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Person Online Asks “Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?”, 50 People Deliver

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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

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#1

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver When they inevitably recast Jack Sparrow [Johnny Depp], it'll be clear just how big a gap there is.

Billbap@#$o , The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Second Mate Productions Report

Final score:

519points

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#2

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Alan Rickman as Severus Snape.

NZT-48Rules , Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films Report

Final score:

478points

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#3

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean.

Whitedragonfan , Working Title Films, Tiger Aspect Films Report

Final score:

458points

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#4

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver RDJ for Iron Man, the man WAS Tony Stark end of discussion.

AirJvon , Marvel Report

Final score:

415points

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#5

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

422_is-420_too , Marvel Report

Final score:

399points

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#6

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

BrotherOfTheOrder , Lucasfilm Ltd. Report

Final score:

359points

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#7

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall.

plastic_bean , Warner Bros. Pictures Report

Final score:

353points

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#8

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Robin Williams as the genie.

PM_Me_Things_Yo_Like , Disney Report

Final score:

352points

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#9

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Ian McKellen is the both true Gandalfs.

ElectricFlesh , New Line Cinema, Saul Zaentz Company, WingNut Films, Saul Zaentz Film Co. Report

Final score:

346points

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#10

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump.

literanch , The Tisch Company Report

Final score:

332points

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#11

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard.

JediAreTakingOver , Paramount Domestic Television Report

Final score:

331points

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#12

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, amazing acting.

copper8061 , HBO Report

Final score:

329points

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#13

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Hugh Laurie - Dr. House.

RizalParkCorner , Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC Report

Final score:

305points

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#14

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Arnold Schwarzenegger - Terminator.

Str8_up_savage , Hemdale Film Corporation, Pacific Western Productions Report

Final score:

298points

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#15

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Christopher Lloyd as Doc in Back to the Future.

John_h_watson , Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment Report

Final score:

296points

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#16

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

goldenwolves101 , Marvel Report

Final score:

296points

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#17

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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 :/

elizabethunseelie , Michael White Productions Report

Final score:

282points

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#18

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams.

SnooDonkeys9743 , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Bron Creative, The Jackal Group, Cinesite Studios, Nitrogen Studios Report

Final score:

281points

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#19

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. Best book to movie translation for a character I’ve ever seen.

LimeGap , New Line Cinema Report

Final score:

269points

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#20

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice.

DaLion93 , The Geffen Company Report

Final score:

267points

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#21

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley.

pixelburger , Brandywine Productions Report

Final score:

258points

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#22

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

DoDaDrew , Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films Report

Final score:

257points

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#23

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Heath Ledger as the Joker.

8en80 , DC Comics Report

Final score:

248points

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#24

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Jack Nicholson in the Shining.

Zufurix , The Producer Circle Company Report

Final score:

247points

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#25

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.

Reddit User , Wolper Pictures Report

Final score:

240points

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#26

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride.

3ulaF0x , Act III Communications Report

Final score:

234points

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#27

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Jim Carrey in The Mask.

Queer-and-stupid , New Line Productions, Dark Horse Entertainment Report

Final score:

232points

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#28

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

HopeSuper , High Bridge Entertainment, Gran Via Productions, Sony Pictures Television Report

Final score:

228points

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#29

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

elizabethunseelie , Orion Pictures Report

Final score:

226points

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#30

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin.

wish_my_wash , Paramount Pictures Studios Report

Final score:

209points

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#31

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver I really can't see anyone else as Hellboy. Ron Pearlman was amazing.

AzoriumLupum , Columbia Pictures Report

Final score:

208points

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#32

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Christopher Lee as basically anything.

Kibassi , New Line Cinema Report

Final score:

203points

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#33

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

DarthDiabetor , DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment Report

Final score:

201points

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#34

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Patrick Stewart as Professor X, and everyone knew it would happen a decade before the first X-Men movie.

jah05r , Marvel Report

Final score:

193points

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#35

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Danny Trejo as Machete.

megabitfl , Troublemaker Studios Report

Final score:

185points

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#36

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds.

