# Ever confuse one actor for another? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757 "2026-07-18T01:25:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/1 "2026-07-18T01:25:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/2 "2026-07-18T01:32:12Z")
Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/3 "2026-07-18T01:41:32Z")
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. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5NTY2MTgxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDE2MzYzMzE@._V1_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTQ5NTY2MTgxM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDE2MzYzMzE@._V1_.jpg) [![](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/2da/cef/f7c242b521bdf242b6cf027f10d817c8d7-20-mitch-pileggi.2x.rhorizontal.w710.jpg) ](https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/2da/cef/f7c242b521bdf242b6cf027f10d817c8d7-20-mitch-pileggi.2x.rhorizontal.w710.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/4 "2026-07-18T01:58:01Z")
I’m told Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are not the same person, but I don’t believe it. Ditto George Kennedy and that other one. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/5 "2026-07-18T02:14:33Z")
I can think of three. I thought 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. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/6 "2026-07-18T02:33:12Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman. I can never keep those two sorted out without Google/IMDB assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/7 "2026-07-18T03:26:08Z")
Bill Pullman is the one still making films. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/8 "2026-07-18T04:22:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/9 "2026-07-18T05:34:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/10 "2026-07-18T05:57:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/11 "2026-07-18T07:22:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Ditto George Kennedy and that other one. George Kennedy is _sui generis_. I wouldn’t think it possible to confuse him for someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/12 "2026-07-18T08:49:54Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > 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. Your post made me think of this [![](https://i.redd.it/f4i45a35ier11.png) ](https://i.redd.it/f4i45a35ier11.png) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/13 "2026-07-18T09:03:39Z")
I could have sworn Patton Oswalt played Frank in _The Man Who Wasn’t There_. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/14 "2026-07-18T10:17:46Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Your post made me think of this I hate to ruin your day, but Vin Diesel is absolutely a complete D&D nerd. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/15 "2026-07-18T11:16:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/16 "2026-07-18T11:32:54Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Bill Pullman is the one still making films. While Bill Paxton is the guy who is navel lint. ---
**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:** [July 18, 2026, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/17 "2026-07-18T11:43:59Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I hate to ruin your day, but Vin Diesel is absolutely a complete D&D nerd. 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. Could be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/18 "2026-07-18T11:50:34Z")
In _As Good As It Gets_, I figured it was Johnny Depp who Greg Kinnear is painting when he’s beaten up and robbed. Nope - that is Skeet Ulrich. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/19 "2026-07-18T12:28:24Z")
Nathan “Captain Tightpants” Fillion ([https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0277213/mediaviewer/rm2737497600/?ref\_=nm\_ov\_ph](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0277213/mediaviewer/rm2737497600/?ref_=nm_ov_ph)) And Tim Guinee ([https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347375/mediaviewer/rm392066561/?ref\_=nm\_ov\_ph](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0347375/mediaviewer/rm392066561/?ref_=nm_ov_ph)) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757/20 "2026-07-18T13:36:36Z")
Saw The Road to Wellville in the theater in 1994 (liked it, wife hated it). Hadn’t seen it again for over 30 years. I had remembered Gene Hackman played one of the characters. Saw it again last year. Nope. It was Colm Meaney. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-confuse-one-actor-for-another/1031757.md?page=2)