# Actors who play the same role in every movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693 "2001-09-25T14:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/81 "2001-09-28T04:33:59Z")
Melanie Griffith, the Worst Actress in Hollywood. Jeez, she’s a LOT worse than Julia Roberts. And, although it seems true to me that Meg Ryan always plays the same character, at least it’s a likable character. (YMMV, of course.) La Griffith always plays a tee-hee “dumb-as-a-fox” blonde. I first saw her in, what was that called, the one with Harrison Ford as the boss, and Sigourney Weaver as the actual executive, and La Griffith as the secretary, who gets Weaver’s job and the boss as a boyfriend by redoing her hair and spiffing up her wardrobe. I thought the tee-hee voice was supposed to be for that part…but she uses it for _every_ part. Fer chrissakes, she sounds like Bubbles in Powerpuff Girls! Even when she plays a cop! (breathy, high voice)tee-hee! Uh, freeeze! (/breathy, high voice) No actor or actress currently working has less skill, imho. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/82 "2001-09-28T12:22:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by simply\_cats \* > \*\* What about the crazy white guy from Armageddon (and Con-Air, and another movie I can’t think of…)? I always wonder what it must be like for him when a casting director calls… “Hey, we’ve got this part that just screams your name…” \*\* Steve Buscemi? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/83 "2001-09-28T17:49:51Z")
I have to agree with Jeff Goldblum - he defines the concept of the OP How about Cary Grant? I love a bunch of his movies, but is there that much difference between CK Dexter Haven, John Robie, etc…? ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/84 "2001-09-28T18:38:36Z")
A few rebuttals: Robin Williams - I don’t like him when he plays the John Wayne-impersonating hyperactive sap, but he was excellent in “Good Will Hunting” and pretty creepy and off-putting in “Dead Again.” He’s got some decidedly non-funny roles in two upcoming films as well. Steve Buscemi - He’s only typecast (as Mister Pink, over and over again) in big budget films. See “Ghost World” for a fantastic and real character played by Mr. Buscemi. Harrison Ford - Belongs on this list, but give him credit for some past stretches: “Regarding Henry,” “The Mosquito Coast,” “Presumed Innocent” (at least he didn’t shout in that one). William Hurt - Also belongs on the list, but should be mentioned for his stretch in “I Love You to Death.” My addition to the list: Charleton Heston ---
**Author:** ![JCL1013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@JCL1013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCL1013)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/85 "2001-09-28T22:19:34Z")
This one is in reply to Cuba Gooding Jr. You obviously never say “Men of Honor” in which he was brilliant and definitely not the football player from Jerry Maguire. ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/86 "2001-09-29T04:30:47Z")
Gary Sinese. He’s not you’re friend, he the BAD GUY! I’m surprised he didn’t turn on Forrest Gump… ---
**Author:** ![Hiyruu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/87 "2001-09-29T04:58:45Z")
Morgan Freeman. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/88 "2001-09-29T07:41:01Z")
ok i admit I deserve the foot in the mouth I made in my last post about dennis hopper All i needed to do is look in the movie guide i own … The principal from back to the future and he was in he-man top gun ect and the tv series the hat squad He always plays a authority figure usually very serious but has a soft heart underneath and usually ignored I cant remeber his name tho ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/89 "2001-09-29T08:14:17Z")
I think some people are missing the point here, at least as I understood it. For instance, Cuba Gooding Jr: He does not always play a football player, but he does seem to play the exact same character. At least to me. Now, for my nominees: John Cusack generally plays ‘John Cusack’ characters, the likeable jokey guy who flip flops b/w serious and hilarious. But that’s cool and he branches out, as well. (Eg Con Air, Fat Man and Little Boy, Thin Red Line) So he’s not all bad. Christopher Walken is the man, but he’s also hella creepy and wouldn’t you rather have him being creepy than anybody else? 🙂 Morgan Freeman: don’t dive into his swimming pool… (part of this might be typecasting recently, but since Shawshank Redemption, I think every movie he’s been in he was basically Seven guy… Both stupid Alex Cross movies, Hard Rain, as I recall Outbreak also. Even Mr. President in Deep Impact was freaking Seven guy.) Keanu, sure… but at least Devil’s Advocate had Charlize Theron… _drool…_ Johnny Depp tends to do Johnny Depp roles… And I’ll admit he was good in Ed Wood and Fear and Loathing, but even those were basically his element. Shannon Elizabeth can’t act her way out of a wet paper bag. My own personal theory is she gives great blowjobs. Likewise for Denise Richards, though I admit that I was pleasantly surprised by Wild Things… I thought it was just a horribly stupid movie, and then it turned out that I was supposed to think it was a horribly stupid movie. 🙂 Sandra Bullock anyone? I’d better stop now before I get anybody else pissed off at me. 🙂 Tenebras ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/90 "2001-09-30T00:42:09Z")
