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M$2 March 31, 2009 03:08 AM

What actors have unfortunately been "pigeon-holed" into a role?

for example Elijah Wood, I can't seem to take him seriously after his Frodo Baggins role in Lord of the Rings.
http://img-nex.theonering.net/images/scrapbook/1166.jpg

What other actors have this problem.
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Interesting: notshocked22

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April 01, 2009 03:17 AM
Leonard Nimoy tried to write books, "I Am Not Spock", did the science type show, "In Search Of" and recorded music, but without his ears, he didn't do well. So he went back to Star Trek movies.

Of course he a great director and did have American Graffitti, but Ron Howard has the double slam.....He's usually Opie or Ritchie.

Jim Nabors will always be Gomer Pyle, but he at least got a variety hour in the 70's (who didn't).

Arnold Horshack's rotten laugh ruined Ronald Palilo. He had a nice little career until Welcome Back Kotter.

I think the worst would have to be Anthony Perkins though.....after playing Norman Bates, he was forever "that crazy guy"

Source(s):
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000559/bio
http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=ron+howard&x=0&y=0
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001561/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657676/
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2324076288/nm0000578



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March 31, 2009 03:17 AM
In my opinion, the entire cast of The Sopranos.


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Helpful: morriss003

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March 31, 2009 02:06 PM
Mmm... I donno.

I've only seen a couple of recent episodes, but I like Imperioli's role in Live on Mars. There are a lot of rough-and-tough similarities, however gone is the underlying need for approval and young interpretation. These things go beyond writing and can be seen in his portrayal of each character.

Gandolfini's performances on the other hand haven't had a lot of distinction. In 2001, The Last Castle showed Gandolfini's character as a manipulative, angry, leader that appeared very similar to his character on The Soprano's. This had more to do with the writing than the acting and I look forward to hearing his voice in Where The Wild Things Are.

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March 31, 2009 03:19 AM
Henry Winkler - The Fonz

Michael J. Fox - Alex P Keaton

All the casts from Friends


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March 31, 2009 03:28 AM
I can agree with the cast of Friends, but I personally remember Fox for his role in Back to the Future

http://www.freshnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/michael-j-fox.jpg

plus I thought he did great on Spin City and never thought he was pigeon holed. I think his Keaton character might have been a tad before my time to see it.

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March 31, 2009 07:45 AM
Jennifer Aniston has had a successful movie career

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March 31, 2009 03:27 AM
I've always loved Michael Cera since Arrested Development, but over the years, I've realized that he only plays himself in every role. Whether he's being typecast or not, I'm not sure though.

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March 31, 2009 04:06 AM
Seth Rogen. He's played too many "dude" character, a laid back kind of immature guy, stoner... He's been in way too many Apatow films and IMO has been typecast.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Knockedupmp.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/27/Pineapple_express.jpg/403px-Pineapple_express.jpg

Kate Hudson, pigeonholed into mediocre romantic comedy heroine.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/eb/Bride_wars.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/07/HowToLoseAGuyimp.jpg

Jessica Alba... pigeonholed into generic pretty/sexy roles.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Alba%2C_Jessica_%282007b%29.jpg/399px-Alba%2C_Jessica_%282007b%29.jpg

Jason Statham. I think he literally plays the same role in every movie (and I don't mean just The Transporter series).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/Transporterposter.jpg

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Helpful: hushnow

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March 31, 2009 04:24 AM
This is a great question! In my opinion, I feel that comedy actors are usually pigeon-holed into roles, but some drama actors are as well. Here are some examples.

All of these actors have either been pigeon-holed for the characters that they have played, or their acting styles. Now of course, they will do roles that we may not expect, but they are usually known for their qwerky style or character.


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March 31, 2009 04:39 AM
I think the most pigeonholed actor in Hollywood is Vern Troyer. That poor guy is pretty limited to the roles he can play. Especially after portraying Mini Me in Austin Powers.

Source(s):
Here's a quick reference here - http://fixedreference.org/en/20040424/wikipedia/Verne_Troyer


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Helpful: jeffhoard

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March 31, 2009 01:33 PM
I think a shining example of an actor that has been reduced to playing the same role over and over is Anna Faris as the dumb blonde. Literally every movie she is in, she plays a complete idiot. In Observe and Report (her newest), The House Bunny, Just Friends, the Scary Movie series, and other films she's featured in, she's just a pretty face with nothing upstairs. I've even heard her say in an interview that she would love to play more serious roles but all she ever gets sent is scripts where she plays dumb hot chicks.

http://www.celebrity-gossip.net/images/thumbnails/anna-faris-chuck-larry-712-1.jpg

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Voted as best: stephenk
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March 31, 2009 02:01 PM
I liked her old lips better. Weird injection pouts disturb me.

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March 31, 2009 02:03 PM
I wholeheartedly agree.

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March 31, 2009 02:05 PM
Ultimate type cast?

Samuel L. Jackson.

I am pretty sure that it is self-inflicted too. I mean, the man is an awesome B.A.M.F. All he ever plays nowadays are the big cool guy with a gun that's going to kick bad guys in the teeth and save the day.

Only problem is that he used to be a good actor. Or rather, he used to get really diverse roles. Does anyone else remember: "YES THEY DESERVED TO DIE, AND I HOPE THEY BURN IN HELL!"


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March 31, 2009 03:12 PM
Bob Sagat. He keeps trying to de-typecast himself but he sure isn't very good at it. It seems like most movies cast him solely for the irony of having Danny Tanner do something like suck dick for coke.
Source(s):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4QJG8QMRFs


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March 31, 2009 04:16 PM
Ben Stiller has sort of pigeon holed himself and seems to play the same character quite often. I do think that there are times when it has worked well (Meet the parents is an example) but it rarely feels fresh anymore.


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April 01, 2009 02:14 AM
Tricia Helfer. She has guested recently on Burn Notice and on Chuck. These characters were so icy they made the world-destroying robot she played in Battlestar Galactica seem like a sweetie pie.

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