# Humorous Allusions to Actors' Previous Roles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191 "2020-12-16T16:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/241 "2021-03-15T03:51:52Z")
and oddly enough, in the remake - the likeness is uncanny! ---
**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:** [March 15, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/242 "2021-03-15T18:20:07Z")
Now that another thread has reminded me, _Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back_ has tons of these. Among them: - Jason Biggs and James Van der Beek discussing _American Pie/Loser/Boys and Girls_ and _Dawson’s Creek_ - Mark Hamill referring to himself as a Jedi master - Ben Affleck talking about _Good Will Hunting_ and _Phantoms_ - Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reprising their roles from that movie in a parody sequel, which includes them mentioning _Dogma, Reindeer Games_, and _Bounce_ ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/243 "2021-03-15T19:09:48Z")
In _The Men Who Stare at Goats_, George Clooney describes what a Jedi warrior can do, and Ewan McGregor asks “What’s a Jedi warrior?” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/244 "2021-03-15T19:33:34Z")
In this _Justice League_ cartoon, Mark Hamill, playing himself, is kidnapped by the Joker and the Trickster. He distracts them by imitating both of their voices. Of course, Hamill is the voice artist for both characters. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EL-VHe_4GmE/maxresdefault.jpg "Justice League Action | Missing the Mark | @dckids") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL-VHe_4GmE) Also, the Trickster mentions _Corvette Summer_, which is one of Hamill’s previous films. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/245 "2021-03-15T22:31:59Z")
Hamill also voices Swamp Thing, who shows up at the end. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/246 "2021-03-15T22:43:18Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > On **The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel** , Susie (Alex Borstein) imitates a telephone-answering secretary by speaking in a high-pitched nasal voice…which sounds uncannily like Lois Griffin from **Family Guy**. And _Family Guy_ did a _Marvelous Mrs. Maisel_ reference, too. A cutaway gag had Stewie in the Gaslight Club with Susie, saying something like “Why can’t _we_ get an Emmy?” Although I guess that’s technically a reference to her later role, since Borstein was on Family Guy first. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/247 "2021-03-16T19:21:12Z")
In 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin plays Jack and is introduced to Ryan: “Ryan, Jack. Jack, Ryan.” Alec of course played Jack Ryan in “The Hunt For Red October.” ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/248 "2021-06-09T12:52:04Z")
An episode of Eureka involved going to Global Dynamic’s morgue. Taggart (Matt Frewer) utters this line just before opening the door: “You want every single second.” Which was his last spoken line in Dawn of the Dead (2005). ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/249 "2021-06-09T13:12:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I didn’t read through the whole thread, but in _Hot Shots: Part Deux_ , there’s a scene in which Charlie Sheen is traveling upriver in a boat, and his father Martin Sheen is in a boat traveling downriver. As they pass, both Sheens shout out, “I loved you in Wall Street!” Charlie co-starred in that movie, and the elder Sheen had a supporting role as his father. It’s also a humorous tribute to Martin Sheen’s role in _Apolypse Now_ . There’s another allusion in that scene as Charlie Sheen played the lead in _Platoon_, and the monologue he is giving (narrating what’s in the letter) is nearly identical to one in _Platoon_. So, Charlie Sheen: _Platoon_. Martin Sheen: _Apocalypse Now_. Both at least superficially Vietnam War movies, both narrating the contents of documents (although I learned recently that it may actually have been Martin’s brother, Joe Estevez, narrating the documents in _Apocalypse Now_–anyway, its the character portrayed doing the reading all the same). The Sheens: _Wall Street._ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/250 "2021-06-09T20:04:05Z")
^ See post 195 as to the Sheens and Vietnam War movies. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/251 "2021-10-09T17:25:23Z")
