# What's the first role you think of for: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529 "2006-02-01T17:46:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/1 "2006-02-01T17:46:38Z")
1. Gregory Peck 2. Humphrey Bogart 3. Gary Cooper 4. Clark Gable 5. Alan Ladd 6. Yul Brynner 7. Robert Mitchum 8. Cary Grant 9. Marlon Brando 10. Elizabeth Taylor 11. Viven Leigh 12. Katherine Hepburn 13. Audrey Hepburn 14. Sophia Loren 15. Meryl Streep 16. Judi Dench 17. Diane Keaton 18. Julia Roberts “None” is a fair answer. Don’t look at other replies until you’ve posted your own. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/2 "2006-02-01T17:52:09Z")
1. Gregory Peck: umm… none. Off to a great start… 2. Humphrey Bogart: Treasure of the Sierra Madre 3. Gary Cooper: none 4. Clark Gable: Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd: none 6. Yul Brynner: Magnificent 7 7. Robert Mitchum: Cape Fear 8. Cary Grant: Bringing up Baby 9. Marlon Brando: Apocalypse Now 10. Elizabeth Taylor: none 11. Viven Leigh: Quiet man 12. Katherine Hepburn: Bringing up Baby 13. Audrey Hepburn: Robin & Marian 14. Sophia Loren: Dirtier Old Men 15. Meryl Streep: Kramer vs. Kramer 16. Judi Dench: M (the character, not the movie) 17. Diane Keaton: Looking for Mr. Goodbar 18. Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman Guess I haven’t watched as many old movies as I think I have. Bear in mind, I haven’t actually seen some of those movies… they’re just the titles I associate with the actors (Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Cape Fear, Dirtier Old Men, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Pretty Woman). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/3 "2006-02-01T17:58:20Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Boys From Brazil 2. Humphrey Bogart - African Queen 3. Gary Cooper - ?? 4. Clark Gable - “Frankly, my dear…” 5. Alan Ladd - ?? 6. Yul Brynner - The King and I 7. Robert Mitchum - ?? 8. Cary Grant - NxNW 9. Marlon Brando - Stella! 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff 11. Viven Leigh - NxNW? Was she in that? 12. Katherine Hepburn - Bringing Up Baby 13. Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany’s 14. Sophia Loren - ?? 15. Meryl Streep - Music of the Heart 16. Judi Dench - Shakespeare in Love 17. Diane Keaton - I don’t know what it is, but I can picture the hat 18. Julia Roberts - Ocean’s Eleven ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/4 "2006-02-01T17:58:54Z")
1. Gregory Peck _To Kill A Mockinbird_ 2. Humphrey Bogart _Casablanca_ 3. Gary Cooper **None** 4. Clark Gable _Gone With The Wind_ 5. Alan Ladd **None** 6. Yul Brynner _The King And I_ 7. Robert Mitchum **None** 8. Cary Grant _Arsenic and Old Lace_ 9. Marlon Brando _Guys and Dolls_ 10. Elizabeth Taylor _Cleopatra_ 11. Viven Leigh _Gone With The Wind_ 12. Katherine Hepburn _The African Queen_ 13. Audrey Hepburn _Breakfast at Tiffany’s_ 14. Sophia Loren **None** 15. Meryl Streep _Death Becomes Her_ 16. Judi Dench _Goldeneye_ 17. Diane Keaton _Annie Hall_ 18. Julia Roberts _Pretty Woman_ As **Ethilrist** said (though I promise I didn’t read his answers until I previewed), some of these movies I haven’t actually seen. Some are my favorites, and therefore not the first thing most would think of starring that particular actor. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/5 "2006-02-01T18:02:35Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Sam Spade 3. Gary Cooper - None 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - None 6. Yul Brynner - The King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - None 8. Cary Grant - None 9. Marlon Brando - Don Corleone 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - None 12. Katherine Hepburn - None 13. Audrey Hepburn - Holly Golightly 14. Sophia Loren - None 15. Meryl Streep - None 16. Judi Dench - Jean (From As Time Goes By) 17. Diane Keaton - None 18. Julia Roberts - Her character in Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/6 "2006-02-01T18:04:01Z")
1. Gregory Peck – To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart – Casablanca (damn, _wish_ it were Maltese Falcon, but it’s not) 3. Gary Cooper – um, he was in High Noon, right? 4. Clark Gable – GWTW 5. Alan Ladd – Shane 6. Yul Brynner – The King and I/Westworld (sorry, they really were pretty much that close together in my head) 7. Robert Mitchum – none 8. Cary Grant – Philadelphia Story 9. Marlon Brando – The Godfather 10. Elizabeth Taylor – Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh – GWTW 12. Katherine Hepburn – The Philadelphia Story 13. Audrey Hepburn – Funny Face 14. Sophia Loren – none 15. Meryl Streep – Deer Hunter? Was she in that? It’s weird I can’t come up with anything fast on her. Sophie’s Choice, Bridges of Madison County… 16. Judi Dench – none 17. Diane Keaton – Annie Hall, of course 18. Julia Roberts – My Best Friend’s Wedding ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/7 "2006-02-01T18:08:22Z")
