# 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:** 2
**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, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/21 "2006-02-01T19:48:54Z")
Interesting thread. I wonder how much age matters in this. Is everyone who said Pretty Woman past college age? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/22 "2006-02-01T19:49:12Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Rick from Casablanca 3. Gary Cooper - the marshall 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - drew a blank 6. Yul Brynner - the robot gunslinger in West World 7. Robert Mitchum - i got nuthin 8. Cary Grant - Mother Goose - what was his _name?_ 9. Marlon Brando - Godfather (even though I never saw it!) 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Black Velvet - I can’t remember hardly any character names! 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn - The African Queen - uh…Rosie! 13. Audrey Hepburn - Holly Golightly 14. Sophia Loren - The hot babe in Grumpier Old Men! 15. Meryl Streep - first thought was Kramer vs Kramer 16. Judi Dench - in the Bond movies - ol’ whatshername 17. Diane Keaton - Baby Boomer 18. Julia Roberts - Erin Brochavich ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/23 "2006-02-01T19:54:51Z")
**1) Gregory Peck** - Roman Holiday **2) Humphrey Bogart** - Sabrina **3) Gary Cooper** - Both Sargeant York/Pride of the Yankees **4) Clark Gable** - Gone with the Wind **5) Alan Ladd** - None **6) Yul Brynner** - King and I **7) Robert Mitchum** - Night of the Hunter **8) Cary Grant** - Operation Petticoat **9) Marlon Brando** - Superman **1) Elizabeth Taylor** - The Michael Jackson Show (not really) National Velvet **2) Viven Leigh** - None **3) Katherine Hepburn** - Bringing Up Baby **4) Audrey Hepburn** - Sabrina **5) Sophia Loren** - None **6) Meryl Streep** - Sophie’s Choice **7) Judi Dench** - None **8) Diane Keaton** - Annie Hall **9) Julia Roberts** - Pretty Woman Note - I haven’t seen _Annie Hall, Sophie’s Choice or Gone with the Wind_, but they are the roles I thought of first. StG ---
**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, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/24 "2006-02-01T19:56:03Z")
Brando was in Superman!? :eek: ---
**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, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/25 "2006-02-01T19:57:22Z")
D’oh! :smack: Jor-El ---
**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:** [February 1, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/26 "2006-02-01T19:57:55Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Sam “Casablanca” 3. Gary Cooper - None 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - None 6. Yul Brynner - Gunfighter from West World (first saw it when I was a kid) 7. Robert Mitchum - narrator in Tombstone. 8. Cary Grant - North by Northwest 9. Marlon Brando - Godfather 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlet 12. Katherine Hepburn - Golden Pond 13. Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffanys 14. Sophia Loren - None 15. Meryl Streep - She-Devil (don’t ask me why) 16. Judi Dench - Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love 17. Diane Keaton - None 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/27 "2006-02-01T19:58:53Z")
I don’t remember character names very often, so some of the answers will have the movie title I associate with the actor. 1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Sam Spade 3. Gary Cooper - Sergeant York 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - none 6. Yul Brynner - King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - Cape Fear 8. Cary Grant - no specific role 9. Marlon Brando - Don Vito Corleone 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn - no specific role 13. Audrey Hepburn - Funny Face 14. Sophia Loren - no specific role 15. Meryl Streep - Karen Silkwood 16. Judi Dench - no specific role 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/28 "2006-02-01T20:18:45Z")
1. Gregory Peck - To Kill a Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart - Casablanca 3. Gary Cooper - Farewell to Arms 4. Clark Gable - It Happened One Night 5. Alan Ladd - Shane 6. Yul Brynner - The King and I (though I’ve never seen it) 7. Robert Mitchum - Night of the Hunter 8. Cary Grant - Arsenic and Old Lace 9. Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - Gone With the Wind 12. Katherine Hepburn - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 13. Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday 14. Sophia Loren - Grumpier Old Men 15. Meryl Streep - Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events 16. Judi Dench - James Bond’s “M”, several movies. 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall, but I wasn’t sure I was remembering her in it correctly. 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman, though I’ve never seen it. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/29 "2006-02-01T22:52:22Z")
