# 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:** 6
**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:** [February 4, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/101 "2013-02-04T22:07:19Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > The same here but only as Lt Buntz. To be fair, it was the exact same character but with a different name. Sipowicz was on Hill Street Blues as two characters, one a hard nosed cop with an attitude, the other as a hard nosed cop with an attitude that was evil. Patrick Duffy will always the “The Man from Atlantis” to me. Hugo Weaving is always gonna be Agent Smith. Sorry about that. It took me ages to stop seeing “Easy Reader” from The Electric Company every time Morgan Freeman was on screen. But I’m over that now. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/102 "2013-02-04T22:52:32Z")
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned Howard Hesseman as Dr. Johnny Fever yet. Most of the cast of WKRP, really, if you ask me.\* > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Edwards James Olmos will always be Bill Adama for me, which is amazing since it is rather late in his career. So. Effing. True. I’ve spoken to him briefly in person, and he just _is_ Bill Adama. - Although, apparently, there are a good number of people out there who can’t tell Tim Reid apart from Ron Glass. Per the latter, telling a story about having been mistaken for the former, Glass once asked Reid if anyone ever mixed them up, and Reid answered, “Man, I just sign your name and keep movin’.” ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/103 "2013-02-04T23:10:21Z")
My son and I recently started watching White Collar together. On it, [James Rebhorn](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714310/) plays an FBI agent with some seniority. When I was in high school Rebhorn was on Guiding Light and played an abuser who beat his wife and raped his step daughter. I was in high school thirty years ago. A quick glance at IMDB tells me Rebhorn has had about a hundred other roles. Even so, I cannot see him without thinking “Eek! Bradley Raines!” ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/104 "2013-02-04T23:57:08Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > Chevy Chase–host of Weekend Update (no NOT Clark Griswold) Was he playing a character on SNL, though? I mean, he _was_ Chevy Chase (and you’re not). On the other hand, he did four “Vacation” movies over the course of 14 years. He’ll be Clark Griswold to me, just like Randy Quaid will always be Cousin Eddie. Also, Dan Aykroyd will forever be Elwood Blues. John Belushi could go a couple of ways. Either Jake Blues or Bluto Blutarski. Or the Samurai. ---
**Author:** ![KermitTheFrig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/47e85d/32.png) [@KermitTheFrig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KermitTheFrig)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/105 "2013-02-05T03:29:58Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Was he playing a character on SNL, though? I mean, he _was_ Chevy Chase (and you’re not). On the other hand, he did four “Vacation” movies over the course of 14 years. He’ll be Clark Griswold to me, just like Randy Quaid will always be Cousin Eddie. For me, though, it’s like Bob Newhart always being Bob Newhart. After Chevy Chase’s stint on SNL, when he was Tony Carlson in Foul Play or Fletch or Clark Griswold in the Vacation movies, he was just that Weekend Update host in other situations. Some of this might be based on how old people are and which role they saw the actors in first. If you grew up in the 80’s Chevy Chase is Clark Griswold to you and William Daniels is Dr. Mark Craig or the black car. I grew up earlier and saw those actors in things that made strong impressions before the later characters came along. ---
**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 5, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/106 "2013-02-05T03:40:30Z")
> [@KermitTheFrig](#): > > For me, though, it’s like Bob Newhart always being Bob Newhart. > > After Chevy Chase’s stint on SNL, when he was Tony Carlson in Foul Play or Fletch or Clark Griswold in the Vacation movies, he was just that Weekend Update host in other situations. > > Some of this might be based on how old people are and which role they saw the actors in first. If you grew up in the 80’s Chevy Chase is Clark Griswold to you and William Daniels is Dr. Mark Craig or the black car. > > I grew up earlier and saw those actors in things that made strong impressions before the later characters came along. I’m old enough that I did see the first season of SNL with the Not Ready for Prime Time Players and Chase hosting Weekend Update. And I was grown up by then. Still, Chevy always equals Clark Griswold to me. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/107 "2013-02-05T04:29:17Z")
Brian Blessed is a renowned classical trained actor, and I have never been able to see him as anything other than as [Vultan](http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4398/4brianblessed.jpg). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/108 "2013-02-05T05:31:51Z")
> [@Snerky\_Snerk](#): > > Cocknocker Skywalker Say THAT three times fast _LOL_ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/109 "2013-02-05T05:45:21Z")
