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For an actor, getting typecast is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can be fairly sure you'll always get work. On the other hand, if your breakthrough role was "guy with frantic diarrhea," you can look forward to a long career of feigned intestinal distress and people on the street yelling "Hey, diarrhea guy!" No one will care that you played Shylock in the Royal Shakespeare Co. or trained at Yale, only that you were hilarious in the straight-to-DVD movie Diarrhea Guy Saves Christmas. Below are nine actors who, for better or worse, are probably going to play the same part until they either die rich or get relegated to The Surreal Life, where they'll get sloppy drunk and bitch to their housemates about being typecast.
Role: Family-man cop with a bit of a weight problem, who often has to deal with idiots and is therefore exasperated The Movies/The Shows: Ghostbusters, Kojak: The Belarus File, Plain Clothes, Die Hard, Perfect Strangers, Turner & Hooch, Family Matters, Die Hard 2
The Verdict: Some men are born with talents that just don't make much sense. We, for example, have the totally worthless ability to remember that Reginald VelJohnson is the guard who opens the jail cell in Ghostbusters. VelJohnson, on the other hand, just naturally looks like he should be wearing a police uniform and getting exasperated about something. So uncanny is his gift, that after only one season playing the bit part of Officer Carl Winslow on Perfect Strangers, ABC handed him a series that managed to fill nine seasons worth of the premise: "Officer Winslow expresses exasperation with his son Eddie and neighbor Steve." Sure he'd probably rather be playing the chubby girl in Hairspray-but trust us, there are worse gifts to have.
#8.
Julia Roberts
Role: Woman who is strong-willed but eventually shows vulnerability by breaking down into silent, gross-looking tears The Movies Mystic Pizza, Pretty Woman, My Best Friend' Wedding, Notting Hill, Runaway Bride, Erin Brockovich, Ocean' Eleven, Mona Lisa Smile, Ocean' Twelve
The Verdict: Judging by the critical acclaim and Oscar noms she' racked up, Julia' brand of empowered-but-not-too-empowered woman has served her quite well over the years. Not a lot of folks can be typecast and still be respected as a great actor, so all in all she should be thanking her lucky stars America' women need palatable, generally attractive role models. #7.
Kelsey Grammer
Role: Dr. Frasier Crane The Movies/Shows: Wings, Cheers, The John Larroquette Show, Frasier, The Simpsons, X3
The Verdict: Grammer holds the distinction of being the only actor ever to win three Golden Globes for the same role. Sounds great, until you realize he has three statues at home reminding him every day that, as they lower him into the ground, there' a good chance the priest will accidentally refer to him as "the departed Dr. Crane." All in all, it' kind of a toss-up. #6.
Role: Gravel-voiced, intimidating asshole The Movies: The Hunt for Red October, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Shadow, The Edge, The Aviator, The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie
The Verdict: If being feared by those around you is any measure of success, then Baldwin' doing just fine. Plus, since landing his gig on 30 Rock, he' started to use his powers for comedy. While he still plays the same character as he always did, it' nice to see him surrounded by underlings who are intimidated by him in a funny way instead of a genuinely terrified way. |
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What about Roy Scheider? He was always type-cast as the cop. (Well, except for All That Jazz, but that's the only one I can think of where he wasn't something close to a cop.)
Shatner kicks ass in Boston Legal!!
Shatner? Downhill? Hmm, I guess you're right...although there was that emmy nomination last year...and the year before...and the two years before that...
But yeah, course, I mean aside from THAT there's nothing...unless you count that golden globe nomination...or the time he actually won one...
Seventy freaking seven, and the man is still proving that he is as brilliant, award winning and versatile as ever. All I pray for at 77 is to not be eating through a straw, cut the man some slack maybes?
ha ha!!
i saw sam jackson on the scream awards tuesday night, and as always, he was the biggest bad ass m**********r there.
VelJohnson is gay? According to what? He has never publicly stated such, yet you claim he is "openly gay?"
John Cusack in Anastasia was that same character too, i guess. U also 4got to mention Ron Perlman. He's always going 2 b remembered as hellboy, when he's actually a Shakespearean actor. Seriously
yeah nicholson should totally be on here, not only does he always play himself but have you noticed that almost all of his characters are even named jack
what!? no ben stiller since every movie he's ever been in he played the "neurotic jewy guy"?
working william shatner in here just to make fun of him is one thing. but number one? but cameron diaz is one of those "beautiful" women that are beautiful because we're told that she is. i have other opinions.
Where the hell is Sean Connery. He's like, the quintessential typecast figure. He's always played the same role.
Wheres Alan Rickman?? Lol
Personally, I think Shatner's Denny Crane is his best role and takes advantage of his comedic abilities. And I couldn't disagree with you more about Alex Baldwin who started his career as a romantic leading man. It was only when he couldn't control his weight that he turned into a character actor. Will Smith's popularity completely eludes me, but whatever it is it works so I wouldn't be too critical of success. The same goes for Miss Horseface, Julia Roberts. And get real, John Cusack is one of the most creative actors in the business and his cult status is proof of that. Actually, I think your definition of Alec Baldwin's acting style is very appropo of your opinions.
suprised not to see michael cera on this list
Alec Baldwin was also a gravel-voiced, intimidating a*****e in The Juror. I haven't actually seen the movie though.
Yeah, Rowan Atkinson belongs here. Apparently, in college, he was best friends with Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, and Emma Thompson. Think about that. Now be very, very glad that you are not Rowan Atkinson. How much would it suck to be eclipsed by all your old college friends?
How about Jack Nicholson? Every bloody character he plays is Jack Nicholson!
What about John Wayne? Rowan Atkinson? Jim Carrey? Sir Sean Connery?
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Roy Scheider = a true legend.