# Roles that literally could only have been played by one person **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898 "2015-05-26T19:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/81 "2015-05-27T11:37:18Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > But Hollywood has a long history of putting A-list starts who couldn’t sing very well in singing roles from Broadway adaptations - Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls, Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia, and heck, Russell Crowe in Les Mis. They can make do with movie magic. If they wanted someone else in that role the movie would have been made. Not to mention Peter O’Toole and Sophia Loren in **Man of la Mancha**. I’ve only recently learned that by the time O’Toole was involved they had decided not to make it a musical (the TV play it was originally based on wasn’t a musical, so it’s not unreasonable), but then they changed their minds. One definite case of the role being written for the actor is the case of Horace Rumpole (“of the Bailey”). John Mortimer probably didn’t have anyone in particular in mind when he originally created the character, but Leo McKern played him so well and so long that Mortimer eventually wrote the teleplays (and stories) with McKern in mind. As far as I know, he’s the only one to ever portray the character on TV. He’s also read the stories for three different audiobook companies. Nevertheless, I’ve heard two audiobooks read by other actors – one a fairly anonymous voice actor whose name I can’t recall, the other by frequent movie actor Michael Hordern\*. They were both quite good, but I couldn’t imagine either of them as Horace Rumpole. \*Hordern has been in so many roles that I’ll guarantee you’ve seen or heard him, but he has no “signature” role I know of. If it helps, he was Senex (the father) in the movie version of _A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum_. He was also the narrator of _Barry Lyndon_. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/82 "2015-05-27T11:57:21Z")
Only Bill Cosby himself, could’ve played the part in ‘Bill Cosby: Himself’. Funnily the character I see on IMDb who’s been played by the most actors is ‘Himself’. Seriously, though, did any other actor have more box office draw, panache and physique to play Ali, than Will Smith, in 2001? Denzel is 14 years older, I think Jamie Foxx could’ve been in the running but he played Will’s cornerman, Eddie Murphy, Cuba Gooding Jnr and Lawrence Fishburne are all just ‘No, not this film’, Wesley Snipes perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/83 "2015-05-27T13:06:47Z")
> [@Sefton](#): > > If they’d cast Tom Selleck, it would have been awful. You can say that about literally any movie. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/84 "2015-05-27T13:23:11Z")
**Neil Patrick Harris** is the only one who could have played Neil Patrick Harris in the Harold & Kumar movies. (Worth noting that NPH wasn’t playing _himself_, he was playing a fictionalized character of himself) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/85 "2015-05-27T13:38:14Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Star vehicles where the actors are encouraged to do their shtick (and their shtick makes up much of the movie’s content) include: > Robin Williams in **Aladdin** (animated.) > > The films could have been made with other actors, but would have been so different as to not be the same film. It’s worth mentioning that for the first straight-to-video sequel (_the Return of Jafar_) and for the Saturday morning series, Dan Castellenata (Homer Simpson!) performed the part of Genie. He sounded remarkably like Williams. But, of course, he didn’t perform the same manic, freee-wheelin’ way. This is more obvious if you lok mat the second direct-to-video sequel, _Aladdin and the King of Thieves_, where the coaxed Williams back to the role, and his playing of the Genie is the only thing that makes it worth watching. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/86 "2015-05-27T13:54:55Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Probably the closest I could come is Harold Russell in **The Best Years of Our Lives** , where he played a serviceman returning home after losing both hands when his ship had been sunk. > > Harold Russell actually _had_ lost both hands (due to a training accident, not in combat). > > It’s kind of hard to find an actor who not only could act (he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor) and had both hands blown off. > > But for roles that (now in beautiful hindsight) we see only one person could play, George C. Scott as _Patton_ sticks out in my mind. The hetrosexuality was a bit of a giveaway. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/87 "2015-05-27T14:05:27Z")
Ok, so I quoted the wrong post. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/88 "2015-05-27T14:32:42Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > But for roles that (now in beautiful hindsight) we see only one person could play, George C. Scott as _Patton_ sticks out in my mind. Perhaps, as far as the \*role \*of Patton in the movie is concerned. On the other hand, if you are looking at a performance which is actually bears a resemblance to the actual General Patton, check out Darrin McGavin in the TV miniseries **Ike**. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/89 "2015-05-27T15:21:03Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by stillownedbysetters I have to add Jack Nicholsen in The Shining. He was perfection first as the jumpy on-the-wagon alcoholic, then sinking into a terrifying madness. I just can’t imagine anyone else doing the role as well. Actually, Stephen King didn’t like him in the role. He wanted someone who wouldn’t telegraph the fact that the character had the potential for going crazy. He wanted someone who looked like he was so steady, he’d never go nuts. King’s choice for the role was Michael Moriarty. You are 100% correct on this. And ordinarily I like it when the author has input on casting (maybe not the final call in all cases, but at least significant input), but this was an inspired bit of casting. The slow development of ‘crazy’ worked well in the book, but in the movie where things had to move along more quickly, you had to see the potential madness in the character early on, and Jack delivered. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/90 "2015-05-27T15:22:41Z")
