, Chris Rock in Everybody Hates Chris, Paul Reiser in Mad About You, Redd Foxx in Sanford & Son, Norm Macdonald in Norm, Tim Allen in Home Improvement, Sarah SIlverman in The Sarah Silverman Program, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan in 30 Rock. What about Roseanne in Roseanne? Was she better or worse? Was Bob Newhart in Newhart worse than Bob Newhart in The Bob Newhart Show? Ricky Gervais in anything? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/9 "2024-02-18T19:10:02Z")
The recently deceased Carl Weathers played himself on Arrested Development as a low-level scammer whose acting course cost whatever you happened to have on your person, and whose acting advice was mostly about how to live off food snatched from the craft table. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/10 "2024-02-18T19:14:20Z")
Matt LeBlanc was good as a “fictional” version of himself in _Episodes_. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/11 "2024-02-18T19:15:01Z")
Adam Sandler starred in **Funny People** as George Simmons, an actor who’d built his career by starring in moronic comedies and speaking in annoying voices. Louis CK played a more awkward and fumbling version of himself on **Louie** , though it turned out his character’s treatment of women wasn’t so exaggerated after all 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/12 "2024-02-18T19:25:29Z")
> [@Arjuna34](#): > > One more - isn’t this the premise of the old “The Larry Sanders Show”? Celebrities appeared on the show as exaggerated versions of themselves. Likewise **Extras** and **Life’s Too Short**. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/13 "2024-02-18T19:32:51Z")
There’s Mike Tyson voicing himself as the main character in the animated series **Mike Tyson Mysteries** , completely addled, forgetful, and ditzy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/14 "2024-02-18T19:54:29Z")
There was another thread on this a while ago. I can’t remember if I started it or just participated in it. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Loads of stand-ups play worse version of his, her, or themselves on television. > > Lucille Ball in all her tv shows, Chris Rock in Everybody Hates Chris, Paul Reiser in Mad About You, Redd Foxx in Sanford & Son, Norm Macdonald in Norm, Tim Allen in Home Improvement, Sarah SIlverman in The Sarah Silverman Program, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan in 30 Rock. > > What about Roseanne in Roseanne? Was she better or worse? Was Bob Newhart in Newhart worse than Bob Newhart in The Bob Newhart Show? Ricky Gervais in anything? Although many of those were based on themes and sometimes jokes from their stand up, those are not examples of people playing themselves. _Rosanne_ was inspired by the “Domestic Goddess” comedy routine of Rosanne Barr but she played a different character. Same with Tim Allen and the rest. Redd Foxx was playing a character from a converted British comedy. Bob Newhart was never a therapist in real life. This isn’t about actors who don’t have range and basically act the same on screen as in real life, it’s about actors who literally play themselves. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/15 "2024-02-18T19:54:37Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Loads of stand-ups play worse version of his, her, or themselves on television. > > Lucille Ball in all her tv shows, Chris Rock in Everybody Hates Chris, Paul Reiser in Mad About You, Redd Foxx in Sanford & Son, Norm Macdonald in Norm, Tim Allen in Home Improvement, Sarah SIlverman in The Sarah Silverman Program, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan in 30 Rock. > > What about Roseanne in Roseanne? Was she better or worse? Was Bob Newhart in Newhart worse than Bob Newhart in The Bob Newhart Show? Ricky Gervais in anything? No, actors and comedians who played worse versions of their literal identities. Larry David playing ‘Larry David’ on Curb, etc. I don’t think any of your examples apply. ETA: I see @Loach deftly ninja’d me 🥷 > [@Arjuna34](#): > > Julia Roberts plays a character playing Julia Roberts in “Ocean’s 12”, > [@Arjuna34](#): > > “The Larry Sanders Show”? Celebrities appeared on the show as exaggerated versions of themselves. > [@Karen\_Lingel](#): > > Jennifer Grey played approximately herself on “It’s Like… You Know” > [@silenus](#): > > “Evil Wil Wheaton” was a semi-regular on **The Big Bang Theory.** These are all good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/16 "2024-02-18T19:55:26Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > > [@Arjuna34](#): > > > > One more - isn’t this the premise of the old “The Larry Sanders Show”? Celebrities appeared on the show as exaggerated versions of themselves. > > Likewise **Extras** and **Life’s Too Short**. I’m still waiting for Liam Neeson’s comedy tour. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/17 "2024-02-18T19:56:45Z")
There’s Creed Bratton on _The Office_. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/18 "2024-02-18T20:00:19Z")
Ooh yeah, that’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/19 "2024-02-18T20:03:29Z")
**Arrested Development** also had Andy Richter and Ron Howard (in his onscreen appearances, not as the narrator) playing versions of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737/20 "2024-02-18T20:04:22Z")
There are several in _Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back._ They interrupt the filming of _Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season._ Affleck and Damon play douchey versions of themselves and Gus Van Sant isn’t paying attention while he is literally counting money. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-comedians-who-played-a-worse-version-of-themselves/997737.md?page=2)