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27 Times When Actors Played Multiple Roles In One Film But Many Of Us Never Noticed
Ever watched the 1996 slapstick science-fiction dark comedy film The Nutty Professor? Were you also surprised to learn that Eddie Murphy was the guy behind seven (yes, SEVEN) different roles in that movie? He practically acted out the entire Klump family all on his own, save for Ernie Klump.
Well, turns out, there are many actors and actresses who have taken on multiple roles in single movies, and, in many cases, without us even noticing it.
Bored Panda has compiled a list of some of the greatest actors who have assumed two or more roles in a single movie, which you can check out below. And while you’re down there, upvote the ones you like the most and let us know what other actors have taken on more or less drastically different roles in movies!
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#1
Michael J. Fox As Marty Mcfly And Marlene Mcfly In Back To The Future Part II (1989)
Sinkvenice 4 years ago
"Mom? Mom is that you?" I don't believe that nobody noticed, that's the whole joke.
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#2
Benedict Cumberbatch As Doctor Strange And Dormammu (Voice) In Doctor Strange (2016)
Karen Grace 4 years ago
Wow! I didn't know that! So that whole scene he's talking to himself! lol
Vic 4 years ago
Yup.. so basically he's just talking to himself in that last part..
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#3
Hank Azaria As Kahmunrah, The Thinker, And Abraham Lincoln Statue In Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian (2009)
#4
Warwick Davis As Gringotts Head Goblin, Griphook (Voice), And Professor Flitwick In The Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
madi6320 madi6320 4 years ago
WHHHAAAAAAAATTT?! Big fan of H.P. How did I not know this?!? Thx for telling me!
Thenatural 4 years ago
He doesn't get the credit he deserves tbh...he's done a couple of programmes on UK tv with his family and they all seem really down to earth people .
Stephen Lyford 4 years ago
Oh I totally could tell it was him each time. He's been acting for decades, even under makeup you can recognize his face, and his voice is fairly recognizable too.
Luna Lovebug 4 years ago
Since they're where a few uhm, "short actors" short. (No pun intended) the actor even had his kids play goblins as well. It's all explained and shown on the bonus dvds
Jods 4 years ago
Sorry to burst the bubble but .... the late Verne Troyer was Griphook but Warwick did the voice.
Jor 4 years ago (edited)
Verne Troyer played Griphook in the first movie, Warwick did his voice in that film. However, in movies 7 and 8, Warwick played the entire role of Griphook.
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The Chosen One 4 years ago
Looking at the pictures side by side I'm surprised I didn't notice this (I'm a huge HP fan)
Average Grizzlies Fan 4 years ago
I love Harry Potter, but I didn't know this gold nugget of information.
#5
Ryan Reynolds As Deadpool And Juggernaut (Voice) In Deadpool 2 (2018)
Cip IESAN 4 years ago
And, as you can see in the picture on the left, he also plays Kevin, from "Home Alone"...
Linus Nilsson 4 years ago
But this was meant to be a secret, so no shame to anyone who missed it
#6
Eddie Murphy As Prince Akeem, Clarence, Randy Watson, And Saul In Coming To America (1988)
Eddie Murphy is known for being somewhat of a master of all trades when it comes to acting—besides Coming to America from 1988, he was also responsible for at least 2 roles in Bowfinger (1999), The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), Norbit (2007), Meet Dave (2008), as well as the man behind a whopping 7 roles in The Nutty Professor (1996) and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000).
Also, Arsenio Hall is responsible for a number roles in Coming to America, including Semmi, Morris, and Reverend Brown.
Noel Benavente 4 years ago
I don't think there would be a better example, this was outstanding.
Sasy 4 years ago
it is actually funnier how many didn't know. In other countries people were not as knowledgeable of his prowess as a character actor, only knowing him as standup, so someone mentions it after they have seen it and you see the shock on their faces, and some will even argue with you.
InfectedVoice 4 years ago
And this film had one of Samuel L Jackson's earlier roles, as the armed robber.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Downvote as EVERYBODY NOTICED THAT WAS THE JOKE. OK one second you go "why is there a jewish kibitzer in the barbershop? What's with his ... hey?", then "Ahahaha!".
#7
Jason Isaacs As Mr. Darling And Captain Hook In Peter Pan (2003)
Trina Rhodes 4 years ago
It is traditional for Mr. Darling (father) and Captain Hook to be played by the same actor.
Lord Mysticlaw 4 years ago
Really? I didn't know that and it's a lovely little literary titbit, thank you!
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Nianudd 4 years ago
Wasn't the whole point that Hook and the father be played by the same actor? I'm sure I read somewhere, many years ago, that J M Barrie actually wanted Hook to be played by the actress that was the childrens mother, in the stage plays. Something about Peters negative opinion of adults?
