Typecasting isn’t always a bad thing, but actors can frequently find themselves trapped playing essentially the same role multiple times simply because they killed it so hard with one memorable performance. How many of these actors do you forever associate with a specific role?
Adam Sandler
The first thing that likely popped into your head upon reading “Adam Sandler” was an incoherent mouth noise. The comedian has made an entire film career based on playing various grown-up children.Billy Madison, his breakthrough hit, was literally him as a grown man reliving his childhood school days!
Whether Sandler’s character is outlandish or shy, good-hearted or mean-spirited, you’re able to bet on him to be immature and childish.Little Nickyis a meek manchild.The Waterboyis a good-hearted manchild with an aggressive trigger. He’s not even a grown up in a film titledGrown Ups. As long as audiences pay and he’s satisfied, he’ll go to the grave a 13-year-old man.
Daniel Radcliffe
From 2001 through 2010,Daniel Radcliffeplayed the popular children’s literature character Harry Potter in eight films. But ever since Radcliffe played “The Boy Who Lived,” he’s had trouble getting the public to believe he’s really “The Actor That Could Be Something Else.”
While he’s had roles since the Potter movies, Radcliffe still has trouble shaking off his iconic role, possibly because audiences grew up alongside him sinceHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It had to be a little therapeutic for him to portray a villain against magicians inNow You See Me 2, but the less said about that movie, the better.
Betty White
While she had a wider variety of roles as a youth, for over 40 yearsBetty Whitehas been America’s sweet grandmother that says outlandish things. Since 1985, she’s been Rose Nylund from the hit TV showThe Golden Girlsor some version of her in virtually every show or film she’s appeared in.
If her character isn’t crass due to her naivete, it’s crass due to the visual juxtaposition of this petite older woman being graphically outspoken about her high sex drive. Yet, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Please never die.
Michelle Rodriguez
Ever since her breakout role inGirlfight,Michelle Rodriguezhas been an easy go-to for Hollywood execs looking for a “tough chick.” When she’s not boxing, she’s street racing and kicking ass in theFast and the Furiousfilms or unleashing murder power in theMacheteandResident Evilmovies. Often times her character is adverse to traditionally feminine interests, fashions, and attitudes.
Her typecasting doesn’t end with physical roles. Rodriguez has lent her voice to action-packed video games such asHalo 2,True Crime: Streets of LA, andCall of Duty: Black Ops II. Even when her appearance doesn’t affect her roles, she’s placed in a militant, hard-knuckled box.
Prior to his iconic role as the Caped Crusader, the lateAdam Westwas a regular on shows such asMaverickandThe Detectives. Yet ever since he donned the cape and cowl of Batman in 1966, he had a tough time getting it removed.
Long after theBatmanTV show was canceled, West would voice the character in various animated series throughout the 70s and 80s, even portraying a fictionalized version of his own life in theBatman: The Animated Seriesepisode “The Gray Ghost.” Aside from his mayor persona onFamily Guy, West’s last project before his death wasBatman vs. Two-Face, an animated home video release featuring West voicing his interpretation of the Dark Knight.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Ever since his titular role inSherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch has been a favorite for socially-curt genius roles. The lanky Cumberbatch has a knack for delivering dialogue that is either a solid burn or a complex explanation of science, medicine, or, in the case ofDoctor Strange, the mystic arts.
Even when presented roles of real life people such asAlan TuringinThe Imitation GameorJulian AssangeinThe Fifth Estate, Cumberbatch is written and directed to act like a smug, snarky genius. Say what you will, but his characters have talked down to their superiors in English, American, and Australian accents.
Anthony Perkins
ForAnthony Perkins’ second film role inFriendly Persuasion, he won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination. In spite of that, most film buffs recognize him as Norman Bates from the acclaimedAlfred HitchcockmoviePsycho.
Ever since that role, Perkins still got steady work in smaller roles and smaller movies, usually in the horror genre, but nothing that could shake the Bates shadow. He would eventually reprise his role as Norman Bates in three otherPsychosequels.
Angelina Jolie
While she acted in a variety of roles since she was a teen,Angelina Jolieis likely slated to fulfill the role of the sexy spy, the sexy assassin, the sexy adventurer, the sexy insert-badass-job-here. If you need a leading lady that can shoot a gun while looking good doing it, Jolie is your go-to.
Jolie showed off her physique and her badassery in theLara Croft: Tomb Raiderfranchise. She also makes gunfire look sexy in films likeMr. & Mrs. Smith,Salt, andWanted. She even has PG versions as the butt-kicking Tigress in theKung Fu Pandafilms and as the magicalMaleficent.
Dennis Farina
It makes sense thatDennis Farinawas always placed in a criminal or cop role as he served in the Chicago Police Department for 18 years! Many times he could pull his performances from his real life experience.
Farina got roles for characters on both sides of the law. He would lay in his Chicago-accent as a cop in shows such asCrime StoryandLaw & Orderand films likeManhunter,Out of Sight, andThe Mod Squad. He’d also flip it and play gangster-types in movies likeSnatch,Get Shorty, andMidnight Run. Not a lot of range displayed, but a great career by any measure.
Zach Galifianakis
Before he broke through withTheHangoverfilms, Zach Galifianakis was best known as an eccentric stand-up comedian that had occasional roles on TV. But his success as the pratfalling, socially awkward Alan inThe Hangoverled him to an onslaught of similar roles.
Whether it was Ray in HBO’sBored to Death, Therman inDinner for Schmucks, Ethan inDue Date, Chip inBaskets, or even The Joker inThe Lego Batman Movie, Galifianakis typically plays a misanthropic character with his social nervousness, naivete, or lack of connection to reality getting in the way of his desire to connect with other people.
