35 Times Actors Became Their Roles And Left An Unforgettable Legacy
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When it comes to legendary performances, some actors become so intertwined with their characters that imagining anyone else in the role feels unthinkable. Recently, someone on Reddit asked, “What is a role that an actor did so well that nobody else will ever be able to touch it?”
The responses poured in, highlighting performances that have left indelible marks on cinema and television. Here are some of the most celebrated examples.
Image source: caskei, Warner Bros
Alan Rickman is Snape. Always.
Image source: Jane_Austen11, Walt Disney Pictures
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Prof_Walrus:
The fact they're trying to replace/reboot him is a guaranteed box office flop.
anonymous:
The role was actually written for Hugh Jackman but Johnny Depp had more star power.
Image source: legojay, Universal Pictures
Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.
enricopallazo22:
There's only one doc Brown and only Marty Mcfly and it should always be that way.
Image source: LongrodVonHugedong86, NBCUniversal
Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House.
unstopablystoopid:
There can be only one!
Image source: badlysighteddragon, Orion Pictures
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, the dude out performed the books.
Image source: BeerGutNinja, Paramount Pictures
Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
Far-Government5469:
Harrison brought just the right amount of incredulity to his circumstance to sell them.
Image source: KevinJ2010, Paramount Pictures
Gene Wilder will forever be Willy Wonka.
thegreatresistrules:
This... my little daughter loved the Johnny Depp version until she finally saw the original. Now she hates the Depp version.
Image source: D1Rk_D1GGL3R, Warner Bros
Michael Keaton did great with Beetlejuice.
DeeVa72:
I also think he was the best Batman
Image source: Visible_Star_4036, New Line Cinema
Viggo Mortensen in Lord of the Rings. That wasn't how I pictured the character reading the book 40 years ago, or any time re reading it before the films, but that is Aragorn for me now.
Image source: DoctorSkelly, Tiger Aspect Productions
Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean.
Image source: WriteOrDie1997, Warner Bros
Heath Ledger's Joker.
FloydsForked:
This is the one for me. The most epic performance of all time.
Image source: Mono_Clear, 20th Century Fox
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
warchiefx:
Reynolds was practically born to play that role.
Image source: Ldemirci, CBS Studios
Patric Stewart/Picard.
craigerstar:
Stewart is the biggest reason for the success of a Star Trek reboot. If not for Stewart's Picard, I believe every Star Trek vehicle made since would not have happened or been some low budget hatchet job, including the current Chris Pine movies.
Image source: Environmental_Stay83, 20th Century Fox
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. if Hugh dies they should retire that character same with the Black Panther.
Image source: AussieGirl2022, Paramount Pictures
Tom Hanks and in Forest Gump.
tojifajita:
Honestly for me it is actually Tom hanks in Cast away, I see that character in every other movie, lonely deranged man.
Image source: certified-fumbler, Sony Pictures
Bryan Cranston as Walter White "Heisenberg".
Sharp_Ad_6336:
The fact that he was able to break the mental association we all had of him as Hal from Malcolm in the middle is the true tribute to how well he nailed that role.
Image source: velvetrevolting, Columbia Pictures
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel "Misery".
mohksinats:
Just rewatched this at the local theater recently, and she is the reason that film holds up to this day.
Image source: Aggressive-Command-8, Marvel Studios
RDJ as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
Image source: glamscum, HBO Entertainment
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon. He played his role so well that fans of Game of Thrones made him quit acting all together.
Image source: Classic-Row-2872, Pacific Western Productions
Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.
Rambo_1923:
No one else can be Terminator!
Image source: Velzevulva, Netflix
Henry Cavill as a Witcher.
Image source: neercsnus1, 20th Century Fox
Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire.
Image source: DeadRed402, Warner Bros
Jack Nicholson - "One flew over the cuckoos nest" and "The Shining".
Image source: Canonboy621, Universal Pictures
Cristof Waltz/ Hans Landa.
Shumuu:
Actually Tarantino wrote Landa and after seeing actor after actor try it he believed the character to be "unplayable" because no one could pull it off. Well, thank God he found Waltz because wow!
#1
Image source: caskei, Warner Bros
Alan Rickman is Snape. Always.
#2
Image source: Jane_Austen11, Walt Disney Pictures
Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Prof_Walrus:
The fact they're trying to replace/reboot him is a guaranteed box office flop.
anonymous:
The role was actually written for Hugh Jackman but Johnny Depp had more star power.
