# What’s the most outrageous thing an actor has done for a role? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236 "2011-05-26T01:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/21 "2011-05-26T20:27:58Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I remeber reading that some actor once had some teeth pulled without anesthesia for a role, but I really don’t want to look for it. _shudder_ I \*think \*that may have been Nicolas Cage. Gee, I wonder why I [think](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13843713&postcount=1) [that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13844957&postcount=13). :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/22 "2011-05-26T20:49:20Z")
I believe the character that Cage played had sustained a facial injury while in combat. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/23 "2011-05-26T20:54:25Z")
I know that Sissy Spacek so immersed herself in her role as Loretta Lynn for _Coal Miner’s Daughter_ that she had to distance herself from the singer later to get over it. She used to break down crying on the set because she basically became Loretta and knew all the stories of stuff that didn’t make it on screen and then she basically relived it all. Sissy is kind of known for that, though. When filming _Carrie_, she stayed in the blood covered dress for 3 days - refusing to wash and just sleeping in it. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/24 "2011-05-26T21:04:26Z")
The tooth removal strikes me as way more extreme than anything else mentioned, because I assume he wasn’t able to have them reattached. With everything else mentioned you can usually go back to normal in time. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/25 "2011-05-26T21:12:22Z")
I’m sure he had a bridge put in so he had the appearance of normalcy. But intentionally starving yourself for months seems like more dedication. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/26 "2011-05-26T21:27:45Z")
Rumor has it that Harvey Keitel was replaced in _Eyes Wide Shut_ because he ejaculated onto Nicole Kidman, but I think that’s a little off topic from what the OP is asking. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/27 "2011-05-26T21:35:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Sevigny is not the first (or last) actress to have sex in a mainstream movie. Raffaela Anderson, Gry Bay, Maruschka Detmers, Caroline Ducey, Kerry Fox, Karen Lancaume, Sook-Yin Lee, and Margo Stilley have all performed sexual acts on camera. There is, of course, the rumor/urban legend/fact that Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie were actually going at it in the love scene in 1973’s _Don’t Look Now_. You can see the NSFW scene here: [http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/the-mystery-of-julie-christie-and-donald-sutherlands-sex-scene-in-dont-look-now-solved-nsfw.php](http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/the-mystery-of-julie-christie-and-donald-sutherlands-sex-scene-in-dont-look-now-solved-nsfw.php) ---
**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:** [May 26, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/28 "2011-05-26T22:30:43Z")
Steve Carrell’s chest waxing scene in _The 40-year Old Virgin_ is actually happening. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/29 "2011-05-26T22:35:09Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Sevigny is not the first (or last) actress to have sex in a mainstream movie. Raffaela Anderson, Gry Bay, Maruschka Detmers, Caroline Ducey, Kerry Fox, Karen Lancaume, Sook-Yin Lee, and Margo Stilley have all performed sexual acts on camera. …you just listed a hell of a lot of WHO? ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/30 "2011-05-26T23:04:08Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Ditto this. And he didn’t look much meatier in “The Fighter” either. > > I thought Natalie Portman shaving her head for “V for Vendetta” was pretty bold but I think as far as women’s roles go, Renee Zellweger gaining however much weight for “Bridget Jone’s Diary” was damned gutsy considering being an overweight woman _anywhere_ is practically a capital offense, nevermind Hollywood. Actually, Christian Bale got buff for “American Psycho” (2000). Then he lost 63 pounds for “The Machinist” (2004). Then bulked up for “Batman Begins” (2005). Then lost a lot of weight again for “Rescue Dawn” (2006). Then bulked up again for “The Dark Knight” (2008). Then lost quite a bit of weight for “The Fighter” (2010). Now he’s filming “The Dark Knight Rises”. Presumably Batman still looks buff like Bateman. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/31 "2011-05-26T23:39:04Z")
Vic Morrow put himself in a dangerous situation with a low flying helicopter…and got killed for it…to satisfy cokehead director John Landis in “Twilight Zone The Movie”. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/32 "2011-05-26T23:39:33Z")
Not an actor - in the documentary [SICK: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120126/), professional masochist/performance artist Bob Flanagan nails his penis to a board, in close up. Oh, and he also dies (unrelated to the nailing). ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/33 "2011-05-27T00:02:33Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Vic Morrow put himself in a dangerous situation with a low flying helicopter..and got killed for it..to satisfy cokehead director John Landis in “Twilight Zone The Movie”. I have no idea if what you wrote is true, but it would surprise me somewhat if John Landis was a big time cocaine addict, as he was one of the only people in all of showbiz to openly confront John Belushi over his drug addiction, and in fact during one attempted intervention, Landis actually hit Belushi square in the face, despite Belushi weighing at least 100 pounds more than Landis did at the time. I think there was genuine friendship and affection between those two, and if John Landis was a hardcore addict, it would be more than a little hypocritical for John Landis to come down so strongly on John Belushi if they were both up to the same tricks. (Also, John Belushi was the undisputed star of Blues Brothers, and by confronting/assaulting Belushi over drugs, Landis was taking a HUGE gamble in his fledgling career by taking the risk of offending a huge star and his movies cash cow) ETA—after typing this out, I should say that I realize that there have been more than a few hypocritical Hollywood types over the years, so obviously my point about John Landis probably not being a cokehead is far from certain. One last thing, after John Landis hit John Belushi, JB bust into tears, telling JL that he was ashamed of himself and his addiction, and Landis told Belushi that he loved him like a brother and would do anything he could to help him get clean… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/34 "2011-05-27T00:49:05Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > …you just listed a hell of a lot of WHO? There’s a whole world beyond People magazine. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/35 "2011-05-27T01:39:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There’s a whole world beyond People magazine. What magazine are you reading that covers who actually diddled whom? Sounds like some highbrow shit.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/36 "2011-05-27T02:04:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There’s a whole world beyond People magazine. :rolleyes: Of the names you listed, the only one I’ve heard of is Kerry Fox, and I’m a pretty knowledgeable moviegoer. OK, I looked up the names you listed, and while I’ve seen \*\*Shortbus \*\*& **Baise-Moi** , I would never have remembered their names. And judging by their credits, two of the women you listed are porn stars. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/37 "2011-05-27T02:09:23Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > :rolleyes: Of the names you listed, the only one I’ve heard of is Kerry Fox, and I’m a pretty knowledgeable moviegoer. I’ll just mention that Karen Lancaume was a fairly well-known French hardcore pornstar, who only appeared in at the most a few mainstream movies. Killed herself a few years ago. Uh, or so I’ve heard from my shadier friends. Yep, friends. ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/38 "2011-05-27T02:10:45Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > OK, I looked up the names you listed, and while I’ve seen \*\*Shortbus \*\*& **Baise-Moi** , I would never have remembered their names. And judging by their credits, two of the women you listed are porn stars. Funny that I…mean, my friends…recognized the name right away. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/39 "2011-05-27T02:22:28Z")
Not as bad as some of the things here but for the movie Spawn John Linquenzamo (horrible last name spelling…) ate a slice of pizza with live maggots on it. I’ve also heard that Daniel Day Lewis is really hard to work with because he does so much to get into “character”. Personally I think a good actor shouldn’t have to do all that BS to get into character…but what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Cheech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Mister\_Cheech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Cheech)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236/40 "2011-05-27T02:39:09Z")
Nicolas Cage/Vampire’s Kiss has already been mentioned in this thread, but it has to be seen to be believed: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kfcJUl39iiA/hqdefault.jpg "Best Scenes from "Vampire's Kiss"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcJUl39iiA) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-most-outrageous-thing-an-actor-has-done-for-a-role/583236.md?page=3)