# Hannibal question (non-spoiler) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735 "2001-02-16T13:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/1 "2001-02-16T13:58:00Z")
I went and saw Hannibal yesterday, then someone was telling me that the Fire Marshal Bill guy was played by Gary Oldman. Is that true? If so, why would they get such a high profile (and expensive) actor to play a part that he isnt even recognized in, he does no real acting, and his voice probably could have been overdubbed by any Joe Schmoe without anyone noticing? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/2 "2001-02-16T14:11:56Z")
Could be he just wanted to be in the movie. And Gary Oldman does tend to wear a lot of makeup in the films I’ve seen him in. But remember it’s “show _business_”. While I don’t think _Hannibal_ needed one more “name” to have people flocking to it, “names” are used to generate more public interest. Would anyone have gone to see (name of film) if (well-known actor/actress) wasn’t in it? I don’t want to mention specific films/actors because peoples’ tastes are different, but often people will see a film just because “name” is in it or “name” directed it. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/3 "2001-02-16T14:35:40Z")
Yes, he was in the movie, but he was only listed in the end credits (not opening credits, trailers, or posters). I have no idea why, but it casts doubt on the idea of him being used for publicity. Similarly, Kevin Spacey was in Se7en but wasn’t publicized, evidently because they (or he?) wanted the identity of the killer to be a secret. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/4 "2001-02-16T18:10:26Z")
Haven’t you noticed that Gary Oldman is seldom recognised in his films? He’s a total shape-shifter! It’s what’s made him famous. I’m shocked at the huge array of characters the man is capeable of portraying. I must disagree with your opinion that he does no real acting. On the contrary, he does a tremendous job acting! Gary Oldman is a very straight-laced (cockney!) Brit. His American, German, Transylvanian etc accents are perfect! I thought it was amazing how he sounding nothing like himself in Hannibal. I don’t know, Cisco. To each his own I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/5 "2001-02-16T18:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alias \* > \*\*I must disagree with your opinion that he does no real acting. On the contrary, he does a tremendous job acting! \*\* Gary Oldman is a great actor, I loved his role as Sid Vicious. I meant he did no real acting in Hannibal. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/6 "2001-02-16T21:38:34Z")
\*Yes, he was in the movie, but he was only listed in the end credits (not opening credits, trailers, or posters). I have no idea why, but it casts doubt on the idea of him being used for publicity. \* He didn’t appear in the credits because he wanted billing on the level with Hopkins and Moore. When he didn’t get it, he elected to have his name left out of the billing entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/7 "2001-02-17T17:45:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by winterhawk11 \* > \*\*\*Yes, he was in the movie, but he was only listed in the end credits (not opening credits, trailers, or posters). I have no idea why, but it casts doubt on the idea of him being used for publicity. \* > > He didn’t appear in the credits because he wanted billing on the level with Hopkins and Moore. When he didn’t get it, he elected to have his name left out of the billing entirely. \*\* I saw him interviewed on The View (I know, I’m lame) and he said that he wanted his name left off the billing because he was playing the man with no face… he was going to be the actor with no name. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/8 "2001-02-17T18:48:18Z")
Wasn’t Fire Marshall Bill the name of one of Jim Carey’s characters on _In Living Color_? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/9 "2001-02-17T18:50:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alias \* > \*\*Gary Oldman is a very straight-laced (cockney!) Brit. His American, German, Transylvanian etc accents are perfect!. \*\* He’s no cockney, that’s for sure. And what on earth was that accent in **The Fifth Element**? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/10 "2001-02-17T22:15:45Z")
**JeffB** is right. Fire Marshall Bill is a Jim Carrey character in the series _In Living Color_. The character Oldman played was called Mason Verger ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2001, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/11 "2001-02-19T05:03:29Z")
I think Gary Oldamn enjoys the reputation he has for being able to play any role convincingly. I just assumed it was because of this that he chose not to be listed among the top-billed cast. It adds to the reputation that he can be anyone, anywhere, at anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2001, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-question-non-spoiler/54735/12 "2001-02-19T18:51:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\ ***JeffB** is right. Fire Marshall Bill is a Jim Carrey character in the series _In Living Color_. The character Oldman played was called Mason Verger \*\* 2 different characters? Coulda fooled me 😉