Carolyn Jones as Morticia Adams Everybody playing a major role in the cast of **A Man For All Seasons** (Scofield) as their characters (except Orson Welles) > [@MacCat](#): > > 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**. Don’t forget the liberal gun nut in **The President’s Analyst**. > [@artemis](#): > > I can’t believe no one has mentioned Peter O’Toole yet. What an unlucky break for an actor, to have his very first starring role be the defining one of his career. But no matter what else he’s done, people always think of him playing Lawrence of Arabia, and there’s no changing that. Fortunately for me, I first saw him as King Henry II in **Becket** with his hair and beard dyed black, so it’s easy for me not to think of that in his other roles. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/110 "2013-02-05T06:58:15Z")
Second the Shooter McGavin pick. For me, Willaim Daniels is Mr. Feeny. I grew up in the 90s and would say the majority of my generation sees him as such. I didn’t even know that was his name - I was curious about who you guys were talking about and looked it up - FEE-HEE-HEE-NAY! The janitor from Scrubs. ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/111 "2013-02-05T09:06:40Z")
Ricardo Montalban = Mr. Roarke Gary Coleman=Arnold Drummond John Ritter=Jack Tripper Brent Spiner=Data Derek Jacobi=Emperor Claudius If an actor is good or lucky enough to have more than one defining role, like John Hurt, or Sylvester Stallone, then this doesn’t happen. Certain actors sabotage themselves to me, like: Hugh Grant=loves hookers Mel Gibson=Drunken racist nut Eddie Murphy=Fat suit role ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/112 "2013-02-06T03:40:51Z")
I know he was a trained Shakespearean actor, but Robert Reed _is_ Mike Brady. Brian Keith was so firmly entrenched in my mind as Uncle Bill in _Family Affair_ that it was a shock to hear him swearing like a stevedore in _The McKenzie Break_ (1970). ---
**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 6, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/113 "2013-02-06T06:50:17Z")
John Barrowman will always be Captain Jack Harkness to me. I was surprised when he poped up in **Zero Dark Thirty** and immediatly wondered what Torchwood had to with the hunt for Osama bin Laden. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/114 "2013-02-06T12:53:31Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Everybody playing a major role in the cast of **A Man For All Seasons** (Scofield) as their characters (except Orson Welles) > > . DEFINITELY not true. True for Paul Scofield, as I observed above. But Leo McKern is No. 2 in the Village and Rumpole of the Bailey, not Thomas Cromwell. And John Hurt is Kane in _Alien_ and Winston Smith in _1984_ and Joseph Merrick, _The Elephant Man_, fer cryin’ out loud! Robert Shaw isn’t just Henry VIII, but a score of other characters, including Red Grant, the SPECTRE agent who almost did Bond in. Nigel Davenport is in a lot of things I’m familiar with Vanessa Redgrave (admittedly not a major role in the film as Anne Boleyn)is a ton of things, including Lady Alice More in the later TV production of _A Man for All Seasons_. A lot of the others didn’t get many standout roles, but some of them showed up just two years later in the film version of Peter Scaffer\*'s _The Royal Hunt of the Sun_ (Robert Shaw, Nigel Davenport ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/115 "2013-02-06T13:39:29Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Hugo Weaving is always gonna be Agent Smith. Sorry about that. “Men? Men are weak.” “I was there the day [del]man blotted out the sun[/del] the strength of men failed.” ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/116 "2013-02-06T16:06:18Z")
I’m surprised when I see things like John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, marlon brando as Don Corleone. Hadn’t you folks seen the movies each of them had made for the 3 previous decades or so? Brando is one of thoe most respected of American actors. Yes Stanly Kowalski thrust him into the limelight, but he received Oscar nominations like every year after that (4 or 5 in the 50s) With lesser lights I can see always recalling them in a popular role. But it really seems to denigrate an actor’s ability if a person cannot recognize him as the character he is protraying. It was never thought of as a great movie or role, but I defy anyone to see Kowalski or Corleone in Brando’s Sakini in “Teahouse of the August Moon”. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/117 "2013-02-07T01:34:33Z")
The cast of Friends. No matter what they do, they are all The Friends. Forever. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/118 "2013-02-07T01:47:53Z")
Although he’s had many other good roles, \*\*Bill Paxton \*\*will forever be \*\*Pvt. Hudson \*_from Aliens! \* “Game over man!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/119 "2013-02-07T04:21:19Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Hugo Weaving is always gonna be Agent Smith. Sorry about that. Funny, I always envision him wearing a frock, as in that _Priscilla_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146/120 "2013-02-07T04:40:39Z")
George Wendt - Norm! From Cheers. Carroll O’Connor - Archie Bunker Jean Stapleton - Edith Bunker Sherman Hemsley - George Jefferson Tom Selleck - Thomas Magnum Alex Karras - Mongo Ron Howard - Richie Cunningham Arnold Schwarzenegger - the Terminator Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Jason Alexander - George Costanza Levar Burton - Kunta Kinte Etc, etc, etc. There were a few people I couldn’t actually remember their real names. Only their character names, like Cliff Claven (George Ratznberger?) and Sam Malone (Ted Danson! Ha!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-will-always-associate-with-one-role/649146.md?page=7)