John Wayne always played “John Wayne” (excuse The Conqueror). Nickleson plays Nickleson. How many other Actors play themselves in different roles?
and do any Actresses? I dont recall a single Actress except Hepburn for a bit. Is that because Actresses act where actors characterize?
Michael Caine has played himself in 124 films over the past 49 years. I think he pretty much trumps anyone else.
Of course, going back a ways, we find that this was pretty much the norm in the old studio system. Humphrey Bogart, for example, always played Humphrey Bogart. As well he should have.
Do you mean they literally play themselves? As in John Malkovich? There are lots of people in both genders who have done that, but they’re mostly guest spots like politicians or Jay Leno.
Or do you mean men who cannot play a character in any way other than the way they themselves would act? In that case, I would disagree with you. There are a great many male actors out there who truly do act in a wide variety of roles. The reason you only notice the males actors are more popular than female ones. Pauly Shore could get a movie off the ground whereas his female counterpart was reduced to porn movies.
Who is Pauly Shore’s female conterpart? Or were you just using him to make a point since he is an idiot?
Either Jack Nicholson just plays Jack Nicholson these days or Jack Nicholson has simply become the character he always plays. Either way, I personally can’t stand to watch him.
I totally agree that Jack Nicholson plays himself in movies.
I’ll add Ben Stein. I know there are others too…
I agree that a good actor can play a variety of rolls but it seems to me that any actress can play everything. People used to think Raquel Welch couldn’t act and use to just move around the set. but that was all she was asked to do. once she started acting then people found out that she could really act. You start with some ugly hag like Meryl Streep or Glenn Close (2 different women you know) and they have to act right away. People say “what an actress, face could stop a clock but sure can act”.
And before any women out there cry sexism then explain Kevin Costner.
horhay_achoa, that probably could have been phrased better. There is no female counterpart to Pauly Shore. Thankfully. What I was saying is that men (on average) are paid more, men are more recognizable, and men draw in the crowds like females haven’t or can’t. So the female version of Pauly Shore would never exist because no studio would ever take a chance like that.
I still disagree with the assessment that men can’t act, though I do agree with most of your examples. Tell me Edward Norton or Ed Harris can’t act?
Still, what about Victoria Jackson? Pamela Anderson?
Re: the comment
Pauly Shore could get a movie off the ground whereas his female counterpart was reduced to porn movies.
That’s an insult to porn.
As per this thread, how about Robert Mitchum. His acting was invisible on the screen. 'Cause he never acted.
Ronald Reagan played the same role for about 80 years.
Well, let’s see…
Sean Connery played a Scottish Russian sub captain in “The Hunt for Red October.”
He played a Scottish ancient Greek warrior in “Time Bandits.”
He played a Scottish Spaniard in “Highlander.”
He played a Scottish Irishman in “The Untouchables.”
He played a Scottish Arab sheik in “The Wind and the Lion.”
Am I missing any others?
Glen Close and Meryl Streep hags???
Raquel Welch can really act???
Hi Opal!
The Gabor sisters and Pia Zador were sort of Pauly Shoresque.
Meg Ryan. She plays the same character in every movie.
A little off the subject, but did any of you see Dennis Miller in Bordello of Blood? The guy literally is Dennis Miller as if he’d walked upon a movie set and was offering his glib assessments of the goings-on. A wretched movie, but his commentary makes it a teensy bit worth a watch. A teensy teensy bit.
Jenny McCarthy.
I thought the title was “Actors who play with themselves.”
::quietly walks out::
Rosie Perez is a good actress, but her characters have an undeniable sameness about them across many movies.
Ditto Carol Kane.
Robert Mitchem is a good example. He was always himself in a roll. What is the difference between him and Jimmy Stewart? JS always was Jimmy Stewart but he was more than that. He actually had his character be unique somehow.
Sandra Bullock
Arnold.
And I think Wayne has more movies than Caine - he had around 200.
Dennis Hopper? (except in True Romance)