# Actors would have been good as Holden Caufield when they were younger **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048 "2010-02-07T18:27:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 8, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/21 "2010-02-08T14:07:48Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > For that matter, a young Robert Sean Leonard would be great, too. I hadn’t thought of him, but damn! He would have been wonderful. Dakota Fanning for Sally Hays. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/22 "2010-02-08T14:23:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The kid from _Terminator 2: Judgment Day_ could’ve done a decent job back in the day, I think. Seconded. Decent chops to pull off the whininess, and with T2 on everyone’s mind, he could sell the whole “I’m so much more special than everyone else” aspect of Holden. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/23 "2010-02-08T16:17:35Z")
Ryan Gosling would have been great. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/24 "2010-02-09T03:37:50Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > River Phoenix, a year or two after _Stand By Me_. I second that. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/25 "2010-02-09T03:43:31Z")
I feel like it should be someone borderline maladjusted and irksome, like a young Steve Buscemi. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/26 "2010-02-09T04:24:03Z")
Cary Elwes ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/27 "2010-02-09T06:41:27Z")
Geoffrey Rush for Mr. Antolini. John Mahoney (Frasier’s dad) for Spencer. I would have said Christopher Eigeman for Carl Luce, but he’s too old now even to play a graduate student, much less a college student. However, Michael Cera is the right age to play Ackley. The blond one of the Gossip Girl guys for Stradlater. Lindsay Lohan as Sunny (before she starts hooking for real), and James Gandolfini as Maurice. Ellen Page as Jane Gallagher, if she’s seen in flashbacks. Sally Hayes…I dunno. Someone blonde and busty. I would say Amanda Bynes, but I’m not sure she’s a real actress as opposed to an acting machine. As for Holden, he’d just have to be an unknown, for the same reason Richard Donner wanted an unknown to play Superman. Whoever is cast can’t bring **any** baggage. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/28 "2010-02-09T08:24:18Z")
For a slightly different perspective, I suggest Steve Buscemi or Joe Pesci. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/29 "2010-02-09T08:29:23Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Geoffrey Rush for Mr. Antolini. John Mahoney (Frasier’s dad) for Spencer. I would have said Christopher Eigeman for Carl Luce, but he’s too old now even to play a graduate student, much less a college student. However, Michael Cera is the right age to play Ackley. The blond one of the Gossip Girl guys for Stradlater. Lindsay Lohan as Sunny (before she starts hooking for real), and James Gandolfini as Maurice. Ellen Page as Jane Gallagher, if she’s seen in flashbacks. Sally Hayes…I dunno. Someone blonde and busty. I would say Amanda Bynes, but I’m not sure she’s a real actress as opposed to an acting machine. I’d watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/30 "2010-02-09T13:54:39Z")
Dustin Hoffman. He practically played him in **The Graduate**. ---
**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 9, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/31 "2010-02-09T14:06:42Z")
Seven years ago, I would have nominated Johnny Galecki for Holden and Dakota Fanning for his sister Phoebe. If the latter isn’t the right actor for the role, I’ve never seen one. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/32 "2010-02-09T14:23:48Z")
Ryan Philippe has some real acting chops (see _Flags of our Fathers_). Or is he too much a pretty boy? ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/33 "2010-02-10T00:42:00Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Ryan Philippe has some real acting chops (see _Flags of our Fathers_). Or is he too much a pretty boy? He’s waaaayyyy to pretty. But then again, look what a skilled make up team did for Charlize Theron in _Monster_. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/34 "2010-02-10T00:56:09Z")
Whoever is cast has to fit the physical description. Over six feet, markedly skinny, brown or reddish hair. He’ll also have to submit to a crew cut and gray dye on one side. Galecki would be good in theory, but he’s way too short and stocky. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/35 "2010-02-10T02:58:46Z")
Maybe Eric Stoltz back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/36 "2010-02-10T04:23:33Z")
Vincent Gallo would have been amazing. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/37 "2010-02-10T20:01:24Z")
Timothy Hutton (I love\* Ordinary People\*). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/38 "2010-02-10T20:06:57Z")
NPH ---
**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 11, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/39 "2010-02-11T14:15:24Z")
Watched reruns of That 70’s Show yesterday. Topher Grace IS Holden Caufield. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048/40 "2010-02-11T16:22:34Z")
Tobey Maguire? (Think “The Cider House Rules”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-would-have-been-good-as-holden-caufield-when-they-were-younger/528048.md?page=3)