# Who could be the Grinch? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462 "2000-11-16T15:48:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/1 "2000-11-16T15:48:48Z")
I’ve seen all the trailers and promos for _The Grinch_ and must say that I’m very excited to see it. From what I’ve seen Jim Carrey looks incredible in the make-up and his expressions and voices fit the role so perfect its scary. Being a kid who loved the book, and then grew to love the cartoon I have to say I’ve developed a pretty strong personal idea of how it should be. I really think Jim Carrey is the only man who could play that role. Past or present I can’t think of another actor that could even come close to filling the Grinch’s shoes. Do any of you agree? Can anyone name a actor in any era who could manage this role? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/2 "2000-11-16T15:50:37Z")
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. [http://www.bartleby.com/65/tr/Tree-Sir.html](http://www.bartleby.com/65/tr/Tree-Sir.html) He’d be all over that puppy like white on rice. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/3 "2000-11-16T16:12:29Z")
Oh, please, Ike, HOW can you say that? You KNOW De Wolf Hopper could Grinch circles around Herbert Beerbohm Tree! I mean, even Eddie Foy, Sr., would be better! ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/4 "2000-11-16T16:27:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Can anyone name a actor in any era who could manage this role? Boris Karloff! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/5 "2000-11-16T16:30:32Z")
…oh, all right. But what about **Gustav von Seyffertitz?** Played Moriarty to John Barrymore’s Sherlock Holmes, and was really really mean to Mary Pickford in _Sparrows._ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/6 "2000-11-16T16:37:39Z")
Oh, Ike, you just like saying “Gustav von Seyffertitz.” I’ll bet you giggle afterward. Now that I think of it, Eddie Foy WOULD have made a great Grinch—wouldn’t even have needed that much makeup: [http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0786407026.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0786407026.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/7 "2000-11-16T19:20:34Z")
Man, when **Omniscient** started this thread, I’ll bet he was hoping for more than a couple of half-baked smartass comments from **Eve** and me, plus a cameo by **Soup.** Come on, gang! Good ol’ **Omni** deserves better than this! I’m goin’ out for lunch and by the time I get back I expect to see at least fourteen serious responses, WITH back-up. And NO teasing him about wanting to see that movie, either. ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/8 "2000-11-16T21:15:03Z")
Why not Robin Williams from 20 years ago? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/9 "2000-11-16T22:12:33Z")
Ike thanks for the effort but I think the damage has been done. ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/10 "2000-11-16T22:18:41Z")
I agree. That role must be filled with Jim Carrey, and only Jim Carrey. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/11 "2000-11-17T14:06:14Z")
Hey, I was SERIOUS when I said **Boris Karloff**. It’s obvious that he could play the character, and he was no stranger to wearing alot of make-up! Other actors from the past who might’ve been a good Grinch: **W.C. Fields** **Moe Howard** As for living actors, how about **Michael Richards** , **Christopher Lloyd** , or **Michael Keaton**? On a related note: Why does a movie based on a children’s book by Dr. Seuss have to be rated PG? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/12 "2000-11-17T16:48:48Z")
I’d say Michael Keaton is a big no. Richards could pull off the look and the cartoony body language, but I don’t think he can pull of the facial contortions and voices Carrey seems too. Lloyd 10 years ago might have been worth seeing. Other than that, I totally don’t have the reference to even guess about most of the others mentioned…I’m a post-B&W TV guy. PS, Moe Howard? That is just herasy. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/13 "2000-11-17T16:55:02Z")
Well, so far the NY Times and Salon have both panned the movie—over-produced, soulless, and Jim Carrey does his usual annoying schtick. Anyone who’s seen it wanna chime in this weekend with opnions? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/14 "2000-11-17T16:58:59Z")
I really don’t want to be disappointed with this movie. _keep expectations down, keep them down, thats it_ ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/15 "2000-11-17T17:02:01Z")
I don’t know, Omni. **Michael Keaton** was good as Beetlejuice. I don’t see it being too much of a stretch to be The Grinch after that. Also, you may not see as much of his own “schtick” in a character as you may from Jim Carrey. C’mon, **Moe** would’ve been great! That would’ve been one grumpy Grinch! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/16 "2000-11-17T17:12:04Z")
I would love to see Christopher Walken give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/17 "2000-11-17T17:15:48Z")
Christopher Walken??? He scares me without makeup. I wouldn’t do that to a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/18 "2000-11-17T17:16:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup \* > \*\*C’mon, **Moe** would’ve been great! \*\* **Cindy Lou Who:** Why are you taking our Christmas Tree, Santy Claus, why? **Grinch:** Cracking wise, heh? (twists Cindy Lou’s ears completely around and pokes her in the eyes) ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/19 "2000-11-17T17:19:25Z")
LOL EXACTLY Ike! The possibilities are endless! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462/20 "2000-11-17T18:16:05Z")
Am I the only one who is dissapointed that the movie is not in rhyme? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-be-the-grinch/41462.md?page=2)