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30 Actors Who’ve Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group
Do you ever get that feeling of getting new and fresh opportunities in life, only to find out that they are just more of the same?
Well, turns out, this happens more often than you might think. And it’s especially visible in the film industry. But we’re not talking about films, though they are guilty of this, but about particular actors and the roles they are cast in.
People online have been listing famous names in the movie industry and the same-y roles they keep getting cast in, where effectively only names change, but you’re always either that macho dude, or an ex-cop, or the comic relief or whatever.
Check out the most spot-on observations from Redditors across multiple AskReddit posts (here, here, and here) on the topic in the curated list below, and why not upvote and share some big names who keep getting picked for the same old roles movie after movie.
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#1
Troubleshooter11 said:
Dwayne Johnson plays "The Rock" in every one of his movies.
Schmoova said:
The Rock is always a tough badass good guy.
RELATED:
#2
duh_metrius said:
I love him, but in the last ten to fifteen years Morgan Freeman is basically just Morgan Freeman in everything.
OwnagePwnage123 said:
Morgan Freeman is always the older advisor to the protagonist, from being God, to Red, to Vitruvius.
#3
Adam Freaking Sandler....
Make some weird voices, scream a coupe times. All with a m***nic, lost facial expression. Rinse, Repeat
#4
Bruce Willis is pretty much always some retired cop/military guy who is forced to return to a life of justice/military s**t after some bad s**t happens.
#5
I_sell_phones_ama said:
Tom Cruise.
other-person replied:
I especially loved the movie in which he played the cocky young guy.
#6
Savarinoj said:
Ryan Reynolds. Sure he's a good looking guy with a smoking wife, but I mean come on people. I don't think I've ever seen him actually embrace a character - I just feel like "hey, that's how ryan acts in the real world"
jstewart0131 said:
Ryan Reynolds has made a career of being the wise cracking quick witted quipper. He’s literally Deadpool in every movie now, just sans the Uber violence, mutant abilities and 4th wall breaking.
That’s not a complaint, just the niche he has been able to very successfully embrace.
#7
rumbidzai said:
Samuel L. Jackson pretty much just plays himself in every movie he's in.
ExternalUserError said:
Samuel L. Jackson is always the same badass.
Chef Latte 3 years ago
But like that’s true tho, he always is my favorite character in most of his movies
#8
Solterlun said:
Nicholas Cage portrays Nicholas Cage.
JavierLoustaunau said:
To his credit there are a ton of Nicolas Cages in his repertoire, mostly from mixing different levels of Crazy.
#9
Kevin Hart. Always the little guy that acts like he’s tough and is then shown being scared of everything.
#11
Will Ferrell is a bit of a one-trick pony. Sure his character has major differences based on the story-line, but at the end of the day, his version of an anchorman, pro-ice skater, basketball player, wedding/funeral crasher, nascar racer, etc.. is pretty much the same character every time..
#12
John Wayne pretty much played John Wayne in every movie he was in even though the names of his character was different.
Stephen Steve Stephenson III 3 years ago
He was also a draft dodger who capitalized on the fact that most Hollywood leading men voluntarily went to war. Like Jimmy Stewart who gained weight after initially being rejected for being too slight—legend. https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/hollywood-legend-jimmy-stewart-was-a-world-war-ii-hero/
#14
Seth rogan... bumbling stoner buffoon.
Lily Mae Kitty 3 years ago
that's really who he is in real life but he's super nice. He's one of those people who sees the humor in everything and laughs a lot. I love that his parents drive him every time he interviews on Ellen. He's actually doing meatier roles and trying to be taken more seriously lately.
#15
Zooey Deschanel always plays the quirky quasi nerd hipster.
#16
Mark Wahlberg is always pissed and chasing someone. Swears a lot.
#17
Vince Vaughn has played a wacky underachiever from Chicago so many times it makes me sick.
#18
cheddarbiskit said:
As much as it pains me to say it, Chris Pratt. It always just seems like he is playing himself in different scenarios.
