# How actors that have been typecast deal with it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** actor-characters\ **Created:** [April 16, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321 "2026-04-16T19:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/61 "2026-04-18T00:18:21Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > He got over it though. Right now he’s got one of the most diverse set of roles out there (between Dark Knight, his Churchill movies, slow horses, etc) > [@Jasmine](#): > > Good point, and I think it’s because he is a great actor. Unfortunately, many actors who spend their entire careers typecast do so because it is the only thing that makes them stand out Yes, but how would we know this if we’ve only seen them in one type of role? Who knows how much range they may have? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/62 "2026-04-18T01:12:10Z")
The stereotype is actors hate being typecast because they long to be recognized for their dramatic range and want new ideas and projects to keep things personally interesting. But that probably depends on the actor. If making bank by doing many similar Marvel movies, that likely eases the burden. Advantages to typecasting might be having parts written with you in mind, not having to audition as much, easier work, greater efficiency, plug and play fan base, etc. I’d bet some actors actually like or easily tolerate being typecast. And if not, there is always Broadway or other avenues more forgiving about creative expression. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/63 "2026-04-18T01:16:42Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Vito Scotti was all over the place. I just learned recently that he had a brief role in **The Godfather** , as Nazorine the baker. That’s a pretty well known role. They also brought him back to play the same character in _Godfather 3._ ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/64 "2026-04-18T02:42:11Z")
I didn’t know that either, I’ll keep an eye out next time I watch **Godfather 3.** I remember him as one of the Soviet cosmonauts on **Gilligan’s Island** , and the leader of the band of Romani who visit Mayberry (_Through the forest, wild and free, comes our Gypsy melody_…) ---
**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:** [April 18, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/65 "2026-04-18T02:59:41Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I remember him as one of the Soviet cosmonauts on **Gilligan’s Island** , As well as being the mad scientist, Dr. Boris Balinkoff, on two episodes; in one, he swapped the bodies and minds of all of the castaways. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/66 "2026-04-18T03:08:06Z")
Scotti had a remarkably prolific career as an actor, but he wasn’t one of the cosmonauts on _ **GI** _. [Vito Scotti - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vito_Scotti) Until I read the article, I never realized he was the Japanese sailor who turned up in a miniature submarine in Season 1. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/67 "2026-04-18T03:28:57Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I remember him as one of the Soviet cosmonauts on **Gilligan’s Island** According to IMDb, the cosmonauts Igor and Ivan were played by Vincent Beck and Danny Klega, respectively. “Nyet, Nyet, Not Yet” is one of my favorite episodes: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yc79LzHhHSE/maxresdefault.jpg "Gilligan's Island - Mr. Howell's Spy Plan") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc79LzHhHSE) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/68 "2026-04-18T03:36:37Z")
“So Sorry, My Island Now”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dIhcM2rB36g/hqdefault.jpg "Gilligan's Island - Japanese Sailor vs. Ginger in Judo Fight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIhcM2rB36g) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/69 "2026-04-19T05:09:00Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I didn’t know that either, I’ll keep an eye out next time I watch **Godfather 3.** He was the baker at the beginning of _The Godfather_. He asks for help keeping an Italian POW in the country because his daughter fell in love with him. That POW, Enzo the Baker, later helps Michael at the hospital. One cool Easter in part 3 is at the celebration in the beginning Enzo and his father in law made the cake. They got both Vito Scotti and the original guy who played Enzo to appear. It’s a blink and you missed it but it’s a nice touch. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/70 "2026-04-19T06:27:22Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’m acquainted with an actor who was one of the stars of a very popular TV show in the 1980s (ranked in the top 20 shows for six years and the top 10 for two years). Not Patrick Duffy, by any chance? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/71 "2026-04-19T07:26:57Z")
No, not Duffy. I doubt that he’d really care if I revealed his identity, but I’d rather not since I don’t have his explicit permission to discuss our private conversations. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/72 "2026-04-19T08:27:46Z")
I have a very good idea of who it might be, but I’ll respect your reticence. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/73 "2026-04-20T13:32:40Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Yes, but how would we know this if we’ve only seen them in one type of role? Who knows how much range they may have? You wouldn’t. However, I’ve seen typecast actors have a shot at a bigger role in a movie, fail, and that was it. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/74 "2026-04-21T07:36:27Z")
As an on-screen actor, sure. I’m sure for many people (myself included) he’s even better known as _Inspector Gadget_ though. Not that that’s not typecasting 🕵 ---
**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:** [April 21, 2026, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/75 "2026-04-21T08:33:48Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > You might be a great Falstaff but if that’s the _only_ thing you’re good at, you’re not much use to the company unless they’re performing Henry IV or the Merry Wives of Windsor. Nonsense - if you’re good at Falstaff in both plays, you’ll likely make a _great_ Toby Belch or Bottom and you can always play Antonio, Capulet - any large older man… ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/76 "2026-04-26T22:58:33Z")
I bet Jason Statham has no problem being typecast as the guy who shoots guns, blows stuff up, drives fast cars, beats people up and kisses pretty girls. I bet he actively resists the idea of expanding his range. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/77 "2026-04-26T23:12:09Z")
I don’t know - he might want to do more comedy. He’s surprisingly good at it. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321/78 "2026-04-30T19:14:49Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I bet Jason Statham has no problem being typecast as the guy who shoots guns, blows stuff up, drives fast cars, beats people up and kisses pretty girls. I bet he actively resists the idea of expanding his range. He’s a Movie Star not an Actor. You can be one or the other or even both. Professional Wrestlers, for instance, understand the assignment perfectly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-actors-that-have-been-typecast-deal-with-it/1029321.md?page=3)