Luther von Wolfen 4 years ago
From a psychological standpoint, Hook represents the negative father within the dream world of Never Neverland. So it makes perfect sense to have one actor in both parts.
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Alison Wells 4 years ago
That's actually pretty common in most versions of Peter Pan. In fact, it may have been the inspiration for the Jumanji example above.
Zena Marsh 4 years ago
In the play, Captain Hook and Mr. Darling is usually played by the same actor.
Alonso Victoria 4 years ago
I thought it was some kind of a metaphor, the kids saw his father as a villian, that's why captain hook looks like him...
#8
Jeremy Bullock As Lieutenant Shekil And Boba Fett In Star Wars. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Vicki Heilbronn 4 years ago
Why we're all these comments down voted?? They were all relevant to the picture shared....
Claire the Bear 4 years ago
Ugh they're so annoying, there are trolls that will just downvote every comment.
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#9
Michael Palin As Sir Galahad The Pure, Dennis, Right Head, The Leader Of The Knights Who Say Ni!, And 5 Other Roles In Monty Python And The Holy Grail (1975)
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
ANOTHER DOWNVOTE as everybody noticed. It's a series of Monty Python sketches gathered around a theme and made into a movie (their words!), so obviously all sketches played by all Pythons.
Evelína Zlá 4 years ago
We are no longer the Knights Who Say Ni. We are now the Knights Who Say Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm!
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Sinkvenice 4 years ago
These people you're referring to who didn't notice must've been blind then.
Keley Babs 4 years ago
That's the whole method if Monty Python, and similar sketch comedy groups?!?! It's not a surprise?!
#10
Dick Van Dyke As Bert And Mr. Dawes Sr. In Mary Poppins (1964)
MustardLemon 4 years ago
I knew this and every time i tell people he plays mr dawson people tell me im wrong and he plays him in the new one too!
David Ruggieri 4 years ago
He would wear the Mr. Dawes Sr. makeup around the set to fool the people on the tours and then race the buses!
#11
Jonathan Hyde As Hunter Van Pelt And Sam Parrish In Jumanji (1995)
J. F. 4 years ago
Wasn't that intentional to display Alan's relationship with his father in the movie?
Loretta 4 years ago
Yes it was. I still had to look really hard to notice it.
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Nicolas Schirvel 4 years ago (edited)
Well that was deliberate... Van Pelt is a mirroring of the parenting style of Sam Parrish in the movie.
#12
Doug Jones As Abe Sapien, Angel Of Death, And Chamberlain In Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
person (i think) 4 years ago
Its funny, I am so used to seeing Doug Jones in prosthetics in everything that in the Discovery episode where Saru looks human it was so so weird to hear Doug Jones' voice coming out of a human being!!
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Joseph Kuhlman 4 years ago
The angel of death looks like something ripped straight out of DOOM
Jods 4 years ago
But why did the producers decide to have David Hyde Pierce as the voice of Abe? Doug has a fine voice.
Locked In The Cellar 4 years ago
Pretty sure that was only in the first Hell Boy, when Doug was still a very unknown actor. In the second one he got to voice his characters himself.
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Ben Mendelsohn As Keller And Talos In Captain Marvel (2019)
grey galah 4 years ago
actually he was the same character in the film. Laughed at how he used his Australian accent when he portrayed the "good-guy" alien
Marek Yanchurak 4 years ago
Right? That was literally part of the plot...
Load More Replies... Mangelo Il Fumatori 4 years ago
When I saw this movie, I knew it was the same actor in both roles because one became a disguise for the other. But to me, the most interesting aspect here was the reversal of the process of acting in a disguised role. Usually when an actor takes on a disguised role, they have to put on extra makeup or prosthetics, but in this case, Mendelsohn was basically barefaced for his disguised role.
Stephen Lyford 4 years ago
I was so happy to see Mendelsohn finally play a "good guy" part, as he's most often typecast as the baddie. And he was FUNNY as Talos. Great comedic timing with his delivery.
Marek Yanchurak 4 years ago
Oh, watch Mississippi Grind, which he costars with Ryan Reynolds (unless you have a gambling problem). He play such a different character than the usual, and he's so good in it.
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#14
Peter Sellers As Dr. Strangelove, Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, And President Merkin Muffley In Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)
Peter Sellers is another actor who’s behind multiple roles in multiple films. Besides Dr. Strangelove, he’s acted in at least three roles in The Mouse That Roared (1959), Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974), and The Prisoner of Zenda (1979).
