# Exceptions to "actors who always play themselves" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [January 3, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524 "2025-01-03T15:54:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [January 4, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/94 "2025-01-04T18:02:33Z")
The first time I saw that scene, I assumed it was a time-traveling Robin Williams. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/95 "2025-01-04T18:12:42Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > He really had the intention to become a character actor? I mean, that would have been very optimistic, I think he’s one of the most wooden Hollywood stars ever, even more than John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Maybe even non-actor Schwarzenegger has more range. He wanted to make movies. His first movie won a slew of awards and was the highest grossing film of 1976 at $225 million. That would be nearly $1.25 billion today after inflation. He had his limitations as an actor, as a moviemaker he stands much higher in the ranks. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/96 "2025-01-04T19:25:51Z")
_The Mission_, for example. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/97 "2025-01-04T19:45:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > He wanted to make movies. His first movie won a slew of awards and was the highest grossing film of 1976 at $225 million. That would be nearly $1.25 billion today after inflation I’ve never understood that since I saw “Rocky” a few years ago for the first time. I knew that it was one of the rare cases of a low budget movie by a newcomer making big bucks, but to me it not only looked low budget (which is not always bad), but amateurish. The acting was atrocious by almost everyone, especially by Stallone himself, and the dialog was ridiculous. And don’t let us talk about the unrealistic story. I was entertained nonetheless by the often unintended hilarious dialog and snickered my way through a very bad movie. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/98 "2025-01-04T20:05:30Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And don’t let us talk about the unrealistic story. I find that line humorous, since the basic story of _Rocky_ - long shot underdog gets to fight the champ, loses but shows remarkable stamina, earning respect - was based on an actual boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. Wepner lost, but he went the distance, and even knocked Ali down. Stallone was then inspired to write the screenplay. > **[Chuck Wepner On Rocky, The Character He Inspired Stallone To Create](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2024/05/16/chuck-wepner-on-rocky-the-character-he-inspired-stallone-to-create/)** > > For a long time, Sylvester Stallone wouldn’t admit he created his Rocky Balboa character in the image of boxer Chuck Wepner. After a 2006 lawsuit was settled, he did. > **[Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Chuck_Wepner)** > > Muhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepner was a professional boxing match contested on March 24, 1975, for the undisputed heavyweight championship. > Ali won the fight after he knocked out Wepner in the fifteenth round. The fight is notable for being among the four fights in which Ali was officially knocked down in the ring, and for inspiring the 1976 film Rocky. > Wepner was 36 years old at this time, and after winning eight straight fights (including a win over former WBA heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell),... ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/99 "2025-01-04T20:15:49Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I find that line humorous, since the basic story of _Rocky_ - long shot underdog gets to fight the champ, loses but shows remarkable stamina, earning respect - was based on an actual boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner. Well, I stand corrected on that point, but I still think “Rocky” is a bad film. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/100 "2025-01-04T21:16:59Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I’ve never understood that since I saw “Rocky” a few years ago for the first time. I knew that it was one of the rare cases of a low budget movie by a newcomer making big bucks, but to me it not only looked low budget (which is not always bad), but amateurish. The acting was atrocious by almost everyone, especially by Stallone himself, and the dialog was ridiculous. And don’t let us talk about the unrealistic story. I was entertained nonetheless by the often unintended hilarious dialog and snickered my way through a very bad movie. The 70s wasn’t a great era for movies so it wasn’t that bad in comparison to what was available at the time. The story is entertaining, Stallone’s acting was excellent for the character, Burgess Meredith sucked, Carl Weathers was no Ali. The rest did a very good job of presenting realistic portraits of the characters, perhaps a little caricaturish yet commonly done that way in movies. It was a great story excellently told. As already noted it was a true story (not the only time Stallone based a movie on the life of Chuck “The Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner) and the audience loved it. The movie has prompted millions to run up the steps in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If you don’t like the movie don’t watch it again. Certainly don’t watch the sequels. It was not a very bad movie in the opinion of most and regarded very highly in the movie industry for it’s quality aside from it’s great financial success. I’m sorry you didn’t find it enjoyable in that way. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/101 "2025-01-04T21:59:18Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I can’t think of any examples where Pacino or Connery went off-character. > [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > > > Connery never changed his voice (except in Bond, a bit…) > > [Connery “plays” the Spaniard.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CIJc6lkqXY&ab_channel=NotMe) I don’t mind being ninja’d by @Gatopescado on this one, I have to mention **[Zardoz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=198AApQ9Abo)** too. The trailer does not even come close to the weirdness of the movie. And then there was this movie where he played some kind of reclusive author, inspired by Salinger, I think. Have forgotten the title, but it must have been out of character: I found it tedious. Just remembered and will forget it again very soon. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/102 "2025-01-04T22:31:47Z")
