# When they don't use actors in a movie for authenticity **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 9, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066 "2002-08-09T01:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/1 "2002-08-09T01:25:14Z")
I keeping seeing the trailer for [_Blue Crush_](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0300532), and the surfing scenes, combined with the relative obscurity of the actors, reminded me of something **they** do sometimes. In particular, when the producers figure that the “authenticity” is more important than the acting, so they just use someone skilled in the subject, rather than an actor. In this case, they would just find a cute surfer chick, instead of hiring a cute actress and using a surfer double. (I’m not saying they did in this case, just an example of what I’m talking about.) Another example I vaguely recall is [_Center Stage_](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0210616), where some (most?) of the dancers really were professional dancers. I know there are more examples of this method of casting. Anyone’s memory better than mine? ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/2 "2002-08-09T14:19:47Z")
wasn’t the DI in Full Metal Jacket a real DI? ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/3 "2002-08-09T14:39:26Z")
Lately I’ve noticed that they have superimposed actors’ faces on athletes, drivers or stunt men by computer to create the impression that the actor is doing the activity. Is it very far down the road before Bogart, Gable or Wayne are once again making movies? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/4 "2002-08-09T15:03:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lurkernomore \* > \*\*wasn’t the DI in Full Metal Jacket a real DI? \*\* [Yup.](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Ermey,+R.+Lee) ---
**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:** [August 9, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/5 "2002-08-09T19:44:45Z")
**The Turning Point** had Barishnikof in the role of a ballet dancer. And, of course, there was Audie Murphy playing Audie Murphy in **To Hell and Back**. Patty Duke played herself in the TV movie **Call me Anna** Mr. T was a bouncer with no acting experience when he was hired for **Rocky 3**. ---
**Author:** ![RedDevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ec8ea/32.png) [@RedDevil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDevil)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/6 "2002-08-09T22:09:44Z")
Jim Bray, an amateur roller-skating champion, in _Roller Boogie_. Ha! I loved that film. I remember him being quite good-looking, but utterly without any charm or acting ability. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/7 "2002-08-09T22:17:56Z")
Graham Hill was in “Grand Prix”, but it was a bit part. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/8 "2002-08-09T23:55:55Z")
Steve Vai played the Devil’s guitar player in the Ralph Macchio vehicle _Crossroads_. The part didn’t have any dialogue, but it was nice to have one of the people in the scene actually playing the guitar. And he really mugged for the camera, too. [Danny Trejo](http://us.imdb.com/Bio?Trejo,+Danny), who has a good career playing small roles as tough guys and convicts, is an actual ex-con. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/9 "2002-08-10T00:26:42Z")
Not a cinematic example, but I remember hearing that a lot of the gang members in Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video were gang members. Haven’t posted in weeks, and I drop in for this? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/10 "2002-08-10T00:54:11Z")
Glenn Miller playing a band leader in both _Sun Valley Serenade_ and _Orchestra Wives_. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/11 "2002-08-10T02:10:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\* > Is it very far down the road before **Bogart** , Gable or Wayne are once again making movies? \*\* What, you haven’t seen [Dead men Don’t Wear Plaid](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0083798)? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/12 "2002-08-10T06:08:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\* > > Is it very far down the road before Bogart, Gable or Wayne are once again making movies? \*\* Bogart’s face was used througout an episode of Tales from the Crypt. I consider the use of dead actors in commercials and television spots to be in very poor taste. \ Felt good to get that off my chest. Marc ---
**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:** [August 10, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/13 "2002-08-10T06:17:17Z")
Of course, the outstanding example (in my mind anyway) of this is the B. Supporting Actor winner of 1984, [Dr. Haing S Ngor](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Ngor,+Haing+S.), who played himself in **The Killing Fields**. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/14 "2002-08-10T06:23:10Z")
Oops. He didn’t play himself (I misread the IMDB credit), but his character _was_ based upon his experiences in Cambodia. ---
**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:** [August 10, 2002, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/15 "2002-08-10T06:27:06Z")
:sigh: Wrong again. I think I’ll just go to bed now, OK? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/16 "2002-08-10T06:46:58Z")
Wasn’t too bad off. A lot of people thought he was Dith Pran. He was that good with the role. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/17 "2002-08-10T09:25:05Z")
In _Fat Man and Little Boy_, IIRC some of the scientists _were_ scientists. There’s a director, who’s name escapes me, who does this with all his films if he can possibly get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/18 "2002-08-10T15:27:18Z")
Harold Russell in _[The Best Years of Our Lives](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0036868)_ seems like a good example. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/19 "2002-08-10T19:49:30Z")
I haven’t even SEEN The Killing Fields, and I still get confused about whether it was the actor or Dith Pran who was murdered. ---
**Author:** ![DougAB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@DougAB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougAB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066/20 "2002-08-10T20:18:08Z")
> [@](#): > > And, of course, there was Audie Murphy playing Audie Murphy in To Hell and Back. Ohhhh…you beat me to it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-they-dont-use-actors-in-a-movie-for-authenticity/123066.md?page=2)