# Portrayed/appeared in same film **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123 "2008-10-29T18:14:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/41 "2008-10-29T23:26:08Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > SE Hinton is a she? I should have known from the initials (only female authors use initials, to hide their femaleness), but I always thought she was a guy. J.R.R. Tolkien was a woman? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/42 "2008-10-29T23:42:03Z")
This is really stretching it, but I’ll mention it anyway: There was an absolutely completely dreadful almost unwatchable adaptation of [Breakfast of Champions](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120618/)a few years ago. If you’ve read the book then you know that Kurt Vonnegut is a major character in the story- essentially he’s God. In the movie they got rid of most of Kurt’s “scenes” and lines and scattered around the rest of his dialogue and narration, so he’s not really a character, unless you count it as basically a PowerPoint of the book. ## Anyway, Kurt Vonnegut appears as the director of a commercial for Dwayne Hoover’s Pontiac Dealership. (He also appears in _Mother Night_ in which he wasn’t a character, though Howard Campbell [the main character] is a supporting character in both the novel and the movie versions of _Slaughterhouse 5_ in which Kurt _does_ appear, so if you want to stretch it to the point of the filament thin you could make an argument.) More to the OP: [Ghosts of Mississippi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_of_Mississippi) is a movie about the conviction of Byron de la Beckwith, the murderer of Medgar Evers, in 1994 (31 years after the murder). The children of Medgar Evers are portrayed as young kids in the flashback scenes and by themselves in the 1994 scenes. Bobby Delaughter, Myrlie Evers (Medgar’s real life widow played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film), Delmar Dennis (KKK member turned FBI informant who testified in the Beckwith trial and numerous others), and several other members of the Evers, and DeLaughter families and or associated with the case (detectives, court reporters, etc.) appear in courtroom shots, parade scenes, and as extras in the courthouse (it was filmed on location). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/43 "2008-10-29T23:43:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > J.R.R. Tolkien was a woman? Yep, and had a lifelong lesbian affair with C(laudia) S(uzanne) Lewis. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/44 "2008-10-30T00:34:53Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > If we include authors… John Irving played a wrestling referee in **The World According to Garp**. Tama Janowitz had a cameo in **Slaves of New York**. Doug Kenny and Chris Miller were Delta brothers in **Animal House**. And Stan Lee is in many Marvel Comics movies. Author James Dickey played the Sherrif in the movie of his novel _Deliverance_. Several of the people who were portrayed by actors in the movie \*Searching for Bobby Fischer \*appear in the movie (Bobby Fischer is NOT one of them). ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/45 "2008-10-30T00:55:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Yep, and had a lifelong lesbian affair with C(laudia) S(uzanne) Lewis. It was a three-way with T.S. Eliot. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/46 "2008-10-30T01:46:40Z")
In addition to his role in _Garp_ (which I’d forgotten) John Irving also played the train conductor in _The Cider House Rules_, for which he wrote the screenplay from his novel. > [@Small\_Hen](#): > > I’m not _positive_ about this one, but in the Andy Kaufman biopic **Man in the Moon** , Danny Devito plays Kaufman’s manager. At one point, they’re on the set of Taxi, but I can’t remember if a stand in for Devito (circa Taxi days) is used or not (I saw it a long time ago). I watched that for the first time on Hulu a few weeks ago; I don’t think the character of Louie appeared in any of the _Taxi_ scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/47 "2008-10-30T01:54:01Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > It was a three-way with T.S. Eliot. Who was also a furbie with a cat fetish. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/48 "2008-10-30T02:08:26Z")
A nice twist on the O.P.'s scenario would be the original Broadway production of _Arsenic and Old Lace_. The villain of the play, Jonathon Brewster, becomes extremely violent whenever anyone points out his resemblance to Boris Karloff (the result of a botched face alteration procedure performed by a hungover plastic surgeon). Naturally, the role of Jonathon was played by…Boris Karloff. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/49 "2008-10-30T05:43:07Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > I’m not _positive_ about this one, but in the Andy Kaufman biopic **Man in the Moon** , Danny Devito plays Kaufman’s manager. At one point, they’re on the set of Taxi, but I can’t remember if a stand in for Devito (circa Taxi days) is used or not (I saw it a long time ago). This is the one I was going to mention but for a different reason. Bob Zmuda, played by Paul Giamatti, played a producer of _Fridays_. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/50 "2008-10-30T06:46:43Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > It was a three-way with T.S. Eliot. Who later in life found her Sapphic soulmate, e e cummings. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/51 "2008-10-30T07:01:26Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > A nice twist on the O.P.'s scenario would be the original Broadway production of _Arsenic and Old Lace_. The villain of the play, Jonathon Brewster, becomes extremely violent whenever anyone points out his resemblance to Boris Karloff (the result of a botched face alteration procedure performed by a hungover plastic surgeon). Naturally, the role of Jonathon was played by…Boris Karloff. Trivia: the actor and the reference were replaced with Bela Lugosi for the national tour. (In the last Broadway revival [1980s] it was Jonathan Frid of _Dark Shadows_ fame, later replaced by Abe Vigoda, but the Karloff references were kept [and the aunts were played by Marion “Mrs. Cunningham” Ross and Jean “Dingbat” Stapleton). ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/52 "2008-10-30T07:41:56Z")
Blimey - you lot were busy while I was asleep! ---
**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 30, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/53 "2008-10-30T14:34:40Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > Who later in life found her Sapphic soulmate, e e cummings. Who, incidentally, had a passionate collegiate romance with E(loise) B(elinda) White. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/54 "2008-10-30T14:37:02Z")
OK, OK. I know that initials don’t _always_ signify a female author, but it is a well known trick used by female authors to disguise their gender. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/55 "2008-10-30T14:42:20Z")
Mary Higgins Clark played a reporter in the TV movie adapted from her book “Where are the Children?” In [“Call Me Anna,”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099209/) based on her autobio, Patty Duke played herself as an adult, but two other actors played her as a child and teenager (and Matthew Perry played Desi Arnez Jr.!) ---
**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 30, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/56 "2008-10-30T14:49:07Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > OK, OK. I know that initials don’t _always_ signify a female author, but it is a well known trick used by female authors to disguise their gender. That’s just what J(ohn) K(enneth) Rowling _wants_ you to think. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/57 "2008-10-30T14:52:20Z")
Frank Abagnale had a brief cameo as the cop that takes his character into custody near the movie’s end in **Catch Me if you Can**. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/58 "2008-10-30T15:01:22Z")
In the Little Rascals movie, one of the kid’s parents was played by the actor who played the kid in the original series. I _think_ it was Alfalfa, but I won’t swear to it. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/59 "2008-10-30T17:08:36Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Trivia: the actor and the reference were replaced with Bela Lugosi for the national tour. (In the last Broadway revival [1980s] it was Jonathan Frid of _Dark Shadows_ fame, later replaced by Abe Vigoda, but the Karloff references were kept [and the aunts were played by Marion “Mrs. Cunningham” Ross and Jean “Dingbat” Stapleton). Further trivia: Boris Karloff was unable to make an appearance as Jonathon in the movie version of _Arsenic and Old Lace_ because of his commitment to the Broadway production, which was _still_ running. The part was played instead by Raymond Massey, who looked far more like Abraham Lincoln’s evil twin than like Karloff. Not to say he didn’t do a fantastic job. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123/60 "2008-10-30T18:11:24Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > OK, OK. I know that initials don’t _always_ signify a female author, but it is a well known trick used by female authors to disguise their gender. Yeah, but when men write books they should use their real names, like George Sand. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/portrayed-appeared-in-same-film/470123.md?page=4)