One thing I will say about Sylvester Stallone is as much as The Rambo character has been become symbolic of the big dumb action movie star----Stallone’s actual performance as John Rambo in _First Blood_ is remarkably more nuanced and subdued than one would think. And if the sequels to _First Blood_ were **never** made I think the film and Stallone’s performance in it would be more highly regarded. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/103 "2025-01-04T23:12:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > And then there was this movie where he played some kind of reclusive author, inspired by Salinger, I think. _Finding Forrester_ (2000). > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > **Gene Hackman** seems to have similar roles in the films he’s in. His bit part in Young Frankenstein, though, is a total departure from his usual role. I didn’t even realize it was him until I read the Wiki page on the film. For both Gene Hackman and Al Pacino, I highly recommend 1973’s _Scarecrow_. They both play against their later types: Hackman is an ex-con without much control of his emotions, and Pacino is a sweet-natured, none-too-bright former sailor. If you’re a fan of either it’s a must-see. > [@TriPolar](#): > > Nicholson doesn’t play the same character every time. He does plays every character the same way. They’re all doing a Jack Nicholson impression. See his early (1963) turn in the Roger Corman hoot _The Raven_. He really hadn’t yet developed any of his well-known affectations. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > I mean, he doesn’t play himself in everything. He is in Magnolia and Collateral and is totally different in those. When he (Tom Cruise) isn’t playing himself, someone ELSE has to do it: see Christian Bale in _American Psycho_. (Bale is in the ‘disappears into roles, mostly’ category, I’d say.) > [@kitap](#): > > Speaking of **Jumanji** , Jack Black was ridiculously believeable as a teen age girl in it. Especially in the second in that series, _Jumanji: The Next Level_, several performers not known for the range or variety of their acting got to show off their chops. Kevin Hart got to play Danny Glover, and Dwayne Johnson got to play Danny DeVito, to name but two. (They look like they’re having fun.) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/104 "2025-01-04T23:15:30Z")
Early in his career, Hanks played characters who were sleazy or sarcastic jerks several times (most prominently in “Bachelor Party” but note in “Dragnet,” he’s the one who plays the modern cop, not the straitlaced Joe Friday) and on TV he was the drunk who hit Alex Keaton (and on Bosom Buddies, his roommate was the idealist, while Hanks played the wilder one). It’s rather startling when you look at Hanks later career. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2025, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/105 "2025-01-04T23:25:36Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > _Finding Forrester_ (2000). [clears throat] [puts on glasses] [takes a sip of water] [pauses for a moment] [gestures at portrait on wall] “I’m that one.” [/reclusive author who hates doing this] ---
**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:** [January 4, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/106 "2025-01-04T23:27:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > I’ve never understood that since I saw “Rocky” a few years ago for the first time. I knew that it was one of the rare cases of a low budget movie by a newcomer making big bucks, but to me it not only looked low budget (which is not always bad), but amateurish. The acting was atrocious by almost everyone, especially by Stallone himself, and the dialog was ridiculous. And don’t let us talk about the unrealistic story. I was entertained nonetheless by the often unintended hilarious dialog and snickered my way through a very bad movie. > > The 70s wasn’t a great era for movies so it wasn’t that bad in comparison to what was available at the time. If you say that in a room full of film scholars ans movie critics you better duck. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/107 "2025-01-04T23:33:12Z")
I’m old enough to remember when _Rocky_ was released (though I was ten years old at the time) and that movie was _huge_. Enormously popular among audiences and also, as I remember, critically acclaimed. And of course it won a couple of minor awards. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/108 "2025-01-04T23:57:16Z")
Al Pacino also played a playwright dealing with estranged wife, their children, and his step children while having his latest play being produced on Broadway in Author! Author! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/109 "2025-01-05T00:04:23Z")
Talk of actors with range makes me think of Ed Harris - Apollo 13’s gruff commanding Gene Kranz, and The Truman’s Show’s elegant auteur Christof. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/110 "2025-01-05T00:08:14Z")
Infamously, Rocky beat out the far superior Raging Bull for best picture at the Oscars. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/111 "2025-01-05T00:20:22Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Infamously, Rocky beat out the far superior Raging Bull for best picture at the Oscars. Wasn’t it Ordinary People that beat Raging Bull? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/112 "2025-01-05T00:26:31Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Wasn’t it Ordinary People that beat Raging Bull? You’re right, Rocky beat Taxi Driver which is just insane. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524/113 "2025-01-05T00:39:28Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > You’re right, Rocky beat Taxi Driver which is just insane. Wow, that is something. I liked Rocky a lot as a kid, but Taxi Driver really is better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exceptions-to-actors-who-always-play-themselves/1012524.md?page=6)