# What actors own their roles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666 "2003-02-21T23:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/1 "2003-02-21T23:31:29Z")
Most dopers agreed that Robert Preston _owned_ the role of Prof. Harol Hill. What other performers could not be replaced in the roles they play or played? My first thought was Gene Wilder in _Willie Wonka and the Chocolate factory_ . I’m also not sure Tom Sellek could have done Indiana Jones. But could Harrison Ford do Magnum? What do you all think? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/2 "2003-02-21T23:52:04Z")
Right off the top of my head – Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Clark Gable as Rhett Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins John Wayne as Rooster Cogborn Christopher Reeve as Superman Judy Garland as Dorothy ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/3 "2003-02-22T00:19:28Z")
Woody Allen in any of his roles. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/4 "2003-02-22T00:35:13Z")
Jack Nicholson as Randal P. McMurphy Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch Ian McKellan as (dare I say it) Gandalf Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman BTW **Roadwalker** Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka is a great example. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/5 "2003-02-22T01:16:03Z")
Anthony Hopkins - Hannibal Lechter ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/6 "2003-02-22T01:41:02Z")
Another vote for Hopkins/Lechter & Wilder/Wonka Rutger Hauer - Roy Batty Nicholson - Joker Mark Hamil - voice of the animated Joker Jim Henson - Kermit the Frog ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/7 "2003-02-22T01:46:45Z")
Val Kilmer–Doc Holliday ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/8 "2003-02-22T01:56:56Z")
Sean Connery as James Bond. No one else is even close. Marlon Brondo as Vito Corleone. Chris Guest as Nigel Tufnel (_Spinal Tap_). ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/9 "2003-02-22T02:00:56Z")
Dame Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca. ---
**Author:** ![InTransit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@InTransit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InTransit)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/10 "2003-02-22T02:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ol’Gaffer \* > \*\*Ian McKellan as (dare I say it) Gandalf > \*\* I couldn’t have imagined anyone else as Gandalf. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/11 "2003-02-22T02:34:47Z")
many good examples noted! Also Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins; Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins probably own those roles From TV - that guy who played the villain in Jewel in the Crown owned that role for sure I have to second Ian McKellan as Gandalf…will have to wait for 3rd movie to decide completely on Elijah Wood as Frodo. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/12 "2003-02-22T02:52:26Z")
Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky. He fits the part so well…[A fourth one is in the works.](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0345292) ---
**Author:** ![ion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f1d935/32.png) [@ion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ion)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/13 "2003-02-22T03:16:51Z")
Yes! Second on Sean Connery as James Bond! (Who else could come off as suave and dangerous wearing a tiny baby-blue one-piece terry suit?) And Robert Redford as Jay Gatsby. ---
**Author:** ![Fibber\_McGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@Fibber\_McGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibber_McGee)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/14 "2003-02-22T03:28:59Z")
Is this just limited to films? Becuase I agree with most of the roles mentioned the actors own that character and anyone else in that role will just look like a cheap imitation, but there are a lot of examples on TV as well. There are many shows I cannot imagine doing as well were anyone else in a particular. For example, pretty much the entire casts of All In the Family, Married With Children, The Honeymooners, Buffy, The X-Files . . . John Ritter - Jack Tripper Redd Foxx - Fred Sanford Sherman Helmsley - George Jefferson And plenty of others I’m not mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/15 "2003-02-22T03:29:03Z")
I’ve got to disagree about Ian McKellan as Gandalf. He’s about perfect in the part, but when I think of Gandalf I think of John Huston. And I thought _Hannibal_ proved that Jodie Foster owned the role of Clarice Starling. I was always more impressed with her performance in _Silence of the Lambs_ than Hopkins’. ---
**Author:** ![aaaaaarrgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@aaaaaarrgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaaaaarrgg)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/16 "2003-02-22T03:31:05Z")
absolutely ian mckellen as gandalf. no one else could do it. and the woody allen vote. mel brooks in all his movies. even if they’re only cameos… ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/17 "2003-02-22T03:31:06Z")
Some others: Denis Franz as Sipowitz (sp) Ted Danson as Sam Peter Sellars as Inspector C Orson Wells as Kane Travolta as Tony in Staying Alive Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/18 "2003-02-22T04:06:42Z")
Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan. Christopher Lloyd in Taxi and Back to the Future. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/19 "2003-02-22T04:22:27Z")
Can I go for a Double Team act? John Belushi and Dan Akroyd… I’ll let you guys guess who! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666/20 "2003-02-22T04:43:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Anthony Hopkins - Hannibal Lechter I know this is probably a minority opinion, but I thought Brian Cox was much creepier as Hannibal Lechter in Michael Mann’s Manhunter. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-own-their-roles/156666.md?page=2)