# Disliking an actor vs. the character they play **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2021, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212 "2021-08-20T13:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/61 "2021-08-22T19:07:07Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > And it could be that if I saw him in another movie where he played someone funny or likeable, I would mellow about him. Kevin Kline is hilarious voicing the weird and morally compromised [Mr. Fishoeder](https://bobs-burgers.fandom.com/wiki/Calvin_Fischoeder) in Bob’s Burgers. He was also mildly amusing playing a stuffy Greek butler in s small role opposite his wife in the so-so film [Princess Caraboo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Caraboo_(film)). He is a pretty broad actor, but he started on stage and has three Tonys so I guess that has worked for him. If probably enhances his cartoon character at least 😄. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/62 "2021-08-22T19:20:42Z")
Another big thumbs up for _Bowfinger_ and _The Ref_. I don’t know why either aren’t better known/rated. Slipper socks. Medium. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/63 "2021-08-22T20:47:28Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Because he served his time, and it happened before he was famous? IIRC it was in [this book](https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Stand-Too-Close-Naked/dp/0786861347) that he admitted he didn’t tell Touchstone/Disney about it for fear of losing the deal. Also, he snitched on other dealers to get the deal. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t have anything against Tim Allen. We seem more willing to forgive some than others, though. Justin Trudeau in brown face, for instance or George H W Bush’s favorite magician (David Cop a Feel), etc. R. Kelly. Steve Howe. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/64 "2021-08-22T20:47:52Z")
If you don’t like him, you should watch Band of Brothers. He’s supposed to be detestable. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/65 "2021-08-22T20:59:33Z")
I’m pretty sure I have. I think he played one of those lieutenants that the entire platoon hates and refuses to obey his orders. (And who can blame them?) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/66 "2021-08-22T21:02:54Z")
He becomes a captain later but yeah. He shows up in a later episode too, and gets humbled. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/67 "2021-08-22T21:18:30Z")
I know Voight is a diehard Trump supporter, but I like his acting performances so much that I just can’t make myself care. And neither should you. So the next time Voight makes a pro-Trump statement, you ain’t gonna look in his eyes. You gonna look at the floor. Because you don’t want to see that fear in his eyes when you jump up and grab his face, and slam him to the floor, and make him scream and cry for his life, so you look right at the floor, Jack. Pay attention to what I’m sayin’, motherfucker! And you’re gonna suck all that pain inside you, and you’re gonna clean that spot. And you’re gonna clean that spot. Until you get that shiny clean. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/68 "2021-08-22T23:43:08Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Steve Howe. Having close to zero knowledge of baseball, I was mystified what the elvish-geriatric Prog guitarist of Yes had done to warrant a mention here. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/69 "2021-08-23T01:13:03Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > Having close to zero knowledge of baseball, I was mystified what the elvish-geriatric Prog guitarist of Yes had done to warrant a mention here. Ah, touché…that never crossed my mind. Speaking of baseball I’m reminded of Marla Collins, ball girl for the Chicago Cubs, who posed nude for Playboy and was fired for it. Mike Royko wrote, “If that girl had wanted a second chance, she should have kept her pants on and sniffed coke instead.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/70 "2021-08-23T03:48:47Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Hijacking about **Silverado** ; it was hailed at the time as a return of the Western after an absence in the years since the Spaghetti Westerns and the gritty 70’s “tell it like it is” Realistic Westerns had exhausted their appeal. > > Knock-your-eye-out, Epic Westerns seemed like the wave of the future, and Kevin Costner came back with big financing a couple of years after Silverado and made **Dances with Wolves**. But Clint Eastwood had something else in mind besides mulitimillion dollar upgrades of Saturday matinee Westerns: Eastwood wanted to do the same thing Gary Cooper had done at the same age: make psychological Westerns. **Unforgiven** caused the next year’s **Tombstone** to look like what it was: a nostalgic but sloppy kiss to an obsolete genre (including parts for oater legacy actors Buck Taylor and Harry Carey Jr. ). When Kevin Costner came back again, this time it was for the psychological Western \*\*Open Range. \*\* I enjoy Silverado and have rewatched it multiple times. I think the cast was perfect in their individual roles. I can’t help but feel the original script was twice as long. Some of the storylines just seemed to be chopped off. Especially Rosanna Arquette’s story. A few other characters were probably fleshed out more originally. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/71 "2021-08-23T05:51:49Z")
