# Whom do impressionists impersonate nowadays? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917 "2009-03-26T21:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/1 "2009-03-26T21:21:59Z")
In the early days of TV, whenever impressionists were on one of the variety shows, they invariably impersonated the same people (Jimmy Cagney, John Wayne, Cary Grant, etc.), people whose voices were instantly recognizable to movie goers of the period but who would be mostly unrecognizable to most viewers today. So, are there still impressionists around? And whose voices do they impersonate? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/2 "2009-03-26T21:38:15Z")
I’m surmising, from the few impressionists I’ve seen on late night: Jay Leno Jerry Seinfeld Keanu Reeves Al Pacino Robert De Niro all have distinctive vocal stylings. Plus W was the gift that gave on giving… ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/3 "2009-03-26T21:40:52Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > I’m surmising, from the few impressionists I’ve seen on late night: > > Jay Leno > Jerry Seinfeld > Keanu Reeves > Al Pacino > Robert De Niro > > all have distinctive vocal stylings. Plus W was the gift that gave on giving… Add John Madden and you’ve just summed up the Frank Caliendo show. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/4 "2009-03-26T21:58:11Z")
Christopher Walken and William Shatner are favorites of the young impressionists, as well. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/5 "2009-03-26T22:04:05Z")
Robin Williams, Dr. Phil, Andy Rooney. Many impressionists are fond of doing Jack Nicholson. Bill Clinton is also probably still recognized when someone imitates him. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/6 "2009-03-26T22:09:54Z")
Regis Philbin Bill Cosby Oprah Political figures are always popular: George W Bush Barack Obama Rush Limbaugh ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/7 "2009-03-26T22:16:52Z")
Arnold Schwartzeneiger as well. I remember watching a Last Comic Standing a year or so ago and they just showed comic after comic doing Arnold after Arnold. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/8 "2009-03-26T22:51:53Z")
Will Sasso had some great ones: [Steven Segal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXx3_ykUpfY&feature=related) [Tony Soprano](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYN8loUboA) [Ahnold](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxNCGjW2JAg&feature=related) [DeNiro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfDoDWlSp1o&feature=related) [Limp Bizkit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi2ploapbm0) (I didn’t include Kenny Rogers b/c I never got that one - does he really act like that?) ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/9 "2009-03-26T23:13:45Z")
Hm. Those were not “great ones” IMHO. Never seen the man before, but Steven Segal was boring, Tony Soprano was not anything like Tony Soprano and de Niro was five seconds of fun. - The other twos, I don’t know. Sorry for being sour, but my 2 c. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/10 "2009-03-26T23:21:43Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > …but Steven Segal was boring Then the illusion was perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/11 "2009-03-26T23:42:46Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > Hm. Those were not “great ones” IMHO. Never seen the man before, but Steven Segal was boring, Tony Soprano was not anything like Tony Soprano and de Niro was five seconds of fun. - The other twos, I don’t know. > > Sorry for being sour, but my 2 c. Have a great weekend!! ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-do-impressionists-impersonate-nowadays/490917/12 "2009-03-26T23:48:00Z")
One of my favorite impressionists, Bill Hader, does [all kinds](http://www.hulu.com/videos/search?query=bill+hader) of different people. Vincent Price Buffalo Bill Daniel Day Louis Ralph Nader Just to name a few. He usually commits to the characters fairly well. Absolutely love his impressions.