# They Couldn't Have Picked A Better Actor/Actress For That Role **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455 "2009-07-18T17:28:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [July 22, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/121 "2009-07-22T13:58:32Z")
Sean Hayes as Jerry Lewis in the TV movie “The Jerry Lewis Story.” As a slight hijack, when I first read King’s “Rose Madder” I wished I could have gotten the movie rights so I could cast Demi Moore & Bruce Willis (they were together then) as Rose & Norman Daniels. I still wish I could do it, and cast Ashton Kushner as Paul Steinmen. They would be just perfect. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/122 "2009-07-22T14:14:42Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich [Ahem.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11361575&postcount=104) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/123 "2009-07-22T15:55:30Z")
Eddie Murphy as Donkey nearly stole the movie. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/124 "2009-07-22T16:54:16Z")
Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman! ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/125 "2009-07-22T17:32:39Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Eddie Murphy as Donkey nearly stole the movie. Ruined it for me. I have always referred to that portrayal as his “Ghetto Donkey” role. ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/126 "2009-07-22T19:23:32Z")
All the the actors in the Luc Besson’s “The Professional”-Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, and an over-the-top drug crazed Gary Oldman. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/127 "2009-07-22T20:51:27Z")
Well, I thought Babe Ruth was OK as that guy, what was his name in “Pride of the Yankees?” Oh yeah, Babe Ruth. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/128 "2009-07-22T20:59:07Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > Also in _The Green Mile_, Doug Hutchinson as Percy Wetmore. Totally agree–even now when I see him in his role on _LOST_, I automatically think, “Percy!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/129 "2009-07-22T21:08:44Z")
Cate Blanchett as [Queen Elizabeth I](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Darnley_stage_3.jpg)…twice. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/130 "2009-07-22T23:46:32Z")
[quote=“Thin\_Ice, post:90, topic:503455”] > [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > Adam Arkin as Yossarian. > > You mean Adam’s father Alan. Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/131 "2009-07-23T10:39:54Z")
I was stunned by how well Will Smith portrayed the swagger of Muhammad Ali. I haven’t cared much for the rest of his movies, I think he essentially plays himself. But can act when he needs to, and when combined with the bravado of ‘himself’, it was perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/132 "2009-07-25T15:05:14Z")
Alan Rickman as the leader of the terrorists in Die Hard. Christopher Lee IS Dracula.(Accept no imitations) Michael Douglas in Falling Down. Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart. Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/133 "2009-07-25T17:03:54Z")
I came in here to say “All of the cast of _Firefly_”, and now I’m going to have to retract that. Morena Baccarin as Inara does well, but someone else could play that role as well too. Same with Ron Glass as Shepard Book. Gina Torres (Zoe) and Sean Maher (Simon) do well, and no one could play those characters in quite the same way, but I’m open to the idea that other actors could play the roles as well, if differently. Nathan Fillion (Mal), Alan Tudyk (Wash), Jewel Staite (Kaylee) and Summer Glau (River) are all very, very good, and very well might be the best actors possible for the roles, but for me, the only actor who’s absolutely irreplaceable is Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb. I don’t think anyone else could show actual depth in that character without making Jayne into a sugary caricature of a tough guy with a sensitive side. This isn’t a slight to any of the actors involved, incidentally; it’s a tribute to well-written, complex characters who would easily stand up to exploration and different approaches by other talented actors. And I fully expect to be flamed over this opinion. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455.md?page=6)