I didn’t read anyone else’s responses yet, to avoid being influenced: 1. Gregory Peck - To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca 3. Gary Cooper - Meet John Doe 4. Clark Gable - Gone With the Wind 5. Alan Ladd - Shane (even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen it) 6. Yul Brynner - The King and I 7. Robert Mitchum - Night of the Hunter 8. Cary Grant - hard one; probably North by Northwest 9. Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 11. Viven Leigh - Gone with the Wind 12. Katherine Hepburn - Philadelphia Story 13. Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany’s 14. Sophia Loren - None 15. Meryl Streep - another hard one; probably Sophie’s Choice 16. Judi Dench - actually, the TV series As Time Goes By 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/8 "2006-02-01T18:12:05Z")
1. Gregory Peck - none (on preview: jeez, forgot about _To Kill a Mockingbird_) 2. Humphrey Bogart - Rick in _Casablanca_ 3. Gary Cooper - none 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - none 6. Yul Brynner - the King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - none 8. Cary Grant - none 9. Marlon Brando - _The Wild One_\* 10. Elizabeth Taylor - _Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?_\* 11. Viven Leigh - _Gone with the Wind_ 12. Katherine Hepburn - _Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner_\* (on preview: why the hell didn’t I say _African Queen_? I love that movie!) 13. Audrey Hepburn - _Charade_ 14. Sophia Loren - none 15. Meryl Streep - _Silkwood_ 16. Judi Dench - _As Time Goes By_ 17. Diane Keaton - _Annie Hall_ 18. Julia Roberts - _Pretty Woman_\* \*a movie I have never actually seen ---
**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 1, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/9 "2006-02-01T18:21:41Z")
1. Gregory Peck - To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart - The African Queen 3. Gary Cooper - High Noon 4. Clark Gable - Gone With The Wind 5. Alan Ladd - Shane 6. Yul Brynner - The King and I 7. Robert Mitchum - Cape Fear 8. Cary Grant - Father Goose 9. Marlon Brando - The Godfather 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - Gone With The Wind 12. Katherine Hepburn - Rooster Cogburn 13. Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday 14. Sophia Loren - Grumpier Old Men 15. Meryl Streep - Silkwood 16. Judi Dench - one of recent the James Bond movies 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts - Mystic Pizza ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/10 "2006-02-01T18:34:23Z")
1. Gregory Peck : Atticus Finch (_To Kill a Mockingbird_) 2. Humphrey Bogart : Philip Marlowe (_The Big Sleep_) 3. Gary Cooper : _High Noon_ 4. Clark Gable : Rhett Butler (_Gone With the Wind_) 5. Alan Ladd : none 6. Yul Brynner : _The Magnificent Seven_ 7. Robert Mitchum : none 8. Cary Grant : CK Dexter Haven (_The Philadelphia Story_) 9. Marlon Brando : Stanley Kowalski (_A Streetcar Named Desire_) 10. Elizabeth Taylor : Rowena (_Ivanhoe_) 11. Viven Leigh : Scarlett O’Hara (_Gone With the Wind_) 12. Katherine Hepburn: _The African Queen_ 13. Audrey Hepburn : Holly Go-Lightly (_Breakfast at Tiffany’s_) 14. Sophia Loren :none 15. Meryl Streep: Karen(?) _Silkwood_ 16. Judi Dench : Queen Elizabeth (_Shakespeare in Love_) 17. Diane Keaton : _Annie Hall_ 18. Julia Roberts : _Pretty Woman_ To copy what others have said, some of these I haven’t seen and I certainly don’t think they represent the best role by the actor, just what I was able to think of. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/11 "2006-02-01T18:52:18Z")
1. Gregory Peck – To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart – Casablanca 3. Gary Cooper – High Noon 4. Clark Gable – GWTW 5. Alan Ladd – None 6. Yul Brynner – The King and I 7. Robert Mitchum – Night of the Hunter 8. Cary Grant – Bringing Up Baby 9. Marlon Brando – A Streetcar Named Desire 10. Elizabeth Taylor – Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh – GWTW 12. Katherine Hepburn – Bringing Up Baby 13. Audrey Hepburn – Breakfast at Tiffanys 14. Sophia Loren – None 15. Meryl Streep – Sophie’s Choice 16. Judi Dench – When Time Goes By (If it has to be a movie, then “Shakespeare in Love” 17. Diane Keaton – Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts – Erin Brockovich ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/12 "2006-02-01T18:55:07Z")
1. Gregory Peck-Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart-Rick Blaine in Casablanca 3. Gary Cooper-Will Kane in High Noon 4. Clark Gable-Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind 5. Alan Ladd-Shane 6. Yul Brynner-the King of Siam in the King and I 7. Robert Mitchum-Gen Norm Cota in the Longest Day 8. Cary Grant-Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace 9. Marlon Brando-Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather 10. Elizabeth Taylor-Cleopatra 11. Vivien Leigh-none 12. Katherine Hepburn-Tracy Lord in the Philadelphia Story 13. Audrey Hepburn-Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady 14. Sophia Loren-none 15. Meryl Streep-Joanna Kramer in Kramer Vs Kramer 16. Judi Dench-M in the James Bond movies 17. Diane Keaton-none 18. Julia Roberts-Vivan Ward in Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/13 "2006-02-01T18:55:05Z")