#15
Rusty Goffe As A Jawa, Kabe, And A Gonk Droid In Star Wars (1977)
#16
Eugenio Derbez As Felipe And Felipe’s Grandmother In Jack And Jill (2011)
While it can be quite obvious that Adam Sandler here is doing a double role, but a lesser known fact that Felipe and his grandmother in the movie are actually portrayed by the same guy, Eugenio Derbez.
#17
James Remar As Ace Speck And Butch Pooch In Django Unchained (2012)
#18
Jack Nicholson As Art Land And U.S. President James Dale In Mars Attacks! (1996)
#19
Cheech Marin As A Border Guard, Carlos, And Chet Pussy In From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
#20
Paul Mcgann As Girard And Jussac In The Three Musketeers (1993)
RandomPandaGuyHamiltonLafayette 4 years ago
I'm the Doctor. But probably not the one you were expecting.
Ivy Ruonakoski 4 years ago
The McGann brothers annoy the f out of me. They all look the same and I can't tell them apart. Lol.
#21
Ralph Fiennes As Ignatz Sonnenschein, Adam Sors, And Ivan Sors In Sunshine (1999)
LindzM 4 years ago
And then he loses the hair on his head, and then his entire nose, and then he is Voldemort!
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#22
Mike Myers As Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Goldmember, And Fat Bastard In Austin Powers: Goldmember (2002)
Alethia Nyx 4 years ago
I thought it was supposed to be roles people didn't know were the same actor? Who didn't know Mike Myers played all these characters?
#23
Tom Hanks As Dermot Hoggins, Isaac Sachs, Henry Goose, Zachry, And 2 Other Roles In Cloud Atlas (2012)
When it comes to Cloud Atlas, Tom Hanks is but one of many actors to take upon multiple roles I the film. Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jin Strurgess, Bae Doona, Ben Whishaw, and many others fill the shoes of at least 3 in-film characters. Sure, the movie is about the idea of how one soul can be drastically shaped as times passes, but you can’t but admire the amount of effort and creativity that has been put into this movie in general when it comes to casting.
#24
Bella Heathcote As Victoria Winters And Josette Du Pres In Dark Shadows (2012)
Laura Craig 4 years ago
Yeah, wasn't the story that she was a literal reincarnation of Josette?
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#25
George Lopez As Mr. Electricidad, Mr. Electric, And Tobor In The Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl (2005)
Katchen 4 years ago
I thought this movie looked like it would be terrible, and then I watched it with my kids, and my opinion never changed. I think it’s intentionally bad?
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Katchen 4 years ago
George Lopez accused Carlos Mencia of stealing his material. Did you confuse the two?
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#26
James Mcavoy As Dennis, Hedwig, Patricia, And 5 Other Roles In Split (2016)
This one’s a bit of an interesting entry in this list because it’s technically the same person both as an actor and a character, except that the character in the movie is said to have been diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities and a 24th is emerging. Only eight of them are acted out in the movie, and they truly show just how versatile McAvoy can really be if given a role. Or eight.
Nela Rothenbach 4 years ago
Why is this on the list? It is the same person, just different personalities....your body does not change with this condition
MaeRose 4 years ago
Well *IN THE MOVIE* it isn't just the personality that changed. One of the characters he portrayed actually had the ability to change his physical appearance. And for each personality and character he portrayed, they dressed differently. So yeah, I think it's fitting enough to be on this list.
Load More Replies... Thenatural 4 years ago
Surely this was the whole f*****g point of the film!!!Who, on gods earth,would not notice this?!!!!
Mieke Sorée 4 years ago
Are you telling me there are people who watched this movie and DIDN'T know???
Bonnie Jarrett 4 years ago
James is VERY versatile but this should not be in this particular list
Lee The Thespian 4 years ago
But.... Isn't that kinda the point of the movie? The actor didn't change is just his personalities. I can see why it would be on the list but....it is kind the point
#27
Bruce Boxleitner As Alan Bradley And Tron In Tron (1982)
Tron is one of those movies that has much of the cast performing multiple roles—the people and the visual representations of the programs they have written. Besides Boxleitner, Jeff Bridges, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor, among others play at least two roles each.
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What do you think ?
Mae (just add water) 4 years ago
When are they gonna do Peggy from Hamilton and the girl Hamilton has an affair with?? They’re the same!
Mary Bricklin 4 years ago
They forgot Mel Brooks in Spaceballs! He was President Skroob and Yogurt
Tom Hardeveld 4 years ago
This may sound crazy but there is this movie called "The Nutty Professor"...
Mae (just add water) 4 years ago
When are they gonna do Peggy from Hamilton and the girl Hamilton has an affair with?? They’re the same!
Mary Bricklin 4 years ago
They forgot Mel Brooks in Spaceballs! He was President Skroob and Yogurt
Tom Hardeveld 4 years ago
This may sound crazy but there is this movie called "The Nutty Professor"...
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