The last few episodes of _Doom Patrol_ feature a time traveler. In the most recent episode, someone sarcastically called her “Doctor Who.” The character is played by Michelle Gomez. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/253 "2021-10-10T11:43:25Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The original _Wayne’s World_ features a cameo appearance from Robert Patrick, reprising his role as the T-1000 from _T2: Judgement Day,_ and he’s still looking for Edward Furlong. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > He’s also in the Arnold Schwarzeneggar movie **The Last Action Hero** , also pretty obviously playing the T-1000 in an article, I read a few hours ago that originally the t-1000 was supposed to be played by rocker blily idol but his infamous motorcycle accident screwed up a lot of projects he was scheduled to do “Idol eventually had a steel rod placed in his leg and recovered, but at the time the accident derailed his flourishing career. He was set to play villain T-1000 in _Terminator 2: Judgment Day_ , but director James Cameron had to recast the role.” > **[Billy Idol opens up about addiction, nearly losing leg in accident: 'I could...](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/billy-idol-opens-up-about-addiction-nearly-losing-leg-in-accident-i-could-have-died-190059085.html)** > > "I needed to get ahold of myself. I was going to kill myself, or I was going to go crazy, or be locked up forever," the rock star says of his 1990 epiphany, which inspired his new single. Blockquote ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/254 "2021-10-10T19:07:21Z")
Was just watching an episode of 30-Rock in which Alan Alda sees Tracy Morgan breaking down about a chicken and a baby and says, “A man crying about killing a chicken and a baby? I thought this was a comedy show.” A rather ham-fisted reference to Aldas role in the MASH finale. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/255 "2021-10-10T19:59:41Z")
The sitcom Just the Ten of Us (1988) had a line about “This looks like something out of Nightmare on Elm Street.” The girl speaking was Heather Langenkamp, who starred in Nightmare on Elm Street part one (1984) and part 3 (1987). One of her co-stars on the sitcom was JoAnn Willette, who’d had a role in Nightmare’s part two (1985). Another of the co-stars was Brooke Theiss, who would go on to have a role in part 4 (1988). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dfZmU8DKTCs/maxresdefault.jpg "Retro Fat - A Reaction to Just the Ten of Us #01 - Move It or Lose It (Pilot episode)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfZmU8DKTCs) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/256 "2021-10-11T18:01:22Z")
In _Duck Tales_ David Tennant does the voice of Scrooge McDuck. In the time travel episode he growls “I hate time travel.” One of Tennant’s previous roles being Doctor Who. In a _Justice League Action_ Episode Mark Hamill gets kidnapped by the Joker and The Trickster then gets rescued by the Swamp Thing. Hamill voiced all three characters in previous cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/257 "2021-10-26T13:34:05Z")
Not a show that I watch, but apparently in **Succession** (HBO) James Cromwell’s character said “That’ll do” to his grandson in an obvious allusion to his famous line from **Babe**. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/258 "2021-10-26T17:29:49Z")
Here’s Stephen Tobolowsky channeling his **Groundhog Day** role on **Silicon Valley** : [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ctPVRZUttBQ/maxresdefault.jpg "In Groundhog's Day reference, Gavin Belson and Jack Barker meet at airport") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctPVRZUttBQ) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/259 "2021-10-26T19:16:39Z")
LOL. He should’ve repeated his name at least twice more, and a little more stridently, to really nail the gag. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/260 "2021-11-14T20:12:06Z")
Just thought of a new one: much of the plot of _The Freshman_ is a reference to Marlon Brando’s role in _The Godfather_. Though he has a different name, Brando plays a character so similar that people in the film remark on the resemblance. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191/261 "2022-04-03T13:43:26Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > In another episode, Jane Curtin’s character is watching television and the announcer says “Up next, the Susan Saint James story” to which Curtin dismissively snorts and says “Who’d want to watch _that?_ ” before changing the channel. In yet another _3rd Rock_ episode, Lithgow’s character breaks up a garage band rehearsal to start ranting about the evils of rock and roll, a clear reference to his role in _Footloose_: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UyZzXbc0eSk/hqdefault.jpg "3rd Rock from the Sun - Footloose homage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyZzXbc0eSk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-allusions-to-actors-previous-roles/928191.md?page=14)