# Link 2 clips of the same actor performing in wildly contrasting roles

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 13, 2016, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071 "2016-04-13T08:15:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071/1 "2016-04-13T08:15:30Z")

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This thread idea was borne out of learning that **Ben Foster** , who I think is a wildly under-appreciated actor, had a role in the pilot episode of Freaks and Geeks (my favorite show ever). I wouldn’t have spotted him in a million years.

So, there’s [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goGaSpPamng) Ben Foster…

… compared to [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TijYhbb5Sf4&index=11&list=PLgpI8lb9pJHjO6WRf8MHzFl6jRJvmq2Ih&nohtml5=False) one.

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**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:** [April 13, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071/2 "2016-04-13T15:00:02Z")

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Charles Dance - hardass medieval warlord, or dancing queen?

[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE7ZPSrm2rU)

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wbvKEgoPt88/maxresdefault.jpg "Charles Dance (Tywin) in Ali G") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbvKEgoPt88)

Ian McKellen - Shakespearean Nazi, or wise old wizard?

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pjJEXkbeL-o/hqdefault.jpg "Richard III - Scene 3") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjJEXkbeL-o)

[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MU5_-lLjhQw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Hobbit: "Mithrandir, why the halfling?"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU5_-lLjhQw)

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071/3 "2016-04-13T15:07:03Z")

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Hugh Laurie in[Blackadder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7QAiz2DQgY) and [House](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gku93laoec).

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-2-clips-of-the-same-actor-performing-in-wildly-contrasting-roles/752071/4 "2016-04-13T17:28:41Z")

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[Peter Sellers](https://youtu.be/2yfXgu37iyI?t=39s)  
and [Peter Sellers](https://youtu.be/2yfXgu37iyI?t=1m44s)