#3
Image source: legojay, Universal Pictures
Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown.
enricopallazo22:
There's only one doc Brown and only Marty Mcfly and it should always be that way.
#4
Image source: LongrodVonHugedong86, NBCUniversal
Hugh Laurie as Dr Gregory House.
unstopablystoopid:
There can be only one!
#5
Image source: badlysighteddragon, Orion Pictures
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, the dude out performed the books.
#6
Image source: BeerGutNinja, Paramount Pictures
Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
Far-Government5469:
Harrison brought just the right amount of incredulity to his circumstance to sell them.
#7
Image source: KevinJ2010, Paramount Pictures
Gene Wilder will forever be Willy Wonka.
thegreatresistrules:
This... my little daughter loved the Johnny Depp version until she finally saw the original. Now she hates the Depp version.
#8
Image source: D1Rk_D1GGL3R, Warner Bros
Michael Keaton did great with Beetlejuice.
DeeVa72:
I also think he was the best Batman
#9
Image source: Visible_Star_4036, New Line Cinema
Viggo Mortensen in Lord of the Rings. That wasn't how I pictured the character reading the book 40 years ago, or any time re reading it before the films, but that is Aragorn for me now.
#10
Image source: DoctorSkelly, Tiger Aspect Productions
Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean.
#11
Tim Curry as Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror. DirtRockEngineer: This is so true. He didn't cross my mind until I read this comment and now I can't forgive myself. Image source: stew_on_his_phone#12
Image source: WriteOrDie1997, Warner Bros
Heath Ledger's Joker.
FloydsForked:
This is the one for me. The most epic performance of all time.
#13
Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Image source: ABCBDMomma#14
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley. Image source: grendelfire#15
Image source: Mono_Clear, 20th Century Fox
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
warchiefx:
Reynolds was practically born to play that role.
#16
Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. Image source: TheScottishCatLady#17
Image source: Ldemirci, CBS Studios
Patric Stewart/Picard.
craigerstar:
Stewart is the biggest reason for the success of a Star Trek reboot. If not for Stewart's Picard, I believe every Star Trek vehicle made since would not have happened or been some low budget hatchet job, including the current Chris Pine movies.
#18
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot. Everyone else pales in comparison. Image source: bantharawk#19
Image source: Environmental_Stay83, 20th Century Fox
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. if Hugh dies they should retire that character same with the Black Panther.
#20
Image source: AussieGirl2022, Paramount Pictures
Tom Hanks and in Forest Gump.
tojifajita:
Honestly for me it is actually Tom hanks in Cast away, I see that character in every other movie, lonely deranged man.
#21
Image source: certified-fumbler, Sony Pictures
Bryan Cranston as Walter White "Heisenberg".
Sharp_Ad_6336:
The fact that he was able to break the mental association we all had of him as Hal from Malcolm in the middle is the true tribute to how well he nailed that role.
#22
Image source: velvetrevolting, Columbia Pictures
Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 1990 film adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel "Misery".
mohksinats:
Just rewatched this at the local theater recently, and she is the reason that film holds up to this day.
#23
Image source: Aggressive-Command-8, Marvel Studios
RDJ as Iron Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
#24
Andre The Giant as Fezzic in The Princess Bride. Image source: No-Seaworthiness-500#25
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Image source: scottwax#26
Image source: glamscum, HBO Entertainment
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon. He played his role so well that fans of Game of Thrones made him quit acting all together.
#27
Image source: Classic-Row-2872, Pacific Western Productions
Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.
Rambo_1923:
No one else can be Terminator!
#28
Image source: Velzevulva, Netflix
Henry Cavill as a Witcher.
#29
John Cleese as Basil Fawlty. PumpJack_McGee: Was always surprised Cleese didn't give himself an aneurysm playing Fawlty. Imagine even just pretending to be that high-strung all the time. Image source: beave9999#30
Image source: neercsnus1, 20th Century Fox
Robin Williams, Mrs Doubtfire.
#31
Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, or most any role he had. Image source: Busy_Donut6073#32
Image source: DeadRed402, Warner Bros
Jack Nicholson - "One flew over the cuckoos nest" and "The Shining".
#33
Sean Connery as James Bond. Image source: Environmental_Help29#34
Image source: Canonboy621, Universal Pictures
Cristof Waltz/ Hans Landa.
Shumuu:
Actually Tarantino wrote Landa and after seeing actor after actor try it he believed the character to be "unplayable" because no one could pull it off. Well, thank God he found Waltz because wow!
#35
Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone. Image source: uskgl455DE
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