# What Actor/Actress Will Always Be Character X For You **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909 "2007-11-10T14:44:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TripleTee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@TripleTee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TripleTee)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/41 "2007-11-11T08:53:24Z")
I thought of another one. No matter how many commercials he does for life insurance or oatmeal, Wilford Brimley will always be the evil head of security at the FIRM. “What do I look like to you? The fucking night watchman?” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/42 "2007-11-11T08:53:41Z")
Jeff Daniels will always be The Dude, and Mark Hamill will always be Luke Skywalker. Alas, they’ll never be those characters in the same place. Luke: I have a very bad feeling about this. The Dude: Well, that’s just, like, your _opinion_, man. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/43 "2007-11-11T09:24:05Z")
Hamill will, indeed, always be Luke Skywalker - but only in live action rolls. No images of the Joker busting out a lightsaber here. (Until now.) John Ritter will always be Jack Tripper. A slightly less unfair one - Harry Anderson will always be Judge Harry Stone, but that’s mostly because about the only time that I’ve seen him ever come out from behind the ‘Harry the Hat’ persona that Harry Stone was based around was as Dave Barry (who will always be Harry Anderson in my head, no matter how many times I see real pictures of him). ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/44 "2007-11-11T09:48:10Z")
James Marsters will always be Spike. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/45 "2007-11-11T10:59:53Z")
John Cleese has done many things, but he will always be Basil Fawlty for me. In fact, he’ll always be Basil Fawlty saying to some Germans, ‘Well you started it!’. Despite his many film roles, I can’t see Steve Martin as anything or anyone but the stand-up guy in a white suit, bunny ears, being ‘a wiiiild and craaaazy guy’. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/46 "2007-11-11T12:48:17Z")
David Jason is one of Britain’s most versatile TV actors. I’ve seen him in many different roles, but he will always, always be Del Trotter. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/47 "2007-11-11T15:23:01Z")
Tom Cruise will always be the kid from Risky Business. James Gandolfini will always be Tony Soprano. Willem Dafoe will always be the sargent from Platoon. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/48 "2007-11-11T16:03:27Z")
Everyone who was in \*Band of Brothers \* will always be “that guy from Band of Brothers.” Except Jimmy Fallon who didn’t belong in BoB anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/49 "2007-11-11T16:09:47Z")
William Daniels will always be Mr. Feeny for me. And Dan Hedaya will always be Cher’s dad from “Clueless.” ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/50 "2007-11-11T19:58:47Z")
David Hasselhoff will always be Michael Knight from _Knight Rider._ And even though William Daniels was KITT’s voice on that show, he’ll always be Dr. Mark Craig from _St. Elsewhere._ ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/51 "2007-11-11T20:50:14Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Everyone who was in \*Band of Brothers \* will always be “that guy from Band of Brothers.” Except Jimmy Fallon who didn’t belong in BoB anyway. [/QUOTE] Me, too. “Hey! It’s Nixon working in cubicle hell!” “Hey! It’s Major Winters solving crimes!” And Bruce Campbell _is_ Brisco County Jr. He didn’t “play” Brisco. He _is_ Brisco. Nothing can convince me otherwise, not even the Evil Dead movies. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/52 "2007-11-11T20:51:11Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Everyone who was in \*Band of Brothers \* will always be “that guy from Band of Brothers.” Except Jimmy Fallon who didn’t belong in BoB anyway. [/QUOTE] And Ron Livingston, who will always be the aforementioned guy from _Office Space_. Also David Schwimmer, who’ll always be Ross from _Friends_. Come to think of it, the whole cast of _Friends_ will always be their character from that show. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/53 "2007-11-11T22:57:51Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Everyone who was in \*Band of Brothers \* will always be “that guy from Band of Brothers.” Except Jimmy Fallon who didn’t belong in BoB anyway. [/QUOTE] And [Ron Livingston](http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/1999/images/officespace_lumbergh.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/54 "2007-11-11T23:38:25Z")
[Terribly geeky Disney Channel answer, especially for a 51-year old man]Raven Synome will always be Galleria, from _The Cheeta Girls_. In fact, given what I read of the Cheetah Girl Code in the book, I’m quite annoyed with her for thinking it’s okay for her to go off and have a solo career. Michaela gets a bit annoyed with me, in turn, when I insist upon this.[/TgDCa,efa5-yom] ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/55 "2007-11-11T23:40:43Z")
Heck, CSI: NY even names Gary Sinease’s character _Taylor_, fer crying out loud. The fanwank at the Warner Water Tower is that Liutenant Dan is Detective Mac’s weird uncle on his dad’s side that tells the coolest stories. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/56 "2007-11-12T00:12:03Z")
Speaking of Band of Brothers, I think most of the cast of “The Sopranos” will be remembered for their roles on that show. Though Lorraine Bracco might be equally remembered for her role as Karen in “Goodfellas.” It’ll be hard seeing Gandolfini, or Michael Imperioli or Edie Falco as anyone else, though. ---
**Author:** ![WomanofScorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@WomanofScorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WomanofScorn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/57 "2007-11-12T00:18:49Z")
Matthew Broderick will always be Ferris Bueller. Macaulay Culkin will always be the kid from Home Alone. Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be Buffy. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/58 "2007-11-12T00:28:27Z")
For me, Gary Sinise will always be Stu Redman from\*\* The Stand. \*\* All the Star Trek actors, natch, will be their characters. I fear Elijah Wood will always be Frodo to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/59 "2007-11-12T03:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=Zoggie] Speaking of Band of Brothers, I think most of the cast of “The Sopranos” will be remembered for their roles on that show. Though Lorraine Bracco might be equally remembered for her role as Karen in “Goodfellas.” It’ll be hard seeing Gandolfini, or Michael Imperioli or Edie Falco as anyone else, though. [/QUOTE] And the entire crew from Friends, for that matter. They will always be Ross, Joey, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Rachel. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909/60 "2007-11-12T03:47:13Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] All the Star Trek actors, natch, will be their characters. I fear Elijah Wood will always be Frodo to me. [/QUOTE] Agreed, any actor playing a recurring role on Trek will always be seen as their Trek persona, John DeLancie will always be “Q”, LeVar Burton will _always_ be Geordi, Wesley will always be a self-important little weenie that should be introduced to the Airlock ASAP, or at the very least, beamed into space as energy-only, Jeri Ryan will always be “The Comfy Borg” (Seven of Nine), even when her Borg implants are removed and she has a set of fangs instead, I was somewhat dissapointed that she didn’t manage to work one single “Resistance is Futile” into any of her scenes in the otherwise worthless film “Dracula 2000” Claudia Black will always be Aeryn Sun, whether she’s playing Varla on Stargate, or Purina Bird Chow in Pitch Black Ben Browder will _always_ be John Crichton, can I get a Frell Yeah! It’s nice that Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) was able to shed his Scarran physiology and end up as Vader’s handler [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-actress-will-always-be-character-x-for-you/425909.md?page=4)