Characters in movies and TV series are often defined by the actors who play them. And while characters can have a myriad of people play them, there is always that one actor who manages to fill a character’s shoes the best, and people can’t imagine anyone else playing the role.
Reddit has been discussing just that. One user asked the lovely AskReddit community which actor crushed a role so hard that nobody else will be able to live up to it? and got a slew of amazing responses.
Bored Panda has collected the best answers and turned it into a curated list that you can find below. While you’re scrolling, comment and vote on the submissions you loved the most, and tell us what character-actor combinations you think are iconic in the comment section below!
More Info: Reddit
#1
When they inevitably recast Jack Sparrow [Johnny Depp], it’ll be clear just how big a gap there is.
Image source: Billbap@#$o, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Second Mate Productions
#2
Alan Rickman as Severus Snape.
Image source: NZT-48Rules, Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films
#3
Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean.
Image source: Whitedragonfan, Working Title Films, Tiger Aspect Films
#4
RDJ for Iron Man, the man WAS Tony Stark end of discussion.
#5
Ryan Reynolds did an excellent job being Deadpool to the point where i am reading a Deadpool comic book with Reynolds’ voice in my head narrating it.
Image source: 422_is-420_too, Marvel
#6
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.
He’s so deeply connected to that character that I feel it would be impossible for anyone else to fill the fedora.
Image source: BrotherOfTheOrder, Lucasfilm Ltd.
#7
Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall.
Image source: plastic_bean, Warner Bros. Pictures
#8
Robin Williams as the genie.
Image source: PM_Me_Things_Yo_Like, Disney
#9
Ian McKellen is the both true Gandalfs.
Image source: ElectricFlesh, New Line Cinema, Saul Zaentz Company, WingNut Films, Saul Zaentz Film Co.
#10
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump.
Image source: literanch, The Tisch Company
#11
Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard.
Image source: JediAreTakingOver, Paramount Domestic Television
#12
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, amazing acting.
Image source: copper8061, HBO
#13
Hugh Laurie – Dr. House.
Image source: RizalParkCorner, Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC
#14
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Terminator.
Image source: Str8_up_savage, Hemdale Film Corporation, Pacific Western Productions
#15
Christopher Lloyd as Doc in Back to the Future.
Image source: John_h_watson, Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
#16
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Image source: goldenwolves101, Marvel
#17
Tim Curry, Frank N Furter. Anyone else in the role knows they never live up to that sexy god of a man. ‘I can make you a man’ is the most brilliant filthy scene to appear on cinema screens while people aren’t nude :/
Image source: elizabethunseelie, Michael White Productions
#18
Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams.
Image source: SnooDonkeys9743, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Bron Creative, The Jackal Group, Cinesite Studios, Nitrogen Studios
#19
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. Best book to movie translation for a character I’ve ever seen.
Image source: LimeGap, New Line Cinema
#20
Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice.
Image source: DaLion93, The Geffen Company
#21
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley.
Image source: pixelburger, Brandywine Productions
#22
Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge.
Umbridge sucked in the books, but in the movies she turned Umbridge into a character that you just don’t like into one that you hate with a burning passion.
Image source: DoDaDrew, Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films
#23
Heath Ledger as the Joker.
Image source: 8en80, DC Comics
#24
Jack Nicholson in the Shining.
Image source: Zufurix, The Producer Circle Company
#25
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.
Image source: Reddit User, Wolper Pictures
#26
Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride.
Image source: 3ulaF0x, Act III Communications
#27
Jim Carrey in The Mask.
Image source: Queer-and-stupid, New Line Productions, Dark Horse Entertainment
#28
Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad. He begins as sympathetic and ends up terrifying.
And in general the whole cast of Malcolm in the Middle, even the very secondary role. There have been many middle class effed up famy sitcom but zero have achieved to be crazy and relatable like this show.
Image source: HopeSuper, High Bridge Entertainment, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television
#29
Jody Foster as Clarice Starling. I particularly love the scene where she looks at Buffalo Bill’s victim and you hear her voice crack during the first part of the description, where she is looking at tiny personal details like painted fingernails, but then go clinical and determined when she sees the wounds on the girl’s back. Playing badass women often veers either towards emotionless and stalwart, or basically aping a 80s action male role. Foster nailed the emotional vulnerability, ambition, and courage of that character in minute, but profound ways. No one compares.
Image source: elizabethunseelie, Orion Pictures
#30
Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.
Image source: wish_my_wash, Paramount Pictures Studios
#31
I really can’t see anyone else as Hellboy. Ron Pearlman was amazing.
Image source: AzoriumLupum, Columbia Pictures
#32
Christopher Lee as basically anything.
Image source: Kibassi, New Line Cinema
#33
Joaquin Phoenix as commodus in gladiator. I have never hated a character so much till I saw him in that movie. He is so cowardly, despicable, and creepy. Phoenix did such a good job in making you loathe his character.
Image source: DarthDiabetor, DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment
#34
Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and everyone knew it would happen a decade before the first X-Men movie.
#35
Danny Trejo as Machete.
Image source: megabitfl, Troublemaker Studios
#36
Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds.
Image source: DJZbad93, A Band Apart, Studio Babelsberg, Visiona Romantica
#37
Steve Carrell as Michael Scott.
Image source: elaineadler, NBC Universal Television Studio
#38
[Nick Offerman as] Ron Swanson.
Image source: Babblewocky, NBC
#39
James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.
Image source: Fat-Villante, HBO
#40
Kelsey Grammer, Frasier Crane.
Image source: Garaquarubyline, Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions
#41
John C. McGinley as Dr Cox.
Image source: Jedi_Outcast, Doozer Productions
#42
Rainn Wilson as Dwight Scrute.
Image source: ramta_jogi_oye_hoye, NBC, Global Television Network
#43
Ronald Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket.
Image source: flyzapper, Natant, Harrier Films
#44
Catherin O’Hara as Moira Rose!!
Image source: theshwarna, POP, CBC Television
#45
Val Kilmer in Tombstone.
Amazing Doc Holliday!
Every once in a while there’s a role that it seems like the actor was born to play. There’s really not another role that compares in his career.
Image source: TessaMurphy, Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures
#46
Christian Bale in American Psycho.
Image source: SWG_138, Muse Productions
#47
J.K Simmons as John Jonah Jameson.
Image source: Tobz51, Columbia Pictures; Marvel Enterprises; Laura Ziskin Productions
#48
Jessica Walter in Arrested Development (and Archer) .. her mean mom character dynamic is gold
Image source: ModelChimp, 20th Century Fox Television
#49
Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine.
Image source: Cuish, Lucas Films, Disney
#50
Danny Devito’s Frank Reynolds is the best piece of casting this century.
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