# BEST physical matches between actor and role **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682 "2009-03-07T22:22:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/1 "2009-03-07T22:22:26Z")
[[Inspirational thread]](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=509335) Since I’m a naval buff, for starters I’ll toss out [Glenn Ford](http://www.specialforces.com/newsletter/2006_09/obit-glenn-ford.jpg), who played [Raymond Spruance](http://www.necrosant.net/zbxe/files/attach/images/3392/699/005/Ray_Spruance.jpg) in Midway. Pretty close IMHO. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/2 "2009-03-07T23:25:28Z")
Well, they weren’t playing real people, but **Gert Frobe** looked perfect as Auric Goldfinger, and **Lotte Lenya** was ideal as Rosa Klebb back in the first Bond movies. And, despite what you might think of the movies, I think Robin Williams was the ideal choice for **popeye** , and Shelley Duvall as **Olive Oyl**. Matthew Lillard gets a mention as Shaggy in Scooby Doo. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/3 "2009-03-07T23:34:08Z")
I totally agree re: Popeye, **CalMeachem** , especially about Shelly Duvall. She was spot-on as Olive Oyl. My whole family loved that movie, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/4 "2009-03-07T23:43:48Z")
Most likely it’s becaiuse we just saw it this past week, but Josh Brolin nailed GWB, especially the walk and the speech patterns. There were moments when it was hard to see Brolin. I’ll give it more thought, too. Robert Duvall was convincing both as Stalin and Eisenhower. Go figure. And Gregory Peck as MacArthur was uncanny as well. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/5 "2009-03-08T00:49:17Z")
[Bernard Hill](http://www.filmdope.com/Gallery/ActorsH/7965-23805.gif) as [Captain Smith](http://lb3111.k12.sd.us/event/nm_titanic_smith_070628_ssv.jpg) on the Titanic. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/6 "2009-03-08T01:01:56Z")
I thought [Denzel Washington](http://www.famous-people-search.com/denzel_washington/denzel_washington_pictures/denzel_washington_002.jpg) was a decent physical match for [Malcolm X](http://www.hierographics.org/malcolmX.gif). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/7 "2009-03-08T01:30:55Z")
I agree with Shelly Duvall and Matthew Lillard, too. A huge NON-match is Casey Kasem and Shaggy 😛 I nominate [Stephen Fry](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/01/article-0-027DC055000004B0-95_468x286.jpg) as [Oscar Wilde](http://thebestamericanpoetry.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/10/oscar_wilde.jpg). They both have the same long face, pouty eyes and manner of speech. Bonus points for Fry being gay (and a huge Wilde fan to boot). ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/8 "2009-03-08T01:37:43Z")
Don’t forget John Goodman as Fred Flintstone ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/9 "2009-03-08T01:41:36Z")
Oh yeah I forgot [Geoffrey Rush](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2004/12/03/arts/sellers.184.1.650.jpg) as [Peter Sellers](http://www.celebrityshack.com/images/stories/male-celebrities/peter_sellers/thumb.jpg). Uncanny. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/10 "2009-03-08T01:42:09Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Don’t forget John Goodman as Fred Flintstone Or even better: Babe Ruth. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/11 "2009-03-08T01:43:19Z")
[Ed Harris](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3958610432/tt0183659) as [Jackson Pollock](http://www.seymour.k12.wi.us/rle/art/images/artists/Jackson%20Pollock.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/12 "2009-03-08T02:00:11Z")
I can’t find pictures to back it up, but of the actors who have taken a crack at doing [James Dean](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074708/), [Stephen McHattie](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570385/)30 years ago was damn close. More so than [James Franco](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240628/) more recently although Franco was convincing, too. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/13 "2009-03-08T02:06:25Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > [Ed Harris](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3958610432/tt0183659) as [Jackson Pollock](http://www.seymour.k12.wi.us/rle/art/images/artists/Jackson%20Pollock.jpg). [Ed Harris](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LYtPJwBD1ng/SFqaaAWIi0I/AAAAAAAAD7s/rV2_z4fqPXg/s400/Ed-Harris.jpg) as [John Glenn](http://www.biocrawler.com/w/images/2/2c/John_Glenn_Mercury_(small).jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mapache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@Mapache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mapache)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/14 "2009-03-08T02:15:26Z")
Bob Hoskins looks so much like Nikita Kruschev in Enemy At The Gates it’s scary, probably more so if you´re Russian. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/15 "2009-03-08T02:32:10Z")
[Ed Harris](http://www.filmdope.com/Gallery/ActorsH/7499-16039.gif) as [John Glenn](http://www.windows.ucar.edu/space_missions/images/john_glennsm.jpg) [Scott Glenn](http://www.thelin.net/laurent/cinema/films/tt0086197/16085.jpg) as [Alan Shepard](http://www.nndb.com/people/841/000099544/alan-shepard-1-sized.jpg) [Sam Shepard](http://www.airportjournals.com/Photos/0312/X/0312004_3.jpg) (on the left) as [Chuck Yeager](http://rosenblumtv.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/chuck-yeager.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/16 "2009-03-08T02:35:43Z")
[George “The Animal” Steele](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Steele)’s casting as [Tor Johnson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tor_Johnson) in _Ed Wood_ was truly inspired. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/17 "2009-03-08T02:37:41Z")
George C. Scott and Patton. It wasn’t an exact match but it was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Superhero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Superhero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Superhero)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/18 "2009-03-08T02:53:39Z")
I don’t know what it is about [Ed Harris](http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/universal_pictures/apollo_13/ed_harris/apollo.jpg), but I thought he was a pretty good match for [Gene Kranz](http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_US/gemini/installations/houston%20kranz.jpg), too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/19 "2009-03-08T03:22:43Z")
**Popeye** was filled with good matches. In addition to those mentioned, Richard Libertini was perfectly cast as Geezle. No one commented because you needed to be familiar with the comic strip, not just the cartoon. Dan Ayckroyd was perfectly cast as Vic in **Neighbors**. Many critics thought he and Belushi should have switched part, but Ayckroyd matched the book’s character description perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682/20 "2009-03-08T03:29:19Z")
Mickey Rourke was perfect as Marv in Sin City [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-physical-matches-between-actor-and-role/488682.md?page=2)