# Actors who are so strongly identified with a character that it is hard to dissociate the two. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101 "2010-02-15T19:04:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/121 "2010-02-20T00:55:56Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > I don’t know why but I really like that movie a lot, it’s stupid but there is someting there I can’t put a finger on that I enjoy. I love _Down Periscope_. It’s good for comedy and it’s a good submarine movie. I’m a real sucker for shows and movies that have a charismatic commander who inspires crew confidence and loyalty, and Kelsey’s excellent for that. “You are addressing a superior officer!” “No, merely a higher-ranking one. Catch us if you can!” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/122 "2010-02-23T14:52:40Z")
Sylvester Stallone anyone? ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/123 "2010-02-25T12:11:21Z")
The entire cast of _Friends_. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/124 "2010-03-01T14:03:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > David Tennant is Doctor Who. Not to those of us who remember Tom Baker. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/125 "2010-03-01T14:39:00Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It was hard for me to see Jackie Gleason as anyone but Ralph Kramden. Even when he did other roles, I saw it as Ralph Kramden acting, not Gleason, if that makes sense. > > Also has Bob Newhart ever played a role other than himself? Let’s face it in his two long lived shows and his two short lived shows, he was essentially playing the same guy with some superficial differences Seen _The Hustler_? He plays a very different role - I just showed it to the boyfriend last night and halfway through (although Gleason’s only in it for, say, 20 minutes - he has a very memorable character) he said, “Dude, I want to build a time machine and do _Deadwood_ again and cast Jackie Gleason as Al Swearengen!” Of course, _The Hustler_ also has General Patton… uh, I mean whatshisname in it. ETA - AND Carrie White’s mother! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/126 "2010-03-01T14:41:50Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Seen _The Hustler_? He plays a very different role - I just showed it to the boyfriend last night and halfway through (although Gleason’s only in it for, say, 20 minutes - he has a very memorable character) he said, “Dude, I want to build a time machine and do _Deadwood_ again and cast Jackie Gleason as Al Swearengen!” > > Of course, _The Hustler_ also has General Patton… uh, I mean whatshisname in it. > > ETA - AND Carrie White’s mother! And Butch Cassidy or Cool Hand Luke. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/127 "2010-03-01T16:05:42Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > George C. Scott is often cited, but in a slightly different way than the others mentioned. His performance in _Patton_ overwhelmed any memory most people might have had of the real General Patton, such that hardly anyone today could tell you what the real general looked like, but say “Patton” and you’ll automatically think of Scott. Actually…Scott and Patton bore more than a striking resemblance. My old man served under Patton in WW2 and he said that when he first saw Scott in the movie, he thought that they had dug the old son of a bitch up and brought him back to life. I found a photo of General Patton (from [GeneralPatton.com](http://GeneralPatton.com)) and imposed it on a shot from IMDB of Scott as Patton: [![](https://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d97/Clothahump/PattonSideBySide.jpg) ](https://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d97/Clothahump/PattonSideBySide.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/128 "2010-03-01T16:50:51Z")
I’m not seeing it, but I’ll take your dad’s word for it. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/129 "2010-03-01T16:51:57Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > The entire cast of _Friends_. To which I respond: David Schwimmer in _Band of Brothers_. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/130 "2010-03-01T17:03:10Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > Also here’s a quick trivia question on the theme. > > What actor (or you can name the character) legally changed his name -well, tacked it on as a middle name actually- to that of the character he portrayed after he was so thoroughly identified in that role? The answer to the question nobody really cared about is: Fred “Rerun” Barry from **What’s Happening!** since this was his one and only claim to fame, he figured he’d milk it for all it was worth --that is until his untimely keeling over in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/131 "2010-03-01T17:21:20Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > The answer to the question nobody really cared about is: > > Fred “Rerun” Barry from **What’s Happening!** > > since this was his one and only claim to fame, he figured he’d milk it for all it was worth --that is until his untimely keeling over in 2003. That’s really kinda sad when you think about it. It might also make for a fun spinoff thread where the idea would be to locate a minor actor (or at least one who never graduated from bits and small parts) who was in one noteworthy role in some middle-of-the-road movie and who decided to adopt that role as his middle name. There must be thousands, but I’m having trouble picking the right example. Just for the giggles, though, since he’s one of my all-time favorite character actors, how about Jack “Charlie” Elam from [Full cast and crew for High Noon (1952)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044706/fullcredits#cast) Anybody want to take the bait and start such a thread? ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/132 "2010-03-01T17:34:17Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > The answer to the question nobody really cared about is: > > Fred “Rerun” Barry from **What’s Happening!** > > since this was his one and only claim to fame, he figured he’d milk it for all it was worth --that is until his untimely keeling over in 2003. My post [#92](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12128253&postcount=92) was in answer to you; just a pity I named a different actor who adopted his screen name as his own… L.Q.Jones’ original name was Justus E. McQueen and IMDB lists 150+ appearances, etc. under his assumed name, which was his character name in Battlecry. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/133 "2010-03-01T18:31:40Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > That’s really kinda sad when you think about it. It might also make for a fun spinoff thread where the idea would be to locate a minor actor (or at least one who never graduated from bits and small parts) who was in one noteworthy role in some middle-of-the-road movie and who decided to adopt that role as his middle name. > > There must be thousands, but I’m having trouble picking the right example. Just for the giggles, though, since he’s one of my all-time favorite character actors, how about > > Jack “Charlie” Elam from [Full cast and crew for High Noon (1952)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044706/fullcredits#cast) > > Anybody want to take the bait and start such a thread? This was the premise for a **Curb Your Enthusiasm** ep. Larry wanted the part to go to Jason Alexander, they have some minor tiff and Larry then pitches the idea to Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Either way, it could make for a worthwhile pilot or SDMB thread. Also **Meurglys** , you are correct and I did see your thread some time ago though actually I forgot about both until this thread popped up again this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/134 "2010-03-01T18:52:10Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > And Butch Cassidy or Cool Hand Luke. See, Paul Newman was one of those guys who fell into roles in such a way that I don’t see him and think, “Oh, there’s Patton” or “Oh, there’s Ralph.” Of course, he had a different career than either one of those guys, plus had the looks and so got the leading man roles, which tends to work against being so strongly identified with a single role. My one complaint about _The Hustler_ is that while the black and white is gorgeous and necessary, you can’t see his blue eyes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/135 "2010-03-01T19:10:32Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > See, Paul Newman was one of those guys who fell into roles in such a way that I don’t see him and think, “Oh, there’s Patton” or “Oh, there’s Ralph.” Of course, he had a different career than either one of those guys, plus had the looks and so got the leading man roles, which tends to work against being so strongly identified with a single role. > > My one complaint about _The Hustler_ is that while the black and white is gorgeous and necessary, you can’t see his blue eyes. 🙂 Totally agree. Just funning mostly. Let me ask you, and anybody, though, does Piper Laurie have a real limp? Was the Hustler role just a fluke? I seem to remember everywhere I saw her that she either had a limp or the camera was placed in such a way to make it less than obvious. Anybody know? ---
**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:** [March 2, 2010, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/136 "2010-03-02T07:37:24Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > The answer to the question nobody really cared about is: > > Fred “Rerun” Barry from **What’s Happening!** > > since this was his one and only claim to fame, he figured he’d milk it for all it was worth --that is until his untimely keeling over in 2003. Did anyone mention [Anne Shirley](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794297/) yet? She changed her name from Dawn Evelyeen Paris when she starred in Anne of Green Gable. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/137 "2010-03-02T08:46:19Z")
Go back a while, and Frank Spencer was totally typecast - until he did Phantom… Then I would have to add Hawkeye from Mash - even when he was in ER all I saw was Hawkeye. Would disagree on Atkinson, if you have ever seen him being interviewed he is at great pains to point out that he is an actor and not a commedienne. Also for Arnold - he has had a really wide range of roles… But the short Arnold will always be Arnold… Would add Fran Drescher - she will always and forever be my Nanny…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/138 "2010-03-02T10:04:51Z")
> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#): > > Not to those of us who remember Tom Baker. You mean the narrator on _Little Britain_? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/139 "2010-03-02T10:16:13Z")
I can never see Al Bundy as anyone but Al Bundy. ---
**Author:** ![GreatStuffMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f04885/32.png) [@GreatStuffMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreatStuffMan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101/140 "2010-03-02T13:16:53Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Michael Richards as Kramer. > > He was in _UHF_ and _Problem Child_ but he pretty much played Kramer-ish roles in those too. So now he’s Kramer…or, if you prefer, Racist Kramer. I have to agree with this one. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-are-so-strongly-identified-with-a-character-that-it-is-hard-to-dissociate-the-two/529101.md?page=6)