DJZbad93 , A Band Apart, Studio Babelsberg, Visiona Romantica Report

Final score:

180points

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#37

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Steve Carrell as Michael Scott.

elaineadler , NBC Universal Television Studio Report

Final score:

175points

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#38

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver [Nick Offerman as] Ron Swanson.

Babblewocky , NBC Report

Final score:

166points

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#39

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.

Fat-Villante , HBO Report

Final score:

164points

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#40

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Kelsey Grammer, Frasier Crane.

Garaquarubyline , Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions Report

Final score:

162points

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#41

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver John C. McGinley as Dr Cox.

Jedi_Outcast , Doozer Productions Report

Final score:

160points

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#42

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Rainn Wilson as Dwight Scrute.

ramta_jogi_oye_hoye , NBC, Global Television Network Report

Final score:

159points

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#43

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Ronald Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket.

flyzapper , Natant, Harrier Films Report

Final score:

157points

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#44

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Catherin O'Hara as Moira Rose!!

theshwarna , POP, CBC Television Report

Final score:

138points

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#45

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver 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.

TessaMurphy , Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures Report

Final score:

137points

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#46

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Christian Bale in American Psycho.

SWG_138 , Muse Productions Report

Final score:

136points

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#47

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver J.K Simmons as John Jonah Jameson.

Tobz51 , Columbia Pictures; Marvel Enterprises; Laura Ziskin Productions Report

Final score:

133points

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#48

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Jessica Walter in Arrested Development (and Archer) .. her mean mom character dynamic is gold

ModelChimp , 20th Century Fox Television Report

Final score:

113points

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#49

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine.

Cuish , Lucas Films, Disney Report

Final score:

110points

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#50

Person Online Asks "Which Actor Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Will Be Able To Live Up To It?", 50 People Deliver Danny Devito's Frank Reynolds is the best piece of casting this century.

Mcpilch , FXX Report

Final score:

95points

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Robertas Lisickis

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

What do you think ?

Vicky Z 3 years ago

Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins! I love Emily Blunt but i think Mary Poppins is only one

58points

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

Came down here just to say this. Julie Andrews IS Mary Poppins.

14points

Load More Replies...

Neil Bidle 3 years ago

Emily Blunt is amazing in some movies, but the MP remake was painful to sit through.

1point

Random Anon 3 years ago (edited)

I think if The Sound of Music is ever remade, it would be really hard to cast Maria too.

0points

Chaotic-Pansexual (she/they) 3 years ago

1000x yes

0points

Mazer 3 years ago

Love her in Victor Victoria. Nothing better than breaking out of a stereotype

-3points

Ciara Federico 3 years ago

What about Macaulay Culkin? He’s really the only Kevin there should have been.

36points

Chaotic-Pansexual (she/they) 3 years ago

Oh my god yes I can’t believe no one said that. He is the only true Kevin

1point

Load More Replies...

Emma Fagerström 3 years ago

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger 👌

14points

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Vicky Z 3 years ago

Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins! I love Emily Blunt but i think Mary Poppins is only one

58points

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

Came down here just to say this. Julie Andrews IS Mary Poppins.

14points

Load More Replies...

Neil Bidle 3 years ago

Emily Blunt is amazing in some movies, but the MP remake was painful to sit through.

1point

Random Anon 3 years ago (edited)

I think if The Sound of Music is ever remade, it would be really hard to cast Maria too.

0points

Chaotic-Pansexual (she/they) 3 years ago

1000x yes

0points

Mazer 3 years ago

Love her in Victor Victoria. Nothing better than breaking out of a stereotype

-3points

Ciara Federico 3 years ago

What about Macaulay Culkin? He’s really the only Kevin there should have been.

36points

Chaotic-Pansexual (she/they) 3 years ago

Oh my god yes I can’t believe no one said that. He is the only true Kevin

1point

Load More Replies...

Emma Fagerström 3 years ago

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger 👌

14points

Load More Comments

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