Actors who got the part because of their names?

[Shoeless]

@CaptMurdock

Tori Spelling in Beverly Hills, 90210.

Sorry, the OP specified “actors”.

[RealityChuck]

@Ziberian

@Kent_Clark

Pretty sure this isn’t what the OP is looking for, but when thee producers of the Mary Tyler Moore show were developing the character of Sue Ann Nivens, they had in mind “a Betty White type.” After considering various actresses, someone finally said, “How about Betty White?”

Similar situation in “Love Actually”. Director kept saying he wanted an actress like “Laura Linney” for the role of Sarah . Someone finally said, “Well, why not just get Laura Linney?” And they did.

Third example: The BBC was looking for a “Peter Jones type” as the voice of the Guide in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Jones was a successful radio actor. After a couple of people turned it down, they asked Jones and he agreed.

[whitetho]

@peccavi

4. "We need a Quigley Edwards type for this part.”

The alternate version is 4. “We need a young Quigley Edwards type”

[bump]

There’s always the example of the people making the Twisted Sister video for “We’re Not Gonna Take It” saying they want a Niedermeyer from Animal House type guy to play the dad in the video, and someone saying “Well, why don’t we just get that guy?” and as a result they cast Mark Metcalf (the original Niedermeyer) as the dad in the video.