# Get me Johnny Depp! "Sir, we can't afford Johnny Depp." THEN GET ME SKEET ULRICH! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 14, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472 "2010-03-14T20:08:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/41 "2010-03-16T00:46:07Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > I’m not sure there’s any comparison between these two. Levitt has made clear he’s not interested in just doing big bucks movies and that’s why he doesn’t, he does the low key, critically acclaimed movies instead (and does so extremely well). I don’t see how this compares to Ledger who was a very conventional actor in the respect that he wanted to go on to do bigger roles in bigger movies (and yes his final one was very very good). Why would Levitt be a replacement for Ledger when they don’t do the same films? While I mostly agree, have you forgotten about G.I. Joe? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/42 "2010-03-16T03:27:41Z")
Tom Hanks used to be the poor man’s Bill Murray, but I think it’s the other way around now. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/43 "2010-03-16T03:38:46Z")
I think [Ian Shaw](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0789757/) is at least a _backup_ Robert Shaw. He just needs to get a little more craggy. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/44 "2010-03-16T04:47:00Z")
My family and I used to do this when watching old movies. We’d always mention X, the guy they called when they couldn’t get Y. Having trouble remembering too many; I know Ralph Morgan was X to his brother Frank’s Y. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/45 "2010-03-16T05:00:48Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > My family and I used to do this when watching old movies. We’d always mention X, the guy they called when they couldn’t get Y. Yeah, me and my wife do that. I’m sure one of us said that line in the OP at some point or another, which is why it was floating around in my subconscious. And some people are someone else’s stunt double. Like Jesse Eisenberg is the low-budget project’s Michael Cera (well, maybe not after Zombieland, but they clearly wanted Cera for Adventureland), but Skeet Ulrich is actually more like Johnny Depp’s stunt double than someone they’d replace him with if they were low on funds. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/46 "2010-03-16T06:24:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I’ve heard _William Devane_ described as the “made for TV Jack Nicholson.” > > And aren’t all the other Baldwin brothers the made-for-TV Alec? > > Come to think of it, what does that make Jim Belushi and Brian Doyle Murray? Disappointments? ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/47 "2010-03-16T09:30:34Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I’ve seen this mentioned in a lot of different places on the net, but apparently a bunch of people believe Ledger and Levitt look EXACTLY alike. > > I don’t see it, but there you go. Having seen _10 things I hate about you_ where they were standing right next to each other, I definitely don’t agree. > [@Wolverine](#): > > While I mostly agree, have you forgotten about G.I. Joe? I didn’t forget, I purposefully didn’t watch what I knew was going to be a steaming pile of shit. That said, having checked IMDB: :eek:😕:dubious:☹ That film pretty much destroys my argument, unless of course he really REALLY wanted to do that movie so much he was willing to sacrifice his principles of only playing in good films. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/48 "2010-03-16T09:53:37Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Also, for a time in the late 80s, Dennis Quaid was a slightly cheaper Kevin Costner. Then Costner’s career went stratospheric with \*\*Dances With Wolves \*\*while Quaid’s stalled. Right now, however, Quaid’s standing is probably better than Costner’s. I always thought Mark Harmon was the cheap Kevin Costner. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/49 "2010-03-16T10:01:09Z")
Elijah Wood and Tobey Maguire seem pretty interchangeable. But which is the poor man’s version of the other? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/50 "2010-03-16T13:43:17Z")
