# Character chameleons: great acting **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510 "2011-10-04T02:12:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/41 "2011-10-04T15:15:49Z")
Kevin Spacey stands out for me. Equally plausible as an intolerable asshole, a realistic or over-the-top villain, a sensitive and sympathetic protagonist, or as the devil himself wearing a disarmingly innocent mask. Sent with my fat fingers using Tapatalk. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/42 "2011-10-04T15:21:07Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Blockbusters, you say? OK, how about **Christian Bale** as Bruce Wayne in **The Dark Knight** vs. Christian Bale as a washed-up boxer in [The Fighter](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/), or Christian Bale as a Cockney magician in [The Prestige](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/)? IIRC, he set a record by muscling up between The Machinist and Batman Begins. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/43 "2011-10-04T15:21:10Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh, man… how could I forget: > > Jeff Bridges as both The Dude in the \*\*\*Big Lebowski \*\*\*and as Rooster Cogburn in _ **True Grit** _? A comical stoner and a Western lawman! And the POTUS in _The Contender_. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/44 "2011-10-04T15:29:31Z")
It’s hard to believe that the gentle Hamish Macbeth, or Gaz from The Full Monty, were played by the same man, Robert Carlyle, who was genuinely scary as Begbie in Trainspotting. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/45 "2011-10-04T15:30:12Z")
Christopher Lloyd. I imagine Doc Brown from the _Back to the Future_ trilogy is the first role everyone will think of, but he was also: Judge Doom in _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_ Uncle Fester in _The Addams Family_ **Klingon Commander Kruge** in _The Search for Spock_ I emphasized Kruge because he’s the biggest contrast–the manic-but-kindhearted inventor of time travel was also the Klingon who battled James T. Kirk over a rift full of lava on a dying planet. IMDB lists him with roles in 165 titles, however, so it’s possible he’s played roles even farther apart than those. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/46 "2011-10-04T15:44:28Z")
The thing about Christopher Lloyd is that he always plays a weirdo of some sort. I can’t think of any truly straight roles that he’s had. Danny DeVito, on the other hand… Check him out in _Cuckoo’s Nest_ compared to any other role that he’s been in. For that matter, Brad Dourif in that movie as well, though I don’t think I’d consider him a great actor. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/47 "2011-10-04T15:48:19Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > It’s hard to believe that the gentle Hamish Macbeth, or Gaz from The Full Monty, were played by the same man, Robert Carlyle, who was genuinely scary as Begbie in Trainspotting. That’s a good one. (Although maybe not middle school appropriate.) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/48 "2011-10-04T16:00:04Z")
This is not fair, but \*\*Jerry O’Connel \*\*in \*Stand By Me \*vs. marrying **Rebecca Romijn** ---
**Author:** ![poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poker_in_the_rear)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/49 "2011-10-04T16:46:20Z")
Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle vs. Breaking Bad ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/50 "2011-10-04T17:04:24Z")
Jason Isaacs has great range, and you can see both ends of his spectrum (ahem) in **Peter Pan** , where he plays both bumbling but good-hearted Mr. Darling and wicked, wicked Captain Hook. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/51 "2011-10-04T17:55:17Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > **Johnny Depp** as **Capt Jack Sparrow** , **Willy Wonka** (two roles they will probably be familiar with), **James Barrie in Finding Neverland** and something older, maybe **Gilbert Grape**? He’s the one I came in here to say. He probably does a better job of disappearing into a role than pretty much anyone aside from maybe Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis. It’s a testament to his acting abilities that you don’t watch “Ed Wood” and think, 'Hey, there’s Jack Sparrow" or vice-versa. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/52 "2011-10-04T18:04:48Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > He’s the one I came in here to say. He probably does a better job of disappearing into a role than pretty much anyone aside from maybe Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis. It’s a testament to his acting abilities that you don’t watch “Ed Wood” and think, 'Hey, there’s Jack Sparrow" or vice-versa. Or Edward Scissorhands! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/53 "2011-10-04T18:09:14Z")
Oh, and of course **Lon Chaney, Sr.** was the \*master \*at that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/54 "2011-10-04T18:12:59Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > Jason Isaacs has great range, and you can see both ends of his spectrum (ahem) in **Peter Pan** , where he plays both bumbling but good-hearted Mr. Darling and wicked, wicked Captain Hook. Good one. I loved him in the Showtime series “Brotherhood” where he played an irish gangster in Rhode Island. Almost couldn’t believe he was the same guy that played Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/55 "2011-10-04T19:06:12Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > The thing about Christopher Lloyd is that he always plays a weirdo of some sort. I can’t think of any truly straight roles that he’s had. How about **John Lithgow** , then? He’s played over-the-top characters in _The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai_, and _3rd Rock From the Sun_, a bit more realistically sinister in _Cliffhanger_, and guy-next-door types in _Terms of Endearment_, and _The Manhattan Project_. (You might be able to find his deleted scene from _L.A. Story_ where he plays a rather flamboyant talent agent.) An even better example might be **Eli Wallach**. Watch him in _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ and _How to Steal a Million_, both released in 1966. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/56 "2011-10-04T21:00:26Z")
Have to mention the incredible performance of \*\*Linda Hunt \*\*in \*The Year of Living Dangerously \*playing a man. Not a woman pretending to be a man either. She won Best Actress in a supporting role for that. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/57 "2011-10-04T21:31:17Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Daniel Day-Lewis in **My Left Foot** and then his very next movie **The Last of the Mohicans** - you could hardly get two more different roles. And of course you have to see him as Cecil Vyse in _A Room With a View_! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/58 "2011-10-04T21:51:31Z")
How’d I forget Victor Garber, who was both a lethal spy in the TV series _ **Alias** _ and the hippie-dippie clown Jesus in the musical _ **Godspell** _? Or juxtapose Jimmy Cagney doing a soft shoe number in \*\*\*Yankee Doodle Dandy \*\*\*with one of his tough-guy gangster roles. Or show Leslie Nielsen in one of his goofy comedies, then show one of his very serious roles from his younger days- like, when he was captain in\*\*\* The Poseidon Adventure.\*\*\* ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/59 "2011-10-04T21:57:45Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > How’d I forget Victor Garber, who was both a lethal spy in the TV series _ **Alias** _ and the hippie-dippie clown Jesus in the musical _ **Godspell** _? How’d you forget me mentioning him on the first page? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510/60 "2011-10-04T22:02:30Z")
> [@poker\_in\_the\_rear](#): > > Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle vs. Breaking Bad I like this one because both rolls have similar settings in that both characters are suburban dads, but he still manages to play them differently. > [@porcupine](#): > > Michael C. Hall in the series Six Feet Under versus Dexter. Really? I like Hall, but he plays Dexter pretty similar to how hey played his gay mortician. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-chameleons-great-acting/598510.md?page=4)