# Actors you will always associate with one role **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146 "2013-02-02T21:00:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/41 "2013-02-03T16:09:20Z")
Anthony Hopkins will always be Hannibal Lector. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/42 "2013-02-03T17:35:16Z")
> [@Nom\_de\_Plume](#): > > Giovanni Ribisi was on an episode of X Files where he used lightning to kill people. To this day, my wife and I refer to him as Lightning Boy. Yes, Everytime I see him I think that’s Darin Peter Oswald. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/43 "2013-02-03T17:40:23Z")
Jon Favreau will always be the dweeb in _Swingers_ ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/44 "2013-02-03T18:16:15Z")
I can’t believe I’m the first person to bring up Jaleel White. I’ve seen him in other work, but I autmatically think “Steve Urkel” whenever I see him. Alot of people do (much to his displeasure). ---
**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 3, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/45 "2013-02-03T18:20:56Z")
Mark Hamill = Luke Skywalker. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/46 "2013-02-03T20:54:30Z")
This is a minor variation on the theme in the OP (as I interpret it) but when these actors are mentioned I usually associate them with these roles. Not necessarily their best but to me most closely associated with their style: Gregory Peck – Atticus Finch Humphrey Bogart – Rick Blaine Dustin Hoffman – Babe (Marathon Man) Gene Hackman – Popeye Doyle Clint Eastwood – Dirty Harry (and Josey Wales) Alan Ladd – Shane Jack Palance – Wilson Steve McQueen – Frank Bullitt Charlton Heston – Moses Paul Newman – Luke Robert DeNiro – Travis Bickle Salma Hayek – Santanico Pandemonium Hedy Lamarr – Delilah Natalie Wood – Judy Glenn Close – Alex Forrest ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/47 "2013-02-03T20:59:32Z")
The very first thing I ever saw Dame Judi Dench in was “As Time Goes By”, thanks to the local PBS station. And ever forward, despite her numerous and very well-acted other roles, she will always be Jean Pargetter Hardcastle to me. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/48 "2013-02-03T21:26:27Z")
Ron Howard - Opie Taylor ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/49 "2013-02-03T22:03:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And, whether it contributed to his suicide or no, George vReeves is invariably Clark Kent/Superman. Even when he was in Gone With The Wind and White Goddess, it was Clark Kent in both roles. Christopher Reeves, too. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/50 "2013-02-03T22:21:11Z")
Ted Danson has done a ton of roles, but he’ll always be Sammy to me. Whatshername will always be Jane Tennyson. Tom Selleck will always be Magnum, PI. Carol O’connor will always be Archie Bunker. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/51 "2013-02-03T22:30:27Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Carol O’connor will always be Archie Bunker. This for me, too. He was Chief Gillespie on “In The Heat Of The Night” for almost as long as he was Archie, but he’s ALWAYS going to be Archie to me. ---
**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 4, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/52 "2013-02-04T00:30:03Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > …Whatshername will always be Jane Tennyson… Helen Mirren: [http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4889.jpg](http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4889.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/53 "2013-02-04T01:01:56Z")
Edward G Robinson said people always thought of him as a gangster yet he figured he played one only five times. George C Scott was, despite not having a squeaky voice, George S Patton ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/54 "2013-02-04T01:08:02Z")
No matter what role I’ll see him in from now on, Hugh Laurie will always be Doctor Gregory House. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/55 "2013-02-04T03:18:56Z")
William Daniels–John Adams Art Carney–Ed Norton Michael Landon–Pa Ingalls Dick Van Dyke–Rob Petrie Henry Winkler–Arthur Fonzerelli Bea Arthur–Maude And then there’s Bob Newhart, who, no matter what he is named, is Bob Newhart ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/56 "2013-02-04T03:59:56Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > William Daniels–John Adams Not a chance. Whenever that dude finishes a sentence, I hear a comma, followed by a condescending _“Michael.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/57 "2013-02-04T04:02:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Not a chance. Whenever that dude finishes a sentence, I hear a comma, followed by a condescending _“Michael.”_ Now that’s interesting, because I always think of him as the asshole heart surgeon on _St. Elsewhere_. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/58 "2013-02-04T04:03:18Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > No matter what role I’ll see him in from now on, Hugh Laurie will always be Doctor Gregory House. I always see him as Bertie Wooster. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/59 "2013-02-04T04:08:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Not a chance. Whenever that dude finishes a sentence, I hear a comma, followed by a condescending _“Michael.”_ No, no, no! William Daniels will forever be Mr. Feeney! ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/60 "2013-02-04T04:17:17Z")
William Daniels will always be associated with the William Daniels role. Saw him last night in **Two For The Road** , but remember him very distinctly as Benjamin Braddock’s father in **The Graduate** and the first role I remember him in **A Thousand Clowns**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146.md?page=4)