# Which performer's physical appearance didn't match your mental image the most? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193 "2012-04-18T18:41:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/61 "2012-04-21T14:53:24Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned [Charlie Pride](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=charlie+pride&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ASUT_enUS450US450&biw=1366&bih=566&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=hGjSA0fBECoAgM:&imgrefurl=http://marketplaceadvisor.channeladvisor.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx%3Fsid%3D1%26sfid%3D197127%26c%3D305277%26search_text%3D%26srch%3D198488953%26page%3D7&docid=FjzrYy7G2q4INM&imgurl=http://thewyzyrd.com/scans/tourbook/charlie1975pride.jpg&w=300&h=398&ei=O8mST4vYGJHG6AGIvbG6BA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=79&vpy=110&dur=389&hovh=259&hovw=195&tx=112&ty=165&sig=100121664243546295917&page=3&tbnh=163&tbnw=122&start=32&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:32,i:210) or [Michael McDonald](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=michael+mcdonald&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ASUT_enUS450US450&biw=1366&bih=566&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsol&tbnid=WuCSzVtouKgq7M:&imgrefurl=http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/king-of-yacht-rock-michael-mcdonald-on-grizzly-bear-b-side/&docid=4f-h4VTHDDMZ6M&imgurl=http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/archives/s40115.jpg&w=299&h=300&ei=gsmST_mMLcWx6QGD1O2HBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=180&sig=100121664243546295917&page=1&tbnh=157&tbnw=154&start=0&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0,i:147&tx=68&ty=97). I have a theory that these two (at a ripe old age, one hopes) must pass from this earth at the very same moment, lest some kind of dangerous mass-energy singularity rend the fabric of the universe. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/62 "2012-04-21T15:20:05Z")
You have to admit, Rick Astley doesn’t look like Rick Astley. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/63 "2012-04-21T16:09:38Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Interviewer [Terry Gross](http://newsinfo.iu.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/6468.jpg). You’ve got one of the recent people for me. Those others were from childhood and before we even had TV. But if there’s a way to be more opposite than Ms. Gross, I don’t know what it would be. Another category that’s better than 50% surprising is when we finally get to see the offscreen announcer for game shows, like Johnny Gilbert on _Jeopardy!_. My first image of The Lone Ranger was made before I ever saw the TV and movie versions, but I was not impressed when I eventually saw a picture of [Brace Beemer](http://pdxretro.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/George_Seaton_thumb.jpg) years later. Nowhere close to how I thought Lone would look. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/64 "2012-04-21T18:45:05Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Interviewer [Terry Gross](http://newsinfo.iu.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/6468.jpg). Huh. Older Ellen Degeneres is about how I always pictured Terry Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/65 "2012-04-22T04:13:33Z")
KISS was way uglier than I expected when they first removed the makeup in 1983. Holy shit! ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/66 "2012-04-22T05:18:55Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > An addition to radio actors who’s looks don’t match their voice- Walter Tetley, the actor who played Sherman in the Mister Peabody segments, Leroy on the Great Gildersleeve, and Julius on Phil Harris-Alice Faye was an adult man. How he wound up with that voice is rather disturbing. Holy cow, you [ain’t kidding](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Tetley)! ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/67 "2012-04-22T06:59:50Z")
[Fujiya & Miyagi](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=fujiya%20%26%20miyagi&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=IKqTT4PaGrGf6QHzlvSOBA&biw=782&bih=688&sei=IqqTT9qcCsm9gAeDg_2KBQ) come to mind. I never would’ve guessed that Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Ramones were as ugly as they were. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/68 "2012-04-22T07:17:23Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Yeah, it’s weird to see Dennis Day on Jack Benny’s TV show, when he’s playing the same character as on radio, except you can’t hide that by this time, he was a middle aged man. He really was in his early 20s when he first appeared in 1939, and they just stuck with it because he was so good in the role. > > An addition to radio actors who’s looks don’t match their voice- Walter Tetley, the actor who played Sherman in the Mister Peabody segments, Leroy on the Great Gildersleeve, and Julius on Phil Harris-Alice Faye was an adult man. How he wound up with that voice is rather disturbing. Also speaking of old time radio, I think just about everyone knew that Amos and Andy were played by two white guys. They _might_ have been surprised, though, to learn that Amos’ daughter was played by a [Chinese-American](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Jean_Wong)! ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/69 "2012-04-22T14:42:07Z")
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole is my pick for looking the least like his honeyed voice sounds. I pictured some mixed race guy of undetermined pedigree, with a slight frame befitting the tender vocals. I prefer the real guy far more than the Israel I had imagined. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/70 "2012-04-22T14:50:17Z")
