# Twinskie actors
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 12, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986 "2024-01-12T01:57:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/21 "2024-01-14T04:55:22Z")
They appeared post 7-ish
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### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/22 "2024-01-14T07:06:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Are Robt. Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and Charlton Heston essentially interchangeable in many of their movies?
To me, Kirk Douglas seems more similar to Burt Lancaster than to either Robert Mitchum or Charlton Heston.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/23 "2024-01-14T14:56:05Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> I can never keep straight whether it’s Bill Pullman or Bill Paxton in a given movie without looking it up.
Bill Pullman is the one still making movies. Still able to, anyway.
I have confused Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling in movies before. Two generically handsome actors with the same first name. I find it easier to tell them apart by personality than by sight. Even in their acting personas, Reynolds always seems to play a wisecracking smartass while Gosling usually plays more serious roles.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/24 "2024-01-14T15:22:41Z")
Not to be confused with the Ivy League Chrises:
> **[Chris Brown](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown)**
>
> Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. He's regarded as one of the most prominent artists in R&B music,\[note 1\] being credited as an evolver of the genre, and often being referred to by contemporaries as the "King of R&B".\[note 2\] His R&B has been characterized by several influences from other genres, mainly pop music and hip hop. His lyrics develop predominantly over emotional and hedonistic themes.\[note 3\] Brown has had wide compar...
> **[Chris Cornell](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cornell)**
>
> Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. He also had a solo career and contributed to numerous movie soundtracks. Cornell was the founder and frontman of Temple of the Dog, a one-off tribute band dedicated to his late friend Andrew Wood. Several music journalists, fan polls and fellow musicians have regar...
> **[Chris Penn](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Penn)**
>
> Christopher Shannon Penn (October 10, 1965 – January 24, 2006) was an American actor. He was the brother of actor Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn. Noted as a skilled character actor, he was typically cast as a tough character, featured as a villain or a working-class thug, or in a comic role and had roles in such films as The Wild Life, Reservoir Dogs, The Funeral, Footloose, Rush Hour, Corky Romano, True Romance, Beethoven's 2nd, Short Cuts, The Boys Club, All the Right Moves, At Close Range...
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### Author:  [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/25 "2024-01-14T16:00:46Z")
There’s a persistent rumor that Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are brothers
> **[Woody Harrelson shares new ‘proof’ that Matthew McConaughey could be his brother](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/woody-harrelson-matthew-mcconaughey-brother-related-b2331461.html)**
>
> ‘True Detective’ stars could be related, but are yet to take DNA test
And when I saw Skeet Ulrich in As Good As It Gets, I thought I was watching Johnny Depp.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/26 "2024-01-14T16:15:07Z")
Keira Knightly and Natalie Portman.
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### Author:  [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/27 "2024-01-14T20:18:37Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#):
>
> And, for reasons perhaps best left unexamined, we find ourselves living in the age of [the Chrises](https://ohtorch.com/7674/entertainment/hollywoods-four-chrises-cause-confusion-and-swooning/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20famous,Chris%20Pine%2C%20and%20Chris%20Pratt.)
_And they’re all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look just the same._
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/28 "2024-01-16T21:57:23Z")
> [@solost](#):
>
> Even in their acting personas, Reynolds always seems to play a wisecracking smartass while Gosling usually plays more serious roles.
The way I remember them, Reynolds was Deadpool, and Gosling was Young Hercules.
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/29 "2024-01-17T00:10:09Z")
The two I always mix up are Elizabeth Banks and Rachel McAdams.
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### Author:  [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/30 "2024-02-01T16:09:12Z")
Is it [Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqSn5Cnw74)
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/31 "2024-02-01T18:51:35Z")
For the older crowd, there was James Franciscus, James Farentino and Tony Franciosa. Even TV guide had a jokey article that they were really all the same person.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/32 "2024-02-02T00:46:09Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#):
>
> Is it [Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqSn5Cnw74)
I get how the brain can trip over the names but I don’t understand not telling them apart. They look nothing alike.
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### Author:  [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/33 "2024-02-02T16:22:33Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> Not sure about those three, but I can never keep straight whether it’s Bill Pullman or Bill Paxton in a given movie without looking it up.
I don’t quite understand the conflation of Pullman and Paxton. They are both character actors named Bill but I feel their looks are unique enough and their body of work is so distinctive that they shouldn’t be mixed up. I don’t want to disparage anyone else’s experience on this but both have/had roles that has affected me so differently that I can always tell them apart.
Bill Pullman: Spaceballs, Ruthless People, Independance Day, While You Were Sleeping, Torchwood: Miracle Day
Bill Paxton: Fish Heads, Near Dark, Aliens, Navy Seals, True Lies, A Simple Plan, Twister, Big Love
Also I must admit that my teenager’s name is Paxton but we named him that long after I discovered my appreciation for the actor. 😉
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### Author:  [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/34 "2024-02-02T21:49:45Z")
I’ve never understood that one either. Perhaps it’s like _Hold me closer Tony Danza._ A meme, if you will.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/35 "2024-02-02T21:54:20Z")
I thought of a couple actors I can never get straight. Not due to looks, they look nothing like each other, but their names.
James Marsters and James Marsden. The first was Spike on _Buffy_, the other was Cyclops in _X-Men_. (The _X-Men_ movie which also had Shawn Ashmore who I previously mentioned.) The “James Mars Guys” are two I will never ever stop getting confused. I will always have to Google a name to remember. I had to do it before writing this post.
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### Author:  [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/36 "2024-02-02T22:12:12Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> > [@YamatoTwinkie](#):
> >
> > Is it [Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqSn5Cnw74)
>
> I get how the brain can trip over the names but I don’t understand not telling them apart. They look nothing alike.
Neither do the Bills, Chis’, or Ryans. I can see confusing the names but not faces
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/37 "2024-02-02T22:35:28Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#):
>
> I don’t want to disparage anyone else’s experience on this but both have/had roles that has affected me so differently that I can always tell them apart.
>
> Bill Pullman: Spaceballs, Ruthless People, Independance Day, While You Were Sleeping, Torchwood: Miracle Day
>
> Bill Paxton: Fish Heads, Near Dark, Aliens, Navy Seals, True Lies, A Simple Plan, Twister, Big Love
Their personas are also different: Pullman usually plays goofballs, and Paxton usually played assholes.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/38 "2024-02-03T00:06:20Z")
Speaking of Paxtons who look nothing like another similarly named actor, I always have to remind myself which one is [Sara Paxton](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Paxton) and which is [Sarah Polley](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Polley).
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### Author:  [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/39 "2024-02-03T00:50:18Z")
I’ve gotten Kerry Washington and Gugu Mbatha Raw confused.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2024, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twinskie-actors/995986/40 "2024-02-03T04:14:33Z")
Before Lord of the Rings, I confused Sean Astin and Ethan Hawke.
Lord of the Rings helped me solidify who Sean Astin is.
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