# Does anyone have a more iconic list of characters to their credit than Harrison Ford? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [August 1, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928 "2023-08-01T20:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/21 "2023-08-01T21:48:25Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Mike Myers was: > Wayne Campbell > Austin Powers > Dr. Evil > Shrek …Fat Bastard Goldmember Linda Richman (from SNL: “_Caw-fee twalk with ‘Powl Bowldwin’_…talk amongst yourselves!)” ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/22 "2023-08-01T22:09:08Z")
Is Queeg an anti-hero? I left out various gangsters, too, and a question mark beside Dobbs, but would add Charlie Allnut as one of Bogart’s iconic roles that characterize a theme that runs a little deeper than “shoots,fights, and blows stuff up good,” as each wrestles with what it means to be moral in a crazy world in which the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/23 "2023-08-01T22:12:21Z")
**Tom Cruise:** Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible) Pete “Maverick” Mitchel (Top Gun) Jack Reacher Austin Powers Lestat the Vampire Les Grossman Jerry Mcguire Joel from Risky Business Lt Daniel “You can’t handle the truth” Kaffee Vincent from Collateral ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/24 "2023-08-01T22:17:40Z")
Hugo Weaving Elrond - LOTR + Hobbit series Mitzi - Priscilla Queens of the Desert Agent Smith - Matrix series Red Skull - Captain America Douglas Jardine - Bodyline tv series At one time he joked he only did trilogies now. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/25 "2023-08-01T22:20:41Z")
Robert Duvall Boo Radley in _To Kill a Mockingbird_ Ned Pepper in _True Grit_ Frank Burns in _MASH_ THX 1138 in _THX 1138_ Jesse James in _The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid_ Frank Harlan in _Joe Kidd_ Tom Hagen in _The Godfather_ and _The Godfather, Part II_ Colonel Radl in _The Eagle Has Landed_ Doctor Watson in _The Seven Percent Solution_ Colonel Kilgore in _Apocalypse Now_ Bull Meecham in _The Great Santini_ Harry Hogge in _Days of Thunder_ Al Seiber in _Geronimo: An American Legend_ Robert E. Lee in _Gods and Generals_ on TV: Louis Mace in _The Outer Limits_ episode “The Chameleon” Dwight D. Eisenhower in _Ike: The War Years_ Joseph Stalin in _Stalin_ Adolph Eichmann in _The Man Who Captured Eichmann_ ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/26 "2023-08-01T22:25:58Z")
Christopher Lee _Curse of Frankenstein_ as the creature _Horror of Dracula_ + 8 other films as Dracula _The Hound of the Baskervilles_ as Sir Henry _The Mummy_ as Kharis, the Mummy _Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace_ + 2 other films as Holmes _The Face of Fu Manchu_ + 4 other films as Fu Manchu _Rasputin, the Mad Monk_ as Raspy _The Three Musketeers_ + 2 other films as Rochefort _Lord of the Rings_ + 3 other films as Saruman _Star Wars_ + 2 other films as Count Dooku Plus assorted historical figures and Death ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/27 "2023-08-01T22:32:19Z")
[Sean Connery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Connery) was very iconic, just a great actor to watch. Bond, James Bond Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez from Highlander, a film I haven’t seen Daniel Dravot in The Man Who Would be King, ditto William of Baskerville in The Name of the Rose Hm. Except for the first, none of these really match what the OP was looking for. I still think he deserves a mention though ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/28 "2023-08-02T01:42:12Z")
How have we gotten this far in a thread about ICONIC roles, and no one has mentioned Jack Nicholson? Easy Rider The Last Detail Chinatown One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest The Shining The Postman Always Rings Twice Prizzi’s Honor The Witches of Eastwick Batman (his is the best Joker) Etc. Etc. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/29 "2023-08-02T01:55:32Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I believe Dracula. And also Van Helsing, if memory serves. Different films, of course. Now that’s an idea. An existential introspective movie about self-hatred. “I’m both the villain, and the hero. I kill, but must also kill myself.” I sense a workable one-man show. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/30 "2023-08-02T02:05:06Z")
I think the point of the OP was that each of these iconic roles needed to be played in more than one film. There are lots of actors with long, storied careers with dozens of iconic characters. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/31 "2023-08-02T03:33:30Z")
Michael Freeman isn’t a star, but he’s played many iconic roles, including Bilbo in the Hobbit movies, Dr. Watson in Sherlock, Arthur Dent in Hitchhiker’s, and CIA agent Everett Ross in a slew of Marvel movies. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/32 "2023-08-02T03:57:56Z")
Is he the body double for his brother Martin? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/33 "2023-08-02T08:41:27Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > From Han Solo to Indiana Jones, to Witness to The Fugitive, Blade Runner, all the same guy. Nitpick: Ford delivers a really good atypical character performance in _The Mosquito Coast._ Not at all his usual work. But audiences (unfortunately) didn’t turn out, so he made the entirely reasonable but still sad choice to retreat to comfortable convention. If _Mosquito Coast_ had performed at the box office, or if Ford had won an Oscar for it, maybe his career would be different, and we’d have gotten to see what else he’s capable of. Alas. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/34 "2023-08-02T09:29:10Z")
You left out “V” in V for Vendetta. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/35 "2023-08-02T09:39:44Z")
Hugh Laurie deserves an honorable mention. Bertrand Wilberforce Wooster (Jeeves & Wooster) Prince Regent George / Lieutenant George (Blackadder) Dr. Gregory House (House) ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/36 "2023-08-02T10:20:35Z")
I’d consider Dustin Hoffman long before many of the relatively young actors mentioned upthread, although I don’t think he’s ever played the same character in two or more films. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/37 "2023-08-02T10:29:27Z")
Elizabeth Taylor has an impressive list of iconic characters under her belt, including Cleopatra in Cleopatra, Pricilla in Lassie Come Home, Gloria Wandrous in Butterfield 8, Maggie Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Katharina in The Taming of The Shrew, Leslie Benedict in Giant, Velvet Brown in National Velvet, and many others. I think Taylor’s acting chops were often overlooked by her extreme beauty, but she was a great actress. Her portrayal of Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a masterclass in acting. Brilliant actress; great range. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/38 "2023-08-02T10:42:50Z")
Alec Guinness for: (multiple performances) Obi-Wan Kenobi (3 Star Wars appearances; Oscar nomination) George Smiley (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy + Smiley’s people) Kind Hearts and Coronets (he played 9 characters in the film!) (solo performances) The Lavender Hill Mob (Oscar nomination) The Bridge on the River Kwai (Oscar for best actor) Little Dorrit (Oscar nomination) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/39 "2023-08-02T10:59:41Z")
I don’t care for the guy, but Tom Hanks has to be up there. ---
**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 2, 2023, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/40 "2023-08-02T11:04:58Z")
Sir Ian McKellen - Gandalf and Magneto Sire Patrick Stewart - Picard and Prof X [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928.md?page=3)