The one artistic work celebrities will be known for after they die

Cafe Society
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As everyone knows, Michael Clarke Duncan died over the weekend. One thing I noticed is that in all news reports, if they mention him in anything, its The Green Mile., a movie from 1999. What? Nobody thought to mention his work in Daredevil? (ok, fine, that one’s self-explanatory)

But seriously, it makes sense. The Green Mile seems to be his highest acclaimed work; he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for it. Even though the movie’s 13 years old, nothing he’s done since seems to have eclipsed that.

That got me to wondering, in the short headline of a news bulletin, what one work would some of today’s stars be generally known for if they died tomorrow?

Tom Hanks: He’s had so many big movies, but if I had to put one film, its probably Forrest Gump. It might not be the best critically reviewed movie, I think people have debated whether or not it deserved the Best Picture award since it came out, but it seems to be his most iconic film with some real iconic lines. Maybe Big would be another movie he’ll be mentioned with, but if I had to pick I’d go with Forrest Gump

Harrison Ford: He’s a hard one. Would you pick his first blockbuster Star Wars or his starring vehicle Indiana Jones? Star Wars came first, and is the bigger franchise by far, but he starred in more Indiana Jones movies over a longer period of time and was the main star? I don’t see people mentioning him in Blade Runner except in cult circles though

Leo DiCaprio: I think this is pretty easy, it has to be Titanic. He’s branched out a lot since then and became a serious actor, but I think everyone still thinks of him as Jack

Quentin Tarantino: Not an actor, but prolific director. I think its a toss-up between Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, or Kill Bill. If I had to pick one, I’d go with Pulp Fiction

George Clooney: He’s an odd one. I think that a lot of his more critically acclaimed movies were ones nobody saw, and generally he’s seen as a pretty boy actor. He didn’t win anything for the Ocean’s movies, but I think they’d mention that over something like Michael Clayton or The Descendants. To me, he’s one of those actors that you’d watch a movie with him in it, but his acting never really makes an impact on you

Meryl Streep: I have to be honest, I don’t really watch her movies, not my type of thing I’m interested in. But she has such a long list, how do you even pick? I’d say the headlines will probably just mention the last movie she won an award in, so The Iron Lady it is

Anyway, this is just a random sampling of actors. Agree/disagree? Pick your own!

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Some can’t be defined by “just one.” Harrison Ford will always be known as both Han Solo and Indiana Jones. I don’t think Meryl Streep has “a” movie (and if I had to choose one to represent her, it would probably be The French Lieutenant’s Woman).

On the other hand, some are obvious - pretty much anybody who has been James Bond is stuck with 007 for life, and I don’t think Daniel Radcliffe will ever do anything to shake off being Harry Potter.

Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman.
Geena Davis: Thelma & Louise.
Susan Sarandon: also Thelma & Louise - in fact, I doubt either will ever be mentioned without the other, any more than Bud Abbott was always mentioned as making films with Lou Costello.
Denzel Washington: I hesitate to say Training Day, as it’s not that big of a film (and had he not won his Oscar for it, I doubt many people would remember it), but has he been in anything big? I for one will remember him for the TV series St. Elsewhere.

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I think Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney are very difficult to pin down to single, career- defining role. None of the films you mentioned for them were the ones I would pick, whereas someone like Clint Eastwood (who, if anything has done far more artistically that the others) is probably going to be “the man with no name” for eternity.

That my opinion anyhoo.

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Oh I got a good one: Kevin Bacon. What do you put in his headline? “Kevin Bacon, prolific actor, is now one degree away from death…”

Its funny that you bring up Denzel. He’s a great actor, very emotive, has a unique style of talking, but I can’t really think of many blockbusters where he’s the main star. I wouldn’t be able to pick a movie for him at all.

