# Character nods to the actor's former character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657 "2009-03-07T16:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/101 "2009-03-12T15:32:30Z")
One of my favorites is from Happy Days, when Mr. & Mrs. C come home from seeing The Music Man at the movie theater. Mrs. C comments on how much little Winthrop in the film reminds her of Richie when he was a little boy. Of course, Winthrop WAS Richie when he was a little boy! 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 12, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/102 "2009-03-12T15:37:01Z")
Yesterday I saw the Drew Carey where he was dating Shirley Jones, and met her grown son, played by Donny Bonaduce. Nobody’s mentioned the Drew Carey where Tammy Faye Bakker played Mimi’s mother. They needed a minister, Tammy Faye said “Oh, I used to know one…” long pause “but he’s not speaking to me anymore.” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/103 "2009-03-12T18:01:43Z")
In the movie _Fierce Creatures_, John Cleese’s character calls Jamie Lee Curtis’ character “Wanda” instead of “Willa” in one scene (actually, he says “Wanda, I mean Willa”). This a nod to the previous movie they were both in, _A Fish Called Wanda_ ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/104 "2009-03-12T18:15:13Z")
Bob Newhart, the various incarnations of his shows, and the characters on those shows have nodded so much their heads should fall off - but I love every nod. [Here](http://poobala.com/bobandnewhart.html) is a summary. The final episode of Newhart had the Vermont Innkeeper knocked out and wake as his former sitcom character and relating this dream he had. The link doesn’t even mention psychologist Bob going to the set of Murphy Brown to beg his secretary to return to Chicago. Nor his guest hosting SNL and waking up (again) in a skit as psychologist Bob dreaming that he’d hosted SNL. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/105 "2009-03-12T18:21:09Z")
In _Hamlet_, Polonius mentions that when he used to act, he played Caesar. He tells Hamlet that Brutus slew him. It seems a safe bet that in the original productions, the actor playing Polonius really had played Caesar, and Richard Burbage would have played both Hamlet and Brutus. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/106 "2009-03-12T18:29:08Z")
Oh yeah - on an episode of _Baywatch_, David Hasselhoff goes on the _Tonight Show_. Backstage, Jay Leno tells about this great tv show where the car could talk. ---
**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:** [March 12, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/107 "2009-03-12T18:37:33Z")
Am I having some serious deja vu or are there a lot of repeats on this thread? ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/108 "2009-03-12T19:43:44Z")
In _Coming to America_, Eddie Murphy’s character gives some money to a couple of bums (played by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy). One of the bums says something like, “Mortimer (or Randolph), we’re back!”. This is in reference to the fact that in _Trading Places_ Eddie Murphy’s character bankrupts Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/109 "2009-03-12T20:18:16Z")
Edit: What **cmosdes** said (shows the dangers of posting to an un-refreshed thread). Great scene – I kind of put it up there with the 3rd Rock scene for giddy awesomeness. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/110 "2009-03-13T17:04:09Z")
An episode of M_A_S\*H had Hawkeye and Trapper switching labels on film cannisters in order to get a blue movie sent to the camp. The film they try to switch it out with is [State Fair](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038116/), co-starring Harry Morgan. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/111 "2009-03-13T17:06:02Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Am I having some serious deja vu or are there a lot of repeats on this thread? They’re not repeats, they’re nods to former posts. 😃 ---
**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:** [March 13, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/112 "2009-03-13T17:52:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > They’re not repeats, they’re nods to former posts. 😃 That’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/113 "2009-03-13T18:10:16Z")
I remember an episode of “Mork & Mindy” in which Mork (Robin Williams) enters with a bunch of excited neighborhood kids and says “…And if you’re all REALLY good, I’ll take you all to see “Popeye” again!” Obviously a reference to Robert Altman’s (disasterous) film adaptation “Popeye” - starring Robin Williams. I’m so ashamed of myself that I even remember “Mork & Mindy”, let alone actual episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/114 "2009-03-13T18:55:33Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > _St. Elsewhere_ was full of these moments. > > In one episode, after Dr. Criag has hurt his hand, he and his wife travel to Philadelphia to visit an eminent surgeon who specializes in the repair of hands. As Mark and his wife are walking along she complains, “Mark, why did we have to come to Philadelphia in the summer? It’s too damned hot!” To which he replies by singing “It’s hot as hell in Philadelphia!” Those are lines fro the musical _1776_ in which William Daniels played John Adams. And going back to Boy Meets World, the kids attended John Adams High School, where Mr. Feeny (William Daniels) taught. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/115 "2009-03-13T19:11:38Z")
One of my favorites was on the old _Buck Rogers_ TV series from the early 1980s. In the series, Buck is played by Gil Gerard. In one episode, for some reason they had to get a bunch of old space pilots from a retirement home and get them to fight against the enemy of the week. The retired pilots of course win and Buck congratulates their leader. The leader tells Buck “I’ve been doing this since before you were born.” Buck (who of course was born in the 20th century) says “You think so, huh?” The leader responds with “Son, I _know_ so.” The leader was played by Buster Crabbe who, of course, played the _original_ Buck Rogers back in the 1930s. I thought the scene was a nice nod. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/116 "2009-03-13T19:27:39Z")
On The A-Team Dirk Benedict sees a robot (that vaguely resembles a cylon) - makes a move as if to say something, then shrugs it off. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/117 "2009-03-13T19:40:31Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Weren’t they actually playing their St. Elsewhere characters? IMDb says no. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0696627/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0696627/) Ed Begley Jr. … Dr. Bailey William Daniels … Dr. Douglas Stephen Furst … Dr. Franklyn ---
**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 13, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/118 "2009-03-13T22:13:13Z")
Just thought of an obscure one. In 1979, Mary Tyler Moore starred in **The Mary Tyler Moore Hour** , sitcom/variety show. He character was Mary McKinnon and each show would portray her preparing and performing on the fictional **Mary McKinnon Show**. As a boost to faltering ratings, Dick van Dyck guest starred. The main plot was that Mary was delayed and was unable to meet Dick van Dyke. An early scene showed Van Dyck with the writers, where they were coming up for skit ideas. Someone suggested he reprise his role as Rob Petrie. Van Dyke loved the idea, saying, “You know, Mary does look a lot like the gal who played Laura.” There were a couple of Rob and Laura skits. But the final topper was a great one. Mary finally made it to the rehearsal just as Van Dyke was leaving. She expresses her admiration, then said, “You know, I was up for a role in your show.” Dick says, “Is that right?” And Mary says, “Yes, but Rose Marie got the part.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/119 "2009-03-14T00:52:24Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > IMDb says no. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0696627/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0696627/) > > Ed Begley Jr. … Dr. Bailey > William Daniels … Dr. Douglas > Stephen Furst … Dr. Franklyn Stupid facts. Somebody remind me to go on a slapping spree on whoever is responsible for those facts. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657/120 "2009-03-14T01:10:04Z")
On the new BSG, the first episode with Richard Hatch playing Tom Zareck ended up having him in a tense sit-down conversation with Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama, where Zareck was very critical of Commander Adama and the Colonial Government. Of course, in the original BSG, Richard Hatch played Captain Apollo, son of Commander Adama. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/character-nods-to-the-actors-former-character/488657.md?page=7)