In the Norwegian TV series _Ragnarok_, [Jonas Strand Gravli](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6338716/) does a very good job of playing a character with pretty much all of the traits I despise in a person (grovelling, needy, backstabbing, shallow, arrogant, etc), to the point that I may find it difficult to warm to the actor in different roles. In general I’m probably best not knowing too much about an actor because, although I’m aware I’m watching a character, I’m also very aware that I’m watching an actor play a character, and if I don’t like the actor as a person, I find it hard to like their portrayal of a character. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/72 "2021-08-23T08:44:43Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Kevin Kline is hilarious voicing the weird and morally compromised [Mr. Fishoeder](https://bobs-burgers.fandom.com/wiki/Calvin_Fischoeder) in Bob’s Burgers. He was also mildly amusing playing a stuffy Greek butler in s small role opposite his wife in the so-so film [Princess Caraboo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Caraboo_(film)). > > He is a pretty broad actor, but he started on stage and has three Tonys so I guess that has worked for him. If probably enhances his cartoon character at least 😄. And Kline is absolutely perfect hamming it up to the hilt in _The Pirates of Penzance_. I do so love that movie and the cast are all enjoying themselves way too much. (Trivia: in one of those “separate studios producing the same story at the same time” things, _The Pirate Movie_ starring Kristy McNichol came out around the same time and was loosely based on TPoP. It’s really, really bad - nine Razzie nominations and three wins, including Worst Original Song for “Pumpin’ and Blowin’”.) > [@carrps](#): > > Another big thumbs up for _Bowfinger_ and _The Ref_ . I don’t know why either aren’t better known/rated. _Bowfinger_ is indeed deeply underrated. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/73 "2021-08-23T10:04:39Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > In the Norwegian TV series _Ragnarok_ , [Jonas Strand Gravli](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6338716/) does a very good job of playing a character with pretty much all of the traits I despise in a person (grovelling, needy, backstabbing, shallow, arrogant, etc), to the point that I may find it difficult to warm to the actor in different roles. In that sense, I think **Ryan Gage** was outstanding as [Alfrid Lickspittle](https://www.google.com/search?q=Alfrid+Lickspittle&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjwlK_X7MbyAhWRHxQKHdzPDjUQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1093&bih=500) in both The Hobbit films directed by Peter Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/74 "2021-08-23T10:31:56Z")
Like a (surprisingly) few other posters, I don’t understand the inability to separate the art from the artist. If I exposed myself only to the works of those I agree with politically, morally, and religiously\* I would be depriving myself of a gigantic portion of what is out there. \*Are all you Doper atheists also shunning all the output of those who believe? mmm ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/75 "2021-08-23T10:43:09Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Like a (surprisingly) few other posters, I don’t understand the inability to separate the art from the artist. > > If I exposed myself only to the works of those I agree with politically, morally, and religiously\* I would be depriving myself of a gigantic portion of what is out there. Because “don’t agree with” is not the same thing as “find contemptible”? I’m not going to care if an artist is a Buddhist, or even a Catholic. Or, for me, a Scientologist. But if they’re an Aztec heart-ripper, I’ll care lots. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/76 "2021-08-23T11:41:20Z")
I should probably clarify my poorly worded OP. I’m not really referring to my personal feelings about an actor regarding their personal beliefs / lives. I mean an actor that I’m seeing for the first time or don’t really know(though of course I welcome everyone to bring anything they’d like to the conversation). Maybe I’m overthinking it and it comes down to something as simple as “I don’t like their face”. But sometimes I wonder if the casting director saw the same thing and cast them _because_ they have a certain unlikable quality(even though the character is meant to be generally likable). Sorry, that probably didn’t clear things up. Carry on! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/77 "2021-08-23T17:07:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > _Bowfinger_ is indeed deeply underrated. I still laugh way too much at the freeway crossing scene and the scene in the parking garage. . . and I’ve seen it at least five times. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/78 "2021-08-23T18:29:45Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Maybe I’m overthinking it and it comes down to something as simple as “I don’t like their face”. **Burt Lancaster** is one for me. I have no idea what he was like as a person, but I have an instinctive dislike for “him”. And I can’t stand **Rex Harrison**. At all, in any role. I’m not entirely sure why. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/79 "2021-08-23T18:33:46Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I still laugh way too much at the freeway crossing scene and the scene in the parking garage. . . and I’ve seen it at least five times. Probably Eddie Murphy’s last laugh-out-loud funny role(s). ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212/80 "2021-08-23T18:47:22Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Are all you Doper atheists also shunning all the output of those who believe? Depends if they devote their career to hectoring dominionist Christian cinema (Kirk Cameron and the like), but then I don’t watch those movies anyway. I’m fine watching someone whose religious beliefs I find goofy even by the standards of contemporary religion, like say Rene Russo, who was/is a member of one of those “rolling on the ground speaking in tongues” sects. Her three-time costar Mel Gibson, mentioned above, is of a faith that dictates how he treats other people (the anti-Semitism through to holocaust denial), and he’s a much tougher sell for me. One of my favorite characters and actors of Doctor Who was The Brigadier, played by Nicholas Courtney. He was apparently quite religious in real life, but never proselytized. And he was such a joy to watch onscreen that I couldn’t care less. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disliking-an-actor-vs-the-character-they-play/949212.md?page=5)