Just had one tonight, had one from 2 decades ago, not really quite Mandela Effect worthy (even if I have another example there from music I am pretty sure on), as faulty memory was likely responsible in both of the film cases.
Mention on reddit of Empire of the Sun, the Spielberg epic about a kid surviving in an internment camp in the Japanese Empire in WW2. Someone mentioned John Malkovich, and I immediately went, “What role did he play in that? A diplomat or pilot or something?”
I checked Wikipedia, and there he was, playing one of the two con-artists who take the kid under their wing.
However, I clearly recall Matt Frewer, of Maxx Headroom fame, in that role. I went and watched a clip just now, and I kept wanting to kick Malkovich out and insert Frewer in–the latter has a very distinctive chin, and while their build and faces are otherwise pretty close, there was enough of a difference that I simply couldn’t accept that it was JM there. I guess when I first watched it I didn’t know who JM was but was familiar with MF, and my mind simply assumed it was the latter.
My earlier example was Ray Liotta as the psycho on the sailboat in Dead Calm (2 decades ago), but during a hotel room viewing I then realized it was Billy Zane instead. Again I knew the former (Field of Dreams), but not the latter or his name at least, their resemblance was close enough, made the wrong assumption.
John M. Jackson (JAG, recurring role on Bones, among other roles) and Mitch Pileggi (The X-Files, recurring role on Supernatural). Both of them balding, square-jawed, and frequently playing military/authority roles.
That the ‘The CON-SEE-ERDGE’ inthe 1967 ‘The Producers’ was Kathleen Freeman.
That the belly dancer’s partner in ST:TOS ‘Wolf in the Fold’ was Harold J. Stone.
That Glenn Shadix played Potiphar in the Donny Osmond version of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Without looking them up, l couldn’t tell you the actual actors, and even if I did, I won’t remember it a week from now.
Elijah Wood and Tobey Maguire share one neuron in my brain. Whenever I try to think of Elijah Wood’s name, I instantly think “You know, the one who’s not Tobey Maguire”.
Edit: I went to Wikipedia to see which one was in The Ice Storm and they were both in it! No wonder I’m confused.
Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino. When I think of a movie that either was in, I have to stop and think about which actor it was. Certainly I know their iconic roles - Godfather, Rain Man, etc,. It’s the less iconic roles where I get confused.
Character actors Taylor Negron and Vincent Schiavelli. The only thing they have in common is they both have fiveheads and were both in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, albeit in completely different roles.
Years ago Criminal Minds fired the actress who played JJ and brought on a different actress for a different role. I did not realize this and was very baffled why JJ was now called Seaver and was a newbie to the team for several episodes.
And while I don’t know about Terry Crews (who does play a fantasy nerdboy in Brooklyn Nine-Nine), I do know Henry Cavill is a hardcore Warhammer 40k fan.
