We’ve seen it all the time: a talented actor tries to showcase their range, but we can’t help but only associate them with their most iconic role.
Sometimes it’s the role that brought them superstardom. Other times, it’s a role that helped ascend an actor from good to great.
Sadly for these legends of film and television, whenever we see them, we can’t help but say, “Hey, they’re the guy from that one show! What’s he doing here?”
Leonard Nimoy
Nimoy’s career spanned decades, and while he’s easily best known for playing Spock on Star Trek, that’s not the only television series in which he was featured.
He starred in 49 episodes of Mission: Impossible as The Great Paris. Let’s be honest, though; he’ll always be Spock.
William Shatner
It’s fitting, too, that Nimoy’s Star Trek co-star, William Shatner, is mostly seen as Captain Kirk.
Like Nimoy, Shatner’s career spans decades. Also, like Nimoy, no matter what role Shatner played, audiences always viewed him as the guy who played James T. Kirk.
Mark Hamill
No one else may be the poster child for actors forever associated with one role than Mark Hamill.
It’s ironic because his Star Wars co-stars were able to enjoy a long, fruitful career outside of the franchise, especially Harrison Ford. Yet, Hamill, who is an incredibly talented voice actor and one of the best to ever play The Joker from the Batman franchise, is often viewed as Luke Skywalker.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Jim Parsons
Here’s an example that happened before our very eyes in recent history.
Jim Parsons’ performance as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory was so good that any attempt for him to start a career outside the show was, ultimately, impossible.
Take, for example, his character in the film Hidden Figures: a NASA engineer. How can you not see that and not immediately think of Sheldon?
Adam West
Sometimes, you become so associated with a character that you embrace the meme.
That’s what Adam West did, best known for his role as Batman in the 1960s.
West would be in on the joke, as appearances he made in several shows, most notably a recurring role on Family Guy, made no effort to hide the fact that he is the original Batman.
Jason Alexander
“George is getting upset!”
In reality, Jason Alexander was an accomplished Broadway actor before getting his big break on Seinfeld as George Costanza. Now, all everyone sees is George.
Ironically, Alexander would appear as himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm as part of a plotline for a Larry David show about an actor who is only recognized from an iconic television show.
Rainn Wilson
In reality, Rainn Wilson is an incredibly talented actor capable of delivering a wide range of performances, but serious and dramatic.
Yet people can’t help but look at him and only see The Office‘s Dwight Schrutte. It’s ironic, since Wilson’s everyday appearance bears no resemblance to Dwight.
Michael Richards
Jason Alexander wasn’t the only Seinfeld alum to have this issue.
In fact, you can argue that several main cast members had this issue; however, to be fair, Jerry Seinfeld was essentially playing himself.
While Julia Louis-Dreyfus would make a name for herself beyond Elaine with The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep, Michael Richards couldn’t shake the role of Cosmo Kramer.
Ed O’Neil
More recently, O’Neil is best known for the role of Jay Pritchett on Modern Family.
But in the eyes of many, Pritchett is essentially a riff on Married… with Children‘s Al Bundy.
To be fair, if I ran for four touchdowns in the 1966 city championship game against Andrew Johnson High, I’d want to be forever known for it, too.
Sean William Scott
I cannot believe what I’m about to say: Sean William Scott is a talented actor.
Yes, he’s best known for his off-beat comedic roles, most notably American Pie‘s Stiffler, but credit where credit is due: when he’s allowed to show his chops (Goon, for example), he brings it.
But he’ll always be Stiffler, and I have to say, I’m guilty of this, too.
Jason Biggs
At least he’s not best known for being the guy who got a little too intimate with a pie.
I’ll never forget when Jason Biggs showed up in Orange is the New Black and went, “Jason Biggs! The American Pie guy!”
Yeah, there’s no coming back from that.
Robert Englund
Before breaking out in A Nightmare on Elm Street, Englund had a quiet but successful career in Hollywood.
His performance as Freddy Krueger, however, established him as a horror great of all time. It did a little too good a job, though, as Englund’s success mostly stems from the horror genre, paying homage to his role as Freddy Krueger.
Kit Harington
“You know nuffin’, Jon Snow.”
I can’t imagine how many times Kit Harington has heard this. In a way, I feel sorry for the guy.
Then again, he’s made millions of dollars by being Jon Snow, and even though he’s tried his hand at other roles since the conclusion of Game of Thrones, he’s still Jon Snow.
David Schwimmer
There’s zero chance you didn’t watch Band of Brothers and go, “Oh, hey, that’s Ross as Captain Herbert M. Sobel.”
It’s the face. It just screams “Ross.” I can’t help it, and I don’t even like Friends, and I especially hate Ross!
Kelsey Grammer
What happens when you play the same character on two television shows? You become forever associated with that character.
In the case of Kelsey Grammer, he’ll always be Dr. Frasier Crane.
Outside of television, Grammer is best known for playing Dr. McCoy / Beast in the original X-Men movies.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe will always be Harry Potter, no matter how hard he tries to move on from the iconic role.
On the one hand, I get it: Radcliffe spent his formative years growing up while playing the character. On the other hand, no other actor has tried so hard to move on from their most iconic role.
If you, like many, only see Radcliffe as Harry Potter, I beg you to check out his other work. You’ll come away impressed, even if you’ll still view him as The Boy Who Lived.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Read More From Us:
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.