# Most Impersonated Celebrity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010 "2019-02-05T15:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/21 "2019-02-05T19:37:46Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It is interesting that female impersonators aren’t really a thing, now that I think about it. > > Huh. Kristin Wiig is actually really good at several impressions. Her Drew Barrymore is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/22 "2019-02-05T19:40:37Z")
I have no contribution to this thread other than to report that when I first saw the thread title, I thought it said **Most Impregnated Celebrity?** , which I thought was a really weird topic for a thread, even on the Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/23 "2019-02-05T19:42:25Z")
For women, I would say someone from the golden age of movies like Greta Garbo, Bette Davis or Lauren Bacall. _You know how to whistle don’t you?_ ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/24 "2019-02-05T19:47:47Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Frank Caliendo? He’s kind of faded away recently, but ten years ago he was everywhere. And all he does is impressions. I’d forgotten about him. So, there’s one, at least. 😉 ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/25 "2019-02-05T19:53:13Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > It is interesting that female impersonators aren’t really a thing, now that I think about it. > > Huh. There were a few who I remember seeing on TV during the 1970s, when impressionists were more popular overall – I had to do a little googling to find [Marilyn Michaels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Michaels)’ name, but she was on TV a lot back then. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/26 "2019-02-05T19:53:29Z")
Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin. Tracey Ullman doing everyone from Helen Mirren to Laura Bush. Catherine Tate doing Queen Elizabeth II. (“Are you bovvered?”) ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/27 "2019-02-05T19:56:34Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Kristin Wiig is actually really good at several impressions. Her Drew Barrymore is hilarious. I suspect that most SNL cast members have a few impressions that they get fairly good at, as that’s part of the nature of the show – Tina Fey as Sarah Palin also comes to mind. OTOH, modern female comedians whose acts are based on impressions are probably even rarer than male impressionists today. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/28 "2019-02-05T20:11:23Z")
Michael Jackson, for the dance moves and the “wooo!” John Travolta, everyone disco dancing. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/29 "2019-02-05T21:44:54Z")
Santa Claus. You see 'em everywhere around Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/30 "2019-02-05T21:46:25Z")
I’m pretty certain that the reason comics don’t do impersonations any more is because celebrities have almost no recognizable mannerisms today. Can you really see anyone imitating Casey Affleck or Sam Rockwell or Jake Gyllenhaal? How would that be funny? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/31 "2019-02-05T21:55:43Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I’m pretty certain that the reason comics don’t do impersonations any more is because celebrities have almost no recognizable mannerisms today. Can you really see anyone imitating Casey Affleck or Sam Rockwell or Jake Gyllenhaal? How would that be funny? I’m no pro, but I can do a pretty funny Sam Rockwell. You squint your eyes a bit and talk out the front of your mouth. You do the face of Leo DiCaprio but you talk as a deeper and less vapid Owen Wilson ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/32 "2019-02-05T22:23:28Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m no pro, but I can do a pretty funny Sam Rockwell. You squint your eyes a bit and talk out the front of your mouth. You do the face of Leo DiCaprio but you talk as a deeper and less vapid Owen Wilson So you do an impersonation by impersonating somebody else badly? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/33 "2019-02-05T22:58:51Z")
Hey: it’s been working for Rich Little for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/34 "2019-02-05T23:05:56Z")
I’m getting sick of _everyone_ attempting Tilda Swinton, Jeremy Irons, Mickey Dolenz, and Kirsten Dunst. Enough already! sheesh ETA - My Ernie Johnson is killer. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/35 "2019-02-05T23:12:38Z")
Elvis first. Charlie Chaplin and Groucho Marx are probably joint second. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2019, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/36 "2019-02-05T23:26:23Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Interesting question. Outside of strictly musical tributes, I’d guess Cher, or maybe Barbra Streisand – though both of them are obviously also singers, they both have quite distinct speaking voices and mannerisms, which are what impressionists latch onto. I’d put Marilyn Monroe ahead of both of them, with her breathy voice, her mannerisms, and her singing ("Happy… birthday… Mister President…). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/37 "2019-02-05T23:36:37Z")
Are we calling it “impersonation” when someone just quotes a line in the celebrity’s distinctive speech patterns? That’s an impression, maybe, but not an impersonation. An impersonation includes at least some attempt at capturing appearance and mannerisms, too. I’m inclined to agree with **Peter Morris** ’ top three. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/38 "2019-02-05T23:39:01Z")
There are no more stars. There are generic actor men with generic ‘man faces’ (as are most generic women ‘stars’.) . They are all interchangeable. Little brown hamsters running on the wheel of Hollywood. I can’t tell one from another. I can’t think of ANY present day ‘actors’ who have one distinguishing characteristic. They are all drones in spandex in Spiderman and Batman and Avenger movies. All just…meat. Like cattle, like Alfred Hitchcock called them. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/39 "2019-02-05T23:51:26Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > There are no more stars. There are generic actor men with generic ‘man faces’ (as are most generic women ‘stars’.) . They are all interchangeable. Little brown hamsters running on the wheel of Hollywood. I can’t tell one from another. I can’t think of ANY present day ‘actors’ who have one distinguishing characteristic. They are all drones in spandex in Spiderman and Batman and Avenger movies. All just…meat. Like cattle, like Alfred Hitchcock called them. Preach it!!! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010/40 "2019-02-06T00:20:16Z")
Has Alec Baldwin’s masterful performance as Trump stopped all other impressionists? May impressionists seem to be rather thin on the ground. Likewise those doing other UK politicians. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-impersonated-celebrity/829010.md?page=3)