Nick Nolte as Han Solo. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/91 "2015-05-27T15:37:18Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > So it’s 1977 and you’ve gotten the green light for a SUPERMAN movie, and you can pick literally any guy on the planet for the title role. No, go ahead; I’ll wait. I honestly think Redford, at that time, after a vigorous workout regimen and with his hair dyed black, could’ve done it, and done it quite well. > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I’m looking to be educated, Dopers. > > I was very, very lucky in that when the movies came out, I had never read the Lord of the Rings books, read The Hobbit a long time ago–didn’t like it, remembered almost nothing of it–never saw the Bakshi film, or anything else to give me a visual reference, in short, I had no expectations. I can’t imagine anyone but Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Maybe John Gielgud? Died in 2000. Max Von Sydow? I 'unno. Richard Harris? Too frail looking in the Potter films. Christopher Plummer? Nah. > > I’m open to suggestions. > > (Pardon the slight hijack) McKellen was very, _very_ good, but without straining too much I could see Von Sydow, Plummer, Anthony Hopkins or Sean Connery in the role. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/92 "2015-05-27T17:28:58Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [I think Jordan Prentice could have done it.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0696015/reference) I used to confuse the two of them before Game of Thrones came on. \ Yeah and I have to say I don’t quite understand why Peter Dinklage is so highly revered now. I think it must be because he plays a cool character and furthermore it’s unusual to have a cool, dwarf character. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he’s a great actor, but he doesn’t stand out for me amongst the stellar cast. And occasionally he hams up the accent. \ ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/93 "2015-05-27T17:35:40Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Maybe Eddie Murphy in **Beverly Hills Cop** Ooh, that reminds me: Maybe Eddie Murphy in **The Golden Child** Originally the movie was going to be played much more straight, and Eddie added a lot of the jokes, and improvised a lot. I can’t think of another comedy actor at the time that could have moulded the film in that way, or would have been allowed to. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/94 "2015-05-27T17:47:06Z")
Any candidates for Malcolm X besides Denzel Washington? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/95 "2015-05-27T17:54:33Z")
At the risk of being lumped with the people who didn’t understand the OP, Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in _ **Ed Wood** _ (at least in these times where Bela is dead). Yes, someone else could \*literally \*have played Bela Lugosi, but they wouldn’t have been Bela the way Landau was. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/96 "2015-05-27T19:19:03Z")
No one could have played E.T. as well as that kid with the big head and the glowing fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/97 "2015-05-27T19:23:35Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Ooh, that reminds me: Maybe Eddie Murphy in **The Golden Child** > > Originally the movie was going to be played much more straight, and Eddie added a lot of the jokes, and improvised a lot. > I can’t think of another comedy actor at the time that could have moulded the film in that way, or would have been allowed to. Tim Burton intended Beetlejuice to be far darker until Michael Keaton was allowed to do his thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/98 "2015-05-27T22:05:59Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The first attempt at filming the book had Arnold playing the Fezzik. By the time they filmed it, Arnold was too big a star but he recommended Andre for the role. Is this actually true? I read the same thing in IIRC the anniversary edition of the novel _The Princess Bride_, but I took it to be part of the fictional metastory. > [@dasmoocher](#): > > Any candidates for Malcolm X besides Denzel Washington? He would have been too young for the 1992 film, but Nigel Thatch played Malcolm X in _Selma_. He only has one scene so I couldn’t judge whether he could have carried a whole movie, but I thought he looked a lot more like the real Malcolm X than did Denzel Washington. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/99 "2015-05-27T22:56:48Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Danny Devito: Louie De Palma Andy Kaufman - Latka Gravas (and Tony Clifton) Christopher Lloyd - Reverend Jim Larry Hagman - J.R. Ewing. ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898/100 "2015-05-28T00:21:05Z")
The actor Michael Williams played the character Williams in Branagh’s _Henry V_. He was born to play the role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roles-that-literally-could-only-have-been-played-by-one-person/720898.md?page=6)