I have another one: Christopher Walken. Somehow, I’m hoping he’ll best be known for More Cowbell

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If Eastwood died this week, you really think any obit is going to lead with his film career? :stuck_out_tongue:

It’s fun to write obits of still-living people–I used to do that for a living. It was how reporters got trained–and got tested–writing news stories, producing obits that an editor would look at when he had a moment, and correct, or give back and tell the newbie what to fix. It requires real judgment to pick out the highlights of a person’s life–with an artist, I’d look for honors and oddities rather than an artistic achievement, because that judgment might be quirky and personal. If Philip Roth died this week, I’d guess that “Prolific author Philip Roth, 80, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his novel XXXXX and the National Book Award for his novel YYYYYY, died last night…” will lead because it’s safer and more authoritiative than just stating the obit writer’s personal judgment.

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I think “Footloose” when I think Kevin Bacon.

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I have some:

Aretha Franklin – Respect
Malcolm McDowell – A Clockwork Orange
Morgan Freeman – The Shawshank Redemption

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I would say Driving Miss Daisy more than The Shawshank Redemption for Freeman.

Here’s another:
Clint Eastwood: say what you want about his westerns, but he’ll be Dirty Harry first and foremost - especially right after “Go Ahead; Make My Day.”

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Heath Ledger - Kind of a tough one, but I’ll go with The Joker from The Dark Knight.

He won awards for Brokeback Mountain, and was Best-Actor Oscar-nominated, but I think his Joker looms larger in our popular culture, and he actually won the Academy’s Best Supporting Actor for it.

Harrison Ford won’t be remembered for his performance in Blade Runner, but Rutger Hauer will be.

I’ll go with Indiana Jones for Harrison Ford.

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Clooney alluded to this himself in his Oscar acceptance speech. Paraphrasing: “So now I have my obituary: George Clooney, Oscar Winner, Batman, Sexiest Man Alive, dies in freak accident.”

I think Harrison Ford will always be remembered as Indiana Jones, but when he passes, they won’t name a film in his obit–he will just be Harrison Ford. Likewise the other megastars mentioned here. Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep will not be remembered for one role–though their headlines may include “Oscar Winner” or something to that effect.

In Duncan’s case, his obits needed to highlight The Green Mile; most folks wouldn’t have known who he was otherwise. If David Schwimmer were to die this month, his obit would mention Friends for the same reason. When someone like DeNiro dies, it will just read “Actor Robert DeNiro” or “Oscar Winner Robert DeNiro”; there won’t be one film singled out.

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I saw an interview with Peter O’Toole where the interviewer said the first line of his obituary will mention Lawrence of Arabia. O’Toole agreed, and seemed to be okay with that.

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I’ve got a whole list of people, and my guess is that for all of them their best known work will be the same show. Can you figure it out?

Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, and Walter Koenig.

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And I would say March of the Penguins narrator! :smiley:

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i didn’t know they were all on T.J. Hooker

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Do you think DeForest Kelley will die a second time?

:cool:

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Battle of the Network Stars!

No…wait…

Password?

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I’m of the opinon that George Clooney simply won’t be remembered. The newspapers will write about his death but in a few years he’ll be forgotten. None of his films really have enduring popular appeal, and he’s not (yet) credible as a storyteller. Same with Warren Beatty; the obituaries will go on about his womanising, his work will… I mean, do people think about Shampoo and Reds nowadays? Dick Tracey? Bulworth?

Steve McQueen, people remember him. Oddly for the brief sequence in The Great Escape where he commandeers a motorbike; an atypical part of a film he didn’t star in. But people remember him. Not Warren Beatty.

What about Robert Redford? As StusBlues points out the headline will probably be “Robert Redford Dies”, but the first line will inevitably mention Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Academy Award for directing, the film festival will… I dunno. If the festival continues, people might remember it more than they remember the man that founded it.

Woody Allen? I’d pick Manhattan. For the opening sequence. And it has something.

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I’m guessing Bonnie And Clyde will be the first movie mentioned.

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Johnny Depp will be Jack Sparrow, for sure.

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Michael Douglas = Gordon Gekko
Gene Wilder = Willy Wonka