I was surprised by James Dobson. When I was going to school, my parents always listened to the radio to get the weather and stuff like that, and just left it on until we left. Dobson’s Focus on the Family would have this brief interlude around the hour. For some reason, I expected him to look like Pat Robertson. I also learned that [Lum N Abner reruns](http://www.otr.net/?p=lmab) would play at 6:45 AM, I wasn’t surprised at all by what they looked like–until I saw them without the facial hair! BTW, there’s [new Lum N Abner](http://firstarkansasnews.net/lum-and-abner/) content now! ---
**Author:** ![Take\_the\_cannoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5e9695/32.png) [@Take\_the\_cannoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Take_the_cannoli)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/71 "2012-04-22T18:59:02Z")
Steve Miller, Muddy Waters, Patsy Cline were all a little stouter than I thought they’d be. Most of the musicians (that I’ve noticed) tend to have an ectomorphic body type. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/72 "2012-04-22T19:09:43Z")
> [@Take\_the\_cannoli](#): > > Steve Miller, Muddy Waters, Patsy Cline were all a little stouter than I thought they’d be. Most of the musicians (that I’ve noticed) tend to have an ectomorphic body type. Once upon a time, having a nice large ribcage for loud, resonant tones was a plus in music. Now they just use skinny things, body mics and Autotune. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/73 "2012-04-22T20:07:49Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Also speaking of old time radio, I think just about everyone knew that Amos and Andy were played by two white guys. They _might_ have been surprised, though, to learn that Amos’ daughter was played by a [Chinese-American](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Jean_Wong)! The mention of Amos and Andy reminds me of another one. Fibber McGee & Molly introduced the character of Beulah, the maid. Beulah was later spun off into her own show, and then made into a TV show, the later incarnations featured the character being played by a heavyset black woman- how most listeners probably viewed that character in their minds. But originally, Beulah was played by a young, thin white man named Marlin Hurt! Live audiences of the Fibber McGee & Molly didn’t know this. You can hear the audience howling and screaming with laughter during the routines they did with Beulah! ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/74 "2012-04-22T20:22:40Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Interviewer [Terry Gross](http://newsinfo.iu.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/6468.jpg). Heh, really? I remember being amused by how much Gross looked like my mental image of her when I finally saw a picture. But on a similar note, I’ll add Garrison Keillor. I grew up listening to him with all the folksyness and slow speech patterns I always pictured a grandfatherly looking guy. Instead, [he looks](http://m.gawker.com/the-moth/) like some weird troll-monster. He’s definately in the right profession. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/75 "2012-04-25T03:01:03Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Interviewer [Terry Gross](http://newsinfo.iu.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/6468.jpg). Really? I’ve always thought Terry Gross looks a lot like she sounds. Brooke Gladstone from “On the Media” was the one I was surprised to see on television. I don’t know what I was expecting, only that she’s much prettier than I’d thought she be. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/76 "2012-04-25T22:13:44Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > Really? I’ve always thought Terry Gross looks a lot like she sounds. Brooke Gladstone from “On the Media” was the one I was surprised to see on television. I don’t know what I was expecting, only that she’s much prettier than I’d thought she be. Before seeing her picture I envisoned Gross as similar to a younger [Leslie Stahl](http://content.scholastic.com/yawyr/Uploads/lesliestahl.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Baks\_Noogiehead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Baks\_Noogiehead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Baks_Noogiehead)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/77 "2012-04-25T23:45:32Z")
Billy Idol came to mind immediately. I tried to find a video for the SNL skit with the song “Wrong Voice for This Face,” but couldn’t. Anyone have a link? ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/78 "2012-04-26T00:00:56Z")
> [@QuarkChild](#): > > I thought the lead singer of Rush was female until I looked them up on YouTube. Geddy Lee IS female. He is just an UGLY female. Just kidding Rush fans! Really! \ ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/79 "2012-04-26T00:50:32Z")
I remember being a big Al Stewart fan in the 70s, before the Year of the Cat mania occurred. I had never seen a picture, but was surprised at how skinny of a waif he was. He could have used a couple of cheeseburgers, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193/80 "2012-04-26T01:09:05Z")
> [@campp](#): > > I remember being a big Al Stewart fan in the 70s, before the Year of the Cat mania occurred. I had never seen a picture, but was surprised at how skinny of a waif he was. He could have used a couple of cheeseburgers, if you know what I mean. I was surprised that he was as masculine as he was. A slim cigarette holder and capezios wouldn’t have surprised me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-performers-physical-appearance-didnt-match-your-mental-image-the-most/619193.md?page=5)