Anthony Hopkins was the younger/cheaper Richard Burton. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/51 "2010-03-16T14:53:39Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > That film pretty much destroys my argument, unless of course he really REALLY wanted to do that movie so much he was willing to sacrifice his principles of only playing in good films. Actually, it doesn’t destroy your argument at all. People have asked Levitt about his choice to do that movie and he said that he thought it would be fun to do a blockbustery kind of thing and he knows he will probably never, ever have the chance again. It’s not something that was ever really in his plans otherwise. I only brought it up because so many people think Ledger and Gordon-Levitt [look alike](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4438436334/). Meh, they’ve got almond eyes and kid of the same mouth, but Levitt is one super scrawny dude. (Granted, a reviewer of _A Knight’s Tale_ recommended Ledger always keep his shirt on because when he was younger he was scrawny too, and looked “like a plucked chicken”.) ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/52 "2010-03-16T15:23:08Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > Actually, it doesn’t destroy your argument at all. People have asked Levitt about his choice to do that movie and he said that he thought it would be fun to do a blockbustery kind of thing and he knows he will probably never, ever have the chance again. It’s not something that was ever really in his plans otherwise. > > I only brought it up because so many people think Ledger and Gordon-Levitt [look alike](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9426210@N05/4438436334/). Meh, they’ve got almond eyes and kid of the same mouth, but Levitt is one super scrawny dude. (Granted, a reviewer of _A Knight’s Tale_ recommended Ledger always keep his shirt on because when he was younger he was scrawny too, and looked “like a plucked chicken”.) Oh, phew, vindication! 😃 Yes Levitt is one scrawny little puppy. You look at films of his from years ago thinking “I wonder what he’ll look like when he’s filled out a bit” and years later he still hasn’t. Maybe he’ll be like Cary Elwes and turn into a pudgy schlub in his 40s. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/53 "2010-03-16T15:35:20Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I’ve seen this mentioned in a lot of different places on the net, but apparently a bunch of people believe Ledger and Levitt look EXACTLY alike. > > I don’t see it, but there you go. > [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Having seen _10 things I hate about you_ where they were standing right next to each other, I definitely don’t agree… I was almost on the “they look nothing alike” train ([here’s a pic from _10 Things_](http://www.collider.com/wp-content/image-base/Movies/T/Ten_10_Things_I_Hate_About_You/10%20Things%20I%20Hate%20About%20You%20movie%20image%20Julia%20Stiles,%20Heath%20Ledger%20%282%29.jpg)), but now that Levitt has gotten a little older, I can see some resemblance from [certain](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wvJwIxzZHWY/Sbc-qY9XjhI/AAAAAAAAAEA/N6FYJofiVsk/s400/Joseph-gordon-levitt.jpg) [angles](http://www.memorial-walls.com/heath-ledger.jpg). That’s a far cry from saying their interchangeable. They’re completely different acting types, too. As much as I love Levitt, he just doesn’t have that screen-filling charisma that Ledger had. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/54 "2010-03-16T15:48:30Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > As much as I love Levitt, he just doesn’t have that screen-filling charisma that Ledger had. Hard to have screen presence when you disappear every time you turn sideways because you’re so skinny. Just sayin’. I actually really like Levitt, but yeah, he’s got a totally different feel to his performances. Very different performers those two. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/55 "2010-03-16T17:50:19Z")
Acting-wise, Dennis Leary is the poor man’s James Woods. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/56 "2010-03-16T18:19:12Z")
And then there’s Emile “I Guess Leonardo DiCaprio Was Busy” Hirsch. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/57 "2010-03-16T18:46:11Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > As much as I love Levitt, he just doesn’t have that screen-filling charisma that Ledger had. Pers_onally I rate Levitt higher - anyone who can go from Brick to Mysterious Skin and then into 500 days of summer_ so effortlessly should be rated highly, in my book. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/58 "2010-03-16T19:07:21Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And then there’s Emile “I Guess Leonardo DiCaprio Was Busy” Hirsch. I don’t get that at all. They’re ten years apart, at ages where those ten years _matter_. I \*might \*buy him as a 'young Leo" type, but no way as a substitute Leo. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/59 "2010-03-16T19:18:01Z")
Okay. Emile “I Guess Leonardo Got Too Old” Hirsch. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472/60 "2010-03-17T01:08:40Z")
Kenneth Branagh is the cheaper / less dead Olivier. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-me-johnny-depp-sir-we-cant-afford-johnny-depp-then-get-me-skeet-ulrich/532472.md?page=4)