Serpensortia said:
Every time Chris Pratt is in a movie I always think of it as Burt Macklin: dinosaur wrangler / space hero / whatever.
#19
RawRocKillz said:
Kristen Stewart.
sydneyunderfoot replied:
Seriously! One twitchy, angsty, but thinks she's cooler than everyone else and oh so edgy chick coming up.
#20
Sarah Jessica Parker is Carrie Bradshaw in every movie. Even in the movies she made before Sex and the City. Even the witch she plays in Hocus Pocus is Carrie Bradshaw.
#21
coffee-and-poptarts said:
Jennifer Aniston
MedschoolgirlMadison replied:
Blonde, tanned and her hair isn't even Gwyneth Paltrow nice (equally annoying). I'm a FRIENDS fan so can confirm she is so overrated.
#22
Benedict Cumberbatch is forever the genius character.
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
Maybe, but he's a fantastic actor. Just because a character is a genius doesn't mean they're the same character...
#23
Everything that I’ve seen Jesse Eisenberg in shows him as a stuck-up control freak snarker and I hate him for it.
#25
Aubrey Plaza. I love her but she can only do the sarcastic eye rolling act for so many movies.
#26
Matthew Perry.
Since Friends premiered, I've never seen him play a character that isn't somewhat like Chandler. In mannerisms, humour, insecurity etc etc. Which makes me think - where does Chandler stop and Matthew Perry begin?
Don't Look 3 years ago
Well, to be fair, it was pointed out that Chandler is actually Matthew Perry.
#27
I hate to say it but Jack Nicholson hit a certain age where he said 'f**k it I'm done acting'.
Notable films include 'Jack Nicholson in clown makeup', 'Jack Nicholson is a werewolf' and the Boston classic 'Jack Nicholson is a gangster'.
Melina Fallenius 3 years ago
Watch ” One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” . He does not belong here..
#28
Stephen Tobolowsky
You might not know his name, but you definitely know his face. He's in everything, and the characters he plays are almost always uptight and disapproving.
#29
Seann William Scott is usually an idiotic clown of sorts.
#30
Jon Bernthal. Always the tough guy. Although he does do it well. Liked him a lot in Fury.
What do you think ?
Vicky Z 3 years ago
How is not Sylvester stallone on the list? And almost all these tough fighters? Arnold, Chuck Norris, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan
Don't Look 3 years ago
Well, Jackie Chan has a whole slew of movies that even though involve fighting, are more about him singing. He's more of a stuntman with a character type.
Load More Replies...
Bill Evs 3 years ago
Can't believe nobody said Jason Statham. He's either a British tough guy or a British tough guy doing a bad American accent.
Lily Mae Kitty 3 years ago
because we all know he is always Jason freaking Statham and that's ok. That man is DRIPPING testosterone and I will watch anything he's in.
Load More Replies...
J Rob 3 years ago
I guess according to this list it would be harder to identify an actor who doesn't play themselves in each movie.
Alicia Davidson 2 years ago
Johnny Depp. His character is always strange, but it's a different character each time. If I didn't know he was each movie, I wouldn't recognize him.
Load More Replies... Vicky Z 3 years ago
How is not Sylvester stallone on the list? And almost all these tough fighters? Arnold, Chuck Norris, Steven Segal, Jackie Chan
Don't Look 3 years ago
Well, Jackie Chan has a whole slew of movies that even though involve fighting, are more about him singing. He's more of a stuntman with a character type.
Load More Replies... Bill Evs 3 years ago
Can't believe nobody said Jason Statham. He's either a British tough guy or a British tough guy doing a bad American accent.
Lily Mae Kitty 3 years ago
because we all know he is always Jason freaking Statham and that's ok. That man is DRIPPING testosterone and I will watch anything he's in.
Load More Replies... J Rob 3 years ago
I guess according to this list it would be harder to identify an actor who doesn't play themselves in each movie.
Alicia Davidson 2 years ago
Johnny Depp. His character is always strange, but it's a different character each time. If I didn't know he was each movie, I wouldn't recognize him.
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