) Gregory Peck – To Kill A Mockingbird 2) Humphrey Bogart – Maltese Falcon 3) Gary Cooper – High Noon 4) Clark Gable – Gone With The Wind 5) Alan Ladd – Shane 6) Yul Brynner – King and I 7) Robert Mitchum – Farwell, My Lovely 8) Cary Grant – North By Northwest 9) Marlon Brando – Godfather 1. Elizabeth Taylor – Who’s Afraid of Viginia Woolf? 2. Viven Leigh – Gone With the Wind 3. Katherine Hepburn – On Golden Pond 4. Audrey Hepburn – Wait Until Dark 5. Sophia Loren – Two Women 6. Meryl Streep – Sophie’s Choice 7. Judi Dench – none 8. Diane Keaton – Annie Hall 9. Julia Roberts – Erin Brockovich ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/30 "2006-02-01T23:37:26Z")
1. To Kill a Mockingbird 2. The African Queen 3. Pride of the Yankees 4. Gone With the Wind 5. N/A 6. The Ten Commandments 7. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison 8. Father Goose 9. Superman 10. Father of the Bride 11. Gone With the Wind 12. The African Queen 13. My Fair Lady 14. El Cid 15. Holocaust(TV) 16. Henry V 17. Father of the Bride 18. Pretty Woman ---
**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:** [February 2, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/31 "2006-02-02T00:03:07Z")
1. Gregory Peck – Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart – the riverboat captain in _The African Queen_ 3. Gary Cooper – The sheriff in _High Noon_ 4. Clark Gable – Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd – Some small-time hood in _The Glass Key_ always getting beat up by William Bendix 6. Yul Brynner – The King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum – Some drifter with LOVE and HATE tattooed on his knuckles; sorry, I can’t remember the name of the movie. 8. Cary Grant – The Paleontologist in _Bringing Up Baby_ 9. Marlon Brando – Stanley Kowalski 10. Elizabeth Taylor – Cleopatra 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn – Tracy Lord 13. Audrey Hepburn – Eliza Doolittle 14. Sophia Loren – Dulcinea 15. Meryl Streep – Mrs. Kramer 16. Judi Dench – Elizabeth, _Regina_ 17. Diane Keaton – Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts – The movie actress in _Notting Hill_ " ---
**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:** [February 2, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/32 "2006-02-02T00:22:56Z")
To clarify: Judi Dench as Elizabeth, _Regina_, in _Shakespeare in Love_ ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/33 "2006-02-02T01:44:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > “None” is a fair answer. > > Don’t look at other replies until you’ve posted your own. Well, here’s my list by movie rather than role (I don’t remember the character’s name offhand for most of them): 1. Gregory Peck **none** … I know I have something, but I can’t picture his face, and the DB in my head is timing out. 2. Humphrey Bogart **Casablanca** 3. Gary Cooper **High Noon** 4. Clark Gable **Gone With The Wind** 5. Alan Ladd **none** 6. Yul Brynner **The King and I** 7. Robert Mitchum **?** 8. Cary Grant **North by Northwest** (though I haven’t actually seen it yet) 9. Marlon Brando **On The Waterfront** 10. Elizabeth Taylor **Cat On A Hot Tin Roof** 11. Viv **i** en Leigh **Gone With The Wind** 12. Katherine Hepburn **Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner** 13. Audrey Hepburn **My Fair Lady** 14. Sophia Loren **Grumpier Old Men**? (Was she the lady in that one?) 15. Meryl Streep **The Witches of Eastwick** (d’oh!) 16. Judi Dench \*\*? I actually don’t recognize the name! \*\* 17. Diane Keaton **…that Woody Allen movie…** (_Manhattan_, I looked it up) 18. Julia Roberts **Pretty Woman** ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/34 "2006-02-02T02:27:40Z")
1. Gregory Peck: Ahab. 2. Humphrey Bogart: Marlowe. 3. Gary Cooper: Howard Roark. 4. Clark Gable: Rhett Butler, duh. 5. Alan Ladd: _This Gun for Hire._ 6. Yul Brynner: The King. 7. Robert Mitchum: Pug Henry. 8. Cary Grant: C.K. Dexter Haven. 9. Marlon Brando: _The Wild One._ 10. Elizabeth Taylor: Maggie. 11. Viven Leigh: Scarlett, natch. 12. Katherine Hepburn: Tracy Lord. 13. Audrey Hepburn: Sabrina. 14. Sophia Loren: Umm, chick with the big gazots, early '60s like. 15. Meryl Streep: Sophie. 16. Judi Dench: Jean. 17. Diane Keaton: _Baby Boom._ 18. Julia Roberts: _Pretty Woman._ ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/35 "2006-02-02T02:32:07Z")
