# You first knew actor/actress from a role different from one they're widely known in. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139 "2015-03-16T19:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/141 "2015-03-22T11:55:59Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Judi Dench when I first became aware of her: I know her from [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bYaRyjnuAM). It almost always comes to mind whenever I see her. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/142 "2015-03-22T12:05:00Z")
Tom Baker, famous as the fourth Doctor, had a role as the evil sorcerer in _The Golden Voyage of Sinbad_. When I first started watching _Doctor Who_, I kept wondering why he looked so strangely familiar until I looked it up. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/143 "2015-03-22T13:12:01Z")
At the risk of showing my age, to me Charlie Chaplin will always be pageboy [Billy](http://media.tumblr.com/43edcd5c535bf200a2dc31c12df478d3/tumblr_inline_mhm5x18zFh1qz4rgp.jpg), long before he became The Tramp. And Clare Bow will always be tomboy [“Dot” Morgan](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/ClaraBowDownToTheSea22Tophat.jpg) before she turned into the It Girl. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/144 "2015-03-23T20:01:07Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Teri Hatcher will always be Katherine “Kiki” Tango in _Tango & Cash_, rather than a desperate housewife, or the “They’re real…and they’re spectacular” woman. Of course, I remember her on an episode of _Night Court_ as well, as the one woman that Dan Fielding had to consider off-limits. To me, she will always be Penny Parker from _MacGyver_. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/145 "2015-03-23T20:08:43Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > I remembered him from both _Next of Kin_ (where he played a hillbilly?) and _High Spirits_ a not-very-good comedy. I saw High Spirits when it came out. I didn’t even recall that Neeson had been in it. **Darkman** is still the film where he finally made a splash in my consciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/146 "2015-03-28T16:07:09Z")
Apparently Jewel Staite was on Firefly/Serenity (never seen it). I just always knew her as the rainbow headed kid on Space Cases. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/147 "2015-03-28T18:00:40Z")
> [@Ms\_Boods](#): > > I was a young teenager the first time I saw Malcolm McDowell in a film – _Time After Time_ where he plays the shy, romantic lead. Good call. I consider _Time After Time_ to be one of the best films ever made. McDowell portray of H.G. Wells was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/148 "2015-03-28T18:46:54Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Teri Hatcher will always be Katherine “Kiki” Tango in _Tango & Cash_, rather than a desperate housewife, or the “They’re real…and they’re spectacular” woman. Of course, I remember her on an episode of _Night Court_ as well, as the one woman that Dan Fielding had to consider off-limits. Ironic, considering your user name, that you don’t remember her like I do: as Lois Lane. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/149 "2015-03-28T19:16:58Z")
Kate Mulgrew will always be Mary Ryan of Ryan’s Hope. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/150 "2015-03-28T23:11:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Kate Mulgrew will always be Mary Ryan of Ryan’s Hope. She was also one of Sam’s love interests on _ **Cheers!** _, which is where I first saw her. I can’t believe no one has mentioned Patrick Stewart as Sejanus on _ **I, Claudius** _, or John Hurt as Caligula! :eek: For that matter, I first saw Derek Jacobi and Michael Lonsdale in _ **Day of the Jackal** _ and recognized them in _ **I, Claudius** _ and _ **Moonraker** _, respectively. And yes, I remember Goldie Hawn on _ **Good Morning, World!** _ too. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/151 "2015-03-29T04:04:31Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > Ironic, considering your user name, that you don’t remember her like I do: as Lois Lane. I saw \* Tango & Cash \* first. And, tired of all the misrepresentations of me, didn’t watch her as Lois. They couldn’t even get my NAME right! ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/152 "2015-03-29T10:38:21Z")
When I first saw Thorin Oakenshield I thought that Robin Hood had seriously cut Sir Guy down to size. ---
**Author:** ![Jalola298](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Jalola298](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jalola298)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/153 "2015-03-31T21:33:29Z")
Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore, and Marisa Tomei will always be, respectively, Betsy Stewart, Frannie Hughes and Marcy Thompson from _As the World Turns_. Toronto people may remember Mike Myers as “Mike from Tonnage” on City TV’s overnight show in the early 80s. He was a precursor to Wayne Campbell. I remember George Clooney as George on _The Facts of Life_. Not that I knew him from this, but he was on a show called E/R years before he was on ER. ---
**Author:** ![Jalola298](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Jalola298](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jalola298)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/154 "2015-03-31T21:44:09Z")
Oh and who else remembers Brad Pitt playing Randy, the boyfriend of Priscilla Presley’s daughter, on _Dallas_? I first saw Matthew Perry playing Carol Seaver’s ill-fated boyfriend, Sandy, on Growing Pains, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/155 "2015-03-31T21:48:28Z")
Leonardo DiCaprio. The first role I noticed him in was Arnie Grape from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and I legitimately thought that he was mentally challenged. ---
**Author:** ![Jalola298](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Jalola298](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jalola298)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/156 "2015-03-31T22:21:06Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > To me David Duchovny was Jake Winters on _The Red Shoe Diaries_ until he was Fox Mulder on _The X Files_. Then he became Hank Moody. It says a lot about Duchovny as an actor that I never saw Mulder when I watched _Californication_. I can’t forget about David as Agent Denise/Dennis Bryson in _Twin Peaks_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/157 "2015-03-31T22:24:29Z")
I saw Frank Langella in " The Twelve Chairs " before I saw him in “Dracula”. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/158 "2015-03-31T22:39:55Z")
The first time I saw _Doctor Who_, I was jolted. “Isn’t that the fine character actor Jon Pertwee, the reluctant vampire from _The House That Dripped Blood_, among other Hammer horror films?” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/159 "2015-03-31T23:02:17Z")
> [@Jalola298](#): > > I first saw Matthew Perry playing Carol Seaver’s ill-fated boyfriend, Sandy, on Growing Pains, IIRC. I first saw him before that, on JUST THE TEN OF US, as the nice young man one of the daughters brings home, and, dangit, his Matthew Perry schtick is so unthreateningly polite that Dad relents and lets her go out on dates with him. (And once they’re out the door, she invariably ditches him to meet up with her _real_ boyfriend as planned.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139/160 "2015-03-31T23:08:47Z")
> [@Jalola298](#): > > Meg Ryan, Julianne Moore, and Marisa Tomei will always be, respectively, Betsy Stewart, Frannie Hughes and Marcy Thompson from _As the World Turns_. For me, too! That was one of my mom’s “stories”, which I inherited and watched for years before finally getting out of the habit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-first-knew-actor-actress-from-a-role-different-from-one-theyre-widely-known-in/715139.md?page=9)