# Roles/characters that couldn't be played by any other actor/actress **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756 "2020-01-02T01:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/21 "2020-01-02T13:17:06Z")
[Moderating] Merged duplicate thread. Also, if you’re reporting a duplicate, it really helps to include the link to the other one. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/22 "2020-01-02T13:27:03Z")
Benedict Cumberbatch as modern Sherlock Holmes. Johnny Lee Miller wasn’t bad, he just wasn’t _legendary_. Cumberbatch makes it look easy. Also, Jeremy Brett as classic Victorian Sherlock Holmes. I understand Roberet Downey Jr. is taking a third bite at that particular apple and I just wish he wouldn’t. Hugh Laurie as Gregory House. May nobody ever try to reinterpret that role. Rowan Atkinson as Blackadder and as Bean. I guess it helps that he created both roles. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/23 "2020-01-02T13:52:06Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Larry Hagman as JR Ewing Barbara BelGeddes as Miz Ellie. Not even Donna Reed could replace her. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/24 "2020-01-02T14:09:25Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > H’m. I was about to say Harrison Ford (again) as Indiana Jones…but then I got to thinking. > While he is the very picture of Indy in my mind, who’s to say another actor might have made something as good with the role…but in a different way? > For example, Tom Selleck, IIRC, was one of the finalists in the role. Would he have portrayed Indy in the same way? I think not. But would his version of Indy have been just as iconic as Ford’s version. I think it possible, though we’ll never know for sure. > To take an actual example, both Daniel Craig and Sean Connery have played James Bond. Both, to me, are very good at it - and they are very different portrayals of the character. Same with Eccleston and Tennant as the Doctor. > > In other words, while I have trouble picturing anyone but X as Y, a remake using Z might very well bring something interesting and new to the picture. > > Still, Indiana Jones _is_ Harrison Ford. 😉 That’s what I was thinking. We can only imagine Actor A in Role B because that’s who we’ve seen in the role, even creating the role. But had Actor C taken the part, we might have been satisfied. Part of the skill of being a casting director is seeing the possibilities before the role is cast. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/25 "2020-01-02T14:28:02Z")
Ron Perlman as Hellboy Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/26 "2020-01-02T15:02:59Z")
You just can’t tell. Maybe Selleck as Indy might have been even better. Even more iconic. As for Sherlock, not only can anybody play him, everybody does. Even if they call him House, or Goren, or Luther, or Patrick Jane, or Backstrom, or Raines, or Monk instead of Sherlock, the character of the genius detective with personal issues is near universal. And besides, everyone knows Basil Rathbone is the definitive Holmes. 🙂 ---
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/27 "2020-01-02T15:03:05Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > A few years ago, we would have agreed that Heath Ledger owned the character of the Joker, and the role should have been retired forever with his passing. That’s what I said about Cesar Romero. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/28 "2020-01-02T15:07:54Z")
Colombo. Oh, I suppose that someone else _could_ have done it but it wouldn’t have been anywhere as good. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/29 "2020-01-02T15:18:59Z")
I think it is going too far to say any role _couldn’t_ be played by another actor. I reckon for any given role there are half a dozen capable actors that could’ve slotted in and done a great job. In those universes our perceptions would have shifted and we would not be able see it any other way either. It is probably more reasonable to say which actor completely _owned_ a character to the extent that a remake would struggle to do better. In that case I’d suggest Robert Shaw as Quint in Jaws. How many actors get to nail _that_ many scenes in such instantly memorable ways? ---
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/30 "2020-01-02T15:20:17Z")
I’m not sure there’s any part that can’t be successfully played by other actors. Years ago, people thought that only Robert Preston could play Harold Hill, yet Craig Bierko was great in the revival. Yul Brynner was the definitive king of Siam, yet Lou Diamond Phillips was fine in the role, as was Ken Watanabe. Superman was always George Reeves, until it was Christopher Reeve. Batman was only Adam West until it was Michael Keaton, until it was Christian Bale. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/31 "2020-01-02T15:39:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > [Moderating] > Merged duplicate thread. Also, if you’re reporting a duplicate, it really helps to include the link to the other one. Noted for future reference, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/32 "2020-01-02T15:49:19Z")