Note that I haven’t even _seen_ several of the above actors in the above roles, yet pop culture has its effect all the same. I thought of Liz in _Cat_, which I’ve never seen, before I thought of her in _Giant_, which I have seen. Same with Peck as Ahab. Is Vivien Leigh in here as a sort of control? Everybody who answered gave either Scarlett or “none.” ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/36 "2006-02-02T02:40:39Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Ahab 2. Humphrey Bogart - Sam Spade 3. Gary Cooper - nothing 4. Clark Gable - Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd - This Gun for Hire (I forget the character’s name though) 6. Yul Brynner - the King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - Rev Harry Powell and Pug Henry both come in my head at the same time 8. Cary Grant - Peter from Charade 9. Marlon Brando - Stanley Kowolski 10. Elizabeth Taylor - The girl in National Velvet 11. Viven Leigh - Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn - On Golden Pond lady 13. Audrey Hepburn - Sabrina 14. Sophia Loren - nothing 15. Meryl Streep - Kramer vs Kramer 16. Judi Dench - Iris 17. Diane Keaton - Buster Keaton! But that’s word association, not a movie role. 18. Julia Roberts - Pelican Brief Some of mine are weird because I didn’t see enough of their movies to have a sensible answer. If I sit and sit I can think of lots of movies Diane Keaton’s been in, but I don’t really associate her with anything. I just don’t like Elizabeth Taylor for some reason and when I think of her I think of 1970s awards shows or something. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/37 "2006-02-02T02:43:04Z")
1. Gregory Peck - To Kill A Mockingbird 2. Humphrey Bogart - Maltese Falcon 3. Gary Cooper - High Noon 4. Clark Gable - Gone With the Wind 5. Alan Ladd - none 6. Yul Brynner - Westworld 7. Robert Mitchum - Cape Fear 8. Cary Grant - Bringing Up Baby (go figure!) 9. Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront 10. Elizabeth Taylor - A Place in the Sun 11. Viven Leigh - Gone With the Wind 12. Katherine Hepburn - African Queen 13. Audrey Hepburn - Charade 14. Sophia Loren - Houseboat 15. Meryl Streep - Silkwood 16. Judi Dench - none 17. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall 18. Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/38 "2006-02-02T02:53:27Z")
1. Gregory Peck- Atticus Finch or Joe Bradley from Roman Holiday 2. Humphrey Bogart- Steve (Harry) from To Have and Have Not 3. Gary Cooper-none 4. Clark Gable-Rhett Butler 5. Alan Ladd-none 6. Yul Brynner-King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum-none 8. Cary Grant-Nick Ferrante from An Affair to Remember 9. Marlon Brando-Stanley Kowalski 10. Elizabeth Taylor- the daughter from “Father of the Bride” 11. Viven Leigh- Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn- Christina Drayton from Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner 13. Audrey Hepburn- Princess Ann from Roman Holiday or Holly Golightly 14. Sophia Loren-none 15. Meryl Streep-Clarissa Vaughan from The Hours 16. Judi Dench- Queen Elizabeth from SHakespeare in love 17. Diane Keaton- Annie Paradis from The First Wives’ Club 18. Julia Roberts- Erin Brockovitch or Vivian from Pretty Woman ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/39 "2006-02-02T02:57:07Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Now going back and reading everyone’s answers - this is a great thread! It really is amusing for some reason to compare. When I look back at other answers I don’t know why I associate people with the roles I do. I’ve seen a billion Meryl Streep movies and Kramer vs. Kramer isn’t even one of them! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529/40 "2006-02-02T03:07:31Z")
1. Gregory Peck - Atticus Finch 2. Humphrey Bogart - Mr. Alnutt 3. Gary Cooper - Lou Gehrig/Howard Roark tie 4. Clark Gable - It Happened One Night (forget the character’s name) 5. Alan Ladd - nothin’ 6. Yul Brynner - King of Siam 7. Robert Mitchum - he sings Leaning on the Everlasting, but I don’t remember the title or the character 8. Cary Grant - C.K. Dexter Haven/ Walter Burns tie 9. Marlon Brando - Stanley Kowalski 10. Elizabeth Taylor - Maggie the Cat 11. Viven Leigh - yeah, Scarlett O’Hara 12. Katherine Hepburn - Tracy Lord 13. Audrey Hepburn - Sabrina 14. Sophia Loren - on the boat with Cary grant… 15. Meryl Streep - Karen Silkwood 16. Judi Dench - nope 17. Diane Keaton - Kay (?) Corrleone 18. Julia Roberts - meh (the one where she cries , maybe?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-first-role-you-think-of-for/342529.md?page=3)