I hereby request that Bruce Willis be removed from the list. Yes, there is “Bruce Willis Man”, a character that he _frequently_ plays. The knowing, smirking, wisecracking jerk who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. But what about “Unbreakable”, “12 Monkeys”, or “Sixth Sense”? I believe he goes through all three movies without a single smirk. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/91 "2001-09-30T20:03:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nightshadea \* > \*\*ok i admit I deserve the foot in the mouth I made in my last post about dennis hopper All i needed to do is look in the movie guide i own … > > The principal from back to the future and he was in he-man top gun ect and the tv series the hat squad > > He always plays a authority figure usually very serious but has a soft heart underneath and usually ignored > > I cant remeber his name tho \*\* James Tolkan, courtesy of SmackFu in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=87856&pagenumber=1) thread. I pointed out he reminded me of Ed Harris. Did anyone mention Joe Pesci? ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/92 "2001-09-30T23:28:00Z")
the fellow who played shooter mcgavin in “Happy Gilmore.” see “Dirty Work” for reference. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/93 "2001-09-30T23:42:50Z")
Samuel L. Jackson, always _the_ big, angry, black badass. ---
**Author:** ![RufusB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@RufusB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RufusB)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/94 "2001-10-01T01:02:19Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tenebras_ > > Johnny Depp tends to do Johnny Depp roles… And I’ll admit he was good in Ed Wood and Fear and Loathing, but even those were basically his element. You forgot about **What’s Eating Gilbert Grape** and **Donnie Brasco**. Comparing his roles as Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands, Donnie Brasco, and in the two movies you mentioned, I can’t really see how he always plays the ‘Depp’ guy. As a matter of fact, looking at his movie credits I can only see a couple of movies where he played somewhat similar characters. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/95 "2001-10-01T01:02:57Z")
Bonnie Hunt. She was the cynical sister in Jerry Maguire. That’s pretty much the character she plays in all her movies. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/96 "2001-10-01T04:17:50Z")
Rene Russo ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/97 "2001-10-01T06:15:29Z")
james cagney … no matter what type of movie he was in be basically played himself supposedlly he even admitted it in a interview back in the 40s ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/98 "2001-10-02T03:06:41Z")
Regarding Johnny Depp, he plays different characters, but they all seem to do that broody Johnny Depp thing. Admittedly not Gilbert Grape, but still… ---
**Author:** ![DrStrangelove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@DrStrangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrStrangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/99 "2012-04-08T08:02:57Z")
Hiya Uneducated Lot! I do understand that many of you may no longer be flapping your gums on “The Straight Dope” blog/msg board, & that this discussion began sometime in 2001…yes? HOWEVER, being a film major does not make me an expert, but I do have years & years of experience & many of you are talking out of your anuses w/ some of your answers herein. Note: KNOW YOUR ACTORS & KNOW WHAT THE HECK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE YOU LAY IT OUT. Now get out! What you hacks are burbling on about is called “type casting.” I have two words for you nutters: Seth Rogen. Now, don’t get me wrong; I do LOVE Mr. Rogen; however, he is the epitome of typecasting (or as you folks call it “actors who play the same role in every movie”). Jack Nicholson…? not really, people. Nicolas Cage…? nope; WAY off. Robert De Niro…? uh, no…not REALLY, dudes…SERIOUSLY??? (…& etc., etc., etc. to most of your answers…) Although, many actors (& great ones) _ARE_ typecast into similar roles, many of the actors you mention herein really have played & characterized each role completely differently. CHECK YOUR SOURCES PEOPLE & PLEASE, BY ALL MEANS, WATCH THE ENTIRE MOVIE…DON’T JUST LOOK AT THE TRAILERS AS A “GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER,” SO TO SPEAK. …& don’t be dumb. Rethink your answers. Good luck. Love, ~the doc. ---
**Author:** ![DrStrangelove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@DrStrangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrStrangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693/100 "2012-04-08T08:06:10Z")
Morgan Freeman _IS_ Easy Reader! Now that it’s 2012, do you still feel the same about your answers, folks? Love, ~the doc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-play-the-same-role-in-every-movie/83693.md?page=6)