James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/33 "2020-01-02T15:53:31Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Colombo. Oh, I suppose that someone else _could_ have done it but it wouldn’t have been anywhere as good. Like Indy and Selleck, I’ll disagree on this one. I could see a same period Walter Matthau doing a great Colombo, and I could see a current day Jeff Goldblum. You just have to rein him in a bit. Thinking about it, I’d rather have had Matthau. Unless the glass eye is necessary, to put the suspect off guard, keep them distracted. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/34 "2020-01-02T17:19:32Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader Definitely. He does such a good job with the role that I was really hoping the last prequel or Rogue One would have Darth Vader as one of the featured characters. It’s a shame that never happened. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/35 "2020-01-02T17:20:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I could see a same period Walter Matthau doing a great Colombo, and I could see a current day Jeff Goldblum. You just have to rein him in a bit. I’m pretty sure Mark Ruffalo could’ve nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/36 "2020-01-02T17:20:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Like Indy and Selleck, I’ll disagree on this one. > > I could see a same period Walter Matthau doing a great Colombo, and I could see a current day Jeff Goldblum. You just have to rein him in a bit. > > Thinking about it, I’d rather have had Matthau. Unless the glass eye is necessary, to put the suspect off guard, keep them distracted. I can see Matthau doing an excellent job, but Jeff Goldblum comes across as too goofy to succeed in the role. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/37 "2020-01-02T17:28:55Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. As demonstrated by the Solo movie or considering an alternate universe where Tom Selleck was Indiana Jones (as he almost was in our universe), the character just doesn’t work with anyone else playing the role. Yes, IMHO they are basically the same character. > [@galen\_ubal](#): > > H’m. I was about to say Harrison Ford (again) as Indiana Jones…but then I got to thinking. > While he is the very picture of Indy in my mind, who’s to say another actor might have made something as good with the role…but in a different way? > For example, Tom Selleck, IIRC, was one of the finalists in the role. Would he have portrayed Indy in the same way? I think not. But would his version of Indy have been just as iconic as Ford’s version. I think it possible, though we’ll never know for sure. I don’t feel like looking for it but video of Selleck’s Indiana exists, from from a screen test IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/38 "2020-01-02T17:56:32Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > …but Jeff Goldblum comes across as too goofy to succeed in the role. It’s a fine line. At the time of Raines he could have probably done it, now today he just play Jeff Goldblum in any role. 🙂 > [@Skywatcher](#): > > I don’t feel like looking for it but video of Selleck’s Indiana exists, from from a screen test IIRC. It could have gone either way. _High Road to China_ is sort of a Indy role, and it isn’t that memorable. Magnum’s Legend of the Lost Ark, I mean, ART was better. 🙂 Was it the actor, or the material? Tales of the Gold Monkey was a Indy-inspired TV show, and I thought Stephen Collins was wrong for the part. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/39 "2020-01-02T18:00:31Z")
Billy Bob Thornton as both Bad Santa and as Karl in _Slingblade_. Clark Gable as Rhett Butler. Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski. Many others have done it, but he really nailed it. Bob Newhart in both of his TV series. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756/40 "2020-01-02T18:02:34Z")
I’m a little surprised no one’s mentioned Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly (_Back To The Future_), since that’s one that there’s actually empirical evidence for. (They tried making the movie without him, and it didn’t work.) > [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m not sure there’s any part that can’t be successfully played by other actors. > > Years ago, people thought that only Robert Preston could play Harold Hill, yet Craig Bierko was great in the revival. Yul Brynner was the definitive king of Siam, yet Lou Diamond Phillips was fine in the role, as was Ken Watanabe. > > Superman was always George Reeves, until it was Christopher Reeve. Batman was only Adam West until it was Michael Keaton, until it was Christian Bale. I’m inclined to agree. Still, there are some roles that a particular actor did so well, and so idiosyncratically, that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-characters-that-couldnt-be-played-by-any-other-actor-actress/845756.md?page=3)