Say, **Zeldar** do you have your own answers? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/14 "2006-02-01T19:02:07Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Say, **Zeldar** do you have your own answers? Thanks for asking, but by now I have been tainted by all these others. I will say that Shane and Boy On A Dolphin would be my answers for Alan Ladd and Sophia Loren, since few have had any response for them. I have already thought of a dozen more actors (in both categories) for a follow-up thread if this one seems to be popular enough. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/15 "2006-02-01T19:19:16Z")
1. Gregory Peck Atticus Finch 1. Humphrey Bogart Rick in “Casablanca.” 1. Gary Cooper The sheriff in “High Noon.” 1. Clark Gable Rhett Butler 1. Alan Ladd Some noir movie. He’s got a trenchcoat on. “This Gun for Hire,” maybe? 1. Yul Brynner The gunslinger in “Westworld” 1. Cary Grant The professor in “Bringing Up Baby”–specifically, I see him in the frou-frou dressing gown doing that high-jump on the “I just went _gay_ all of a sudden” line. 1. Marlon Brando The biker in “The Wild One” 1. Elizabeth Taylor Wearing that white prom dress in “A Place in the Sun.” 1. Viven Leigh Scarlett O’Hara 1. Katherine Hepburn Queen Eleanor in “A Lion in Winter” 1. Audrey Hepburn Holly Golightly The rest I draw a blank on an actual role. It’s more a sort of “actor image” than something specific. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/16 "2006-02-01T19:20:18Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Sam Spade 3. Gary Cooper - The Sheriff in High Noon 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - Shane 6. Yul Brynner - The King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - Max Cady (Cape Fear badass) 8. Cary Grant - Roger Thornhill 9. Marlon Brando - Stanley Kowalski 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlet O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn - Rosie from African Queen 13. Audrey Hepburn - Eliza Doolittle 14. Sophia Loren - the gal in Arabesque 15. Meryl Streep - The gal in Deerhunter 16. Judi Dench - Queen Elizabeth 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/17 "2006-02-01T19:31:26Z")
> [@Miss Mapp](#): > > 1. Alan Ladd > > Some noir movie. He’s got a trenchcoat on. “This Gun for Hire,” maybe? The more I think about this, I think it could be “The Blue Dahlia” or “The Glass Key.” Anyway, it’s not “Shane.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/18 "2006-02-01T19:32:55Z")
Now going back and reading everyone’s answers - this is a great thread! How interesting that the first thing I thought of for Sophia Loren was “Arabesque” but it wasn’t the first thing I thought of for Gregory Peck - even though they starred together. Must have been because I was 15 when I saw Arabesque and fell in love with “old” Sophia. Damn! she was hot! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/19 "2006-02-01T19:42:46Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Now going back and reading everyone’s answers - this is a great thread! How interesting that the first thing I thought of for Sophia Loren was “Arabesque” but it wasn’t the first thing I thought of for Gregory Peck - even though they starred together. Must have been because I was 15 when I saw Arabesque and fell in love with “old” Sophia. Damn! she was hot! The more I had to think about it, the more I realized that “old Sophia” was just such a phenomenon that she overwhelmed whatever she was in. I know I must have seen her in at least ten things, but none of them are stand-outs as movies. The Pride and the Passion is more memorable for Sinatra’s rug and that big old gun. She was in El Cid with Heston, right? The very serious role in the Two Women movie may have been her most artistic one, but it’s down the list in terms of one you’d think of. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/20 "2006-02-01T19:45:46Z")
What’s the first role you think of for: * * * 1. Gregory Peck **Dr. Mengele, The Boys From Brazil** 2. Humphrey Bogart **Queeg, The Caine Mutiny** 3. Gary Cooper **Marshal Cane (Kane?), High Noon** 4. Clark Gable **Rhett Butler, Gone With The Wind** 5. Alan Ladd **Shane, Shane** 6. Yul Brynner **King of Siam, The King And I** 7. Robert Mitchum - **none** 8. Cary Grant **Thornhill, North By Northwest** 9. Marlon Brando **Stanley Kowalski, Streetcar Named Desire** 10. Elizabeth Taylor **Martha (I think…) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?** 11. Viven Leigh **Scarlett O’Hara, Gone With The Wind** 12. Katherine Hepburn **Christine (Christina?), Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner** 13. Audrey Hepburn **Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady** 14. Sophia Loren **Jimena, El Cid** 15. Meryl Streep **Mary Fisher, She-Devil** (because of my recent thread) 16. Judi Dench **none** 17. Diane Keaton **One of the women, First Wives Club** (most boring movie ever… wife made me watch) 18. Julia Roberts **Vivian, Pretty Woman** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529.md?page=2)