# Does anyone have a more iconic list of characters to their credit than Harrison Ford?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928>\
**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:** 4

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**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:** [August 2, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/61 "2023-08-02T17:27:36Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> I guess, though, one could argue that a character like Dracula isn’t necessarily associated with a specific actor - Gary Oldman played a terrific Dracula. But Han Solo, Indiana Jones, that’s Harrison Ford.

For many decades, Bela Lugosi would have been the actor most associated with the role of Dracula here in the United States. But it’s been more than 90 years since it was originally released, and like most popular entertainers, memory of them fades after death.

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**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, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/62 "2023-08-02T17:46:02Z")

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No, but he can get confused with Michael Sheen. 😖

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**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/63 "2023-08-02T17:52:19Z")

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Can’t believe no one has mentioned Johnny Depp!

After he appeared on 22 Jump Street and the original Nightmare on Elm Street he has racked up an impressive list of characters.

Edward Scissorhands  
Ed Wood  
Sam in Benny and Joon  
Gilbert Grape  
Captain Jack Sparrow  
Don Juan DeMarco  
Donnie Brasco  
Raoul Duke - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  
Ichabod Crane  
Sweeney Todd  
Tonto  
Willy Wonka

… and a ton of other weird, eccentric, and historical figures.

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**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, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/64 "2023-08-02T19:27:57Z")

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> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> I think that many posters are missing this point.

Forget it Nars, it’s SDMB-town.

☹

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**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, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/65 "2023-08-02T22:19:17Z")

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Whose prisoner you are, and from which there is no escape.

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**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/66 "2023-08-02T23:26:35Z")

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The only woman listed here is Elizabeth Taylor but she doesn’t exactly meet the criteria of the OP, which is the same role in multiple movies. She did play the daughter in “Father of the Bride” and “Father’s Little Dividend” but does anyone even remember the name of the character?

Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley would count but Sigourney didn’t have any other roles in franchises. The same goes for Carrie Fisher’s Leia. The iconic roles listed in this thread are for the most part action hero roles, a lot of them taken from literature. There doesn’t seem to be many iconic characters written for women. Or at least considered worthy of filming.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/67 "2023-08-02T23:34:21Z")

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> [@aurora\_maire](#):
>
> Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley would count but Sigourney didn’t have any other roles in franchises.

She was in both _Avatar_ movies so far, but in the second one she appeared as Grace Augustine (her character from the original film) only in one or two brief scenes. She also played Grace’s 14-year-old daughter Kiri in the second film, through the magic of CGI. She is slated to play Kiri again in the last two installments.

She was also Dana Barrett in both _Ghostbusters_ and the forgettable _Ghostbusters II_

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/68 "2023-08-02T23:53:21Z")

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Eddie Murphy:

as Reggie Hammond in 48 Hours and Another 48 Hours

as Sherman Klump and six other characters in both The Nutty Professor and The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

as Prince Akeem Joffer and three other characters in both Coming to America and Coming 2 America

as Axel Foley in Beverley Hills Cop and two sequels

as Donkey in four Shrek films

as Dr. Dolittle in two films

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**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/69 "2023-08-03T00:18:30Z")

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I was going to mention Samuel Jackson, since he has at least three multi-movie characters (Nick Fury, Mace Windu, Darius Kincaid [Hitman’s series]) and plenty of other iconic single movie roles.

But the lack of female iconic characters makes me jump to my second mention, Zoe Saldana!

Uhura (3 reboot movies), Gamora (many MCU), and Neytiri (Avatar)!

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**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 3, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/70 "2023-08-03T02:10:27Z")

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> [@bibliophage](#):
>
> She was also Dana Barrett in both _Ghostbusters_ and the forgettable _Ghostbusters II_

And a cameo in _Ghostbusters: Afterlife_

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/71 "2023-08-03T02:39:14Z")

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> [@Alessan](#):
>
> And of course, Keanu Reeves is Theodore “Ted” Logan, Neo and John Wick.

He’s the one I was going to suggest.

Reeves has nine different action figures; Duke Caboom, Jack Traven, John Constantine, John Wick, Johnny Silverhand, Johnny Utah, Neo, Ted Logan, and himself.

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**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 3, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/72 "2023-08-03T12:42:39Z")

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> [@aurora\_maire](#):
>
> There doesn’t seem to be many iconic characters written for women. Or at least considered worthy of filming.

Angelina Jolie: Lara Croft and Maleficient

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/73 "2023-08-03T12:54:29Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Reeves has nine different action figures; Duke Caboom, Jack Traven, John Constantine, John Wick, Johnny Silverhand, Johnny Utah, Neo, Ted Logan, and himself.

Wasn’t he also Johnny Mnemonic? Or is that one of the Johnathans you mentioned?

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/74 "2023-08-03T13:05:56Z")

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> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Wasn’t he also Johnny Mnemonic?

He was, but nobody would call the role or the movie iconic.

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**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:** [August 3, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/75 "2023-08-03T13:10:22Z")

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You know, in Hollywood productions, we could start talking about how Jackie Chan was Chief Inspector Lee in the RUSH HOUR films, and John Wayne Chon Wang in the SHANGHAI NOON films, and Master Monkey in the KUNG FU PANDA films — but how about Wong Fei Hung in the DRUNKEN MASTER films? Or Jackie in the ARMOUR OF GOD films? The POLICE STORY sequel he did with Michelle Yeoh? The LUCKY STARS sequels he did with Sammo Hung? And so on?

(And I see he’s now Splinter in the new TMNT movie that _must_ be meant to spark a sequel, right?)

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/76 "2023-08-03T13:24:47Z")

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> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#):
>
> You know, in Hollywood productions, we could start talking about how Jackie Chan was

Were those iconic characters, or were they all Jackie Chans?

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**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:** [August 3, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/77 "2023-08-03T13:30:37Z")

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…they were all Jackie Chans, but wearing different pants.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/78 "2023-08-03T16:03:41Z")

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> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#):
>
> …they were all Jackie Chans, but wearing different pants

Because one pair of pants isn’t big enough to hold Jackie Chan.

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**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/79 "2023-08-03T17:09:53Z")

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A long, long time ago, I posted a trivia question:

What actor has reprised the most different roles. And even then I believed it was Ford. …wasn’t think of voice actors. There’s a good chance he’ll add Thunderbolt Ross to the list now that he’s replaced William Hurt.

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**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-more-iconic-list-of-characters-to-their-credit-than-harrison-ford/987928/80 "2023-08-03T17:12:59Z")

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And in Predator! Less Arnie speak…better film.

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