Actors that play "themselves" in every movie role

[terry78]

http://movie-critics.ew.com/2010/08/21/actors-who-are-always-the-same/

This EW article sheds some light on it, and basically says they did the same thing back in the days of the 30s and 40s and no one batted an eye over it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

It doesn't bother me as long as the actor fits the role they play.

 

[ALP]

Exactly, but skimming that article, their examples gives the argument absolutely no leverage. You need better examples than Jennifer Aniston and the awful Michael Cera.

Look no further than Jack Nicholson, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, and Christopher Walken. Terrific actors who usually "play themselves." They're basically just best at playing a certain type of character.

 

[BigSams50]

Sam Jackson always plays himself

 

[ALP]

You could count Sam but usually he just does auto pilot when he needs a paycheck. When giving a good performance, he can be very varied. Far more than say, George Clooney who has never played more than a single type of character in his life. But many times it works really well for the role- I loved him in O Brother, Leatherheads, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. But other times it does not work as well.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

I've only enjoyed Anniston on Rachel as Friends.

I've only enjoyed Cera as Scott Pilgrim.

 

[Johnny Drama]

Michael Cera plays himself in every movie, along with George Clooney, Sam Jackson and Luke Wilson/

 

[terry78]

The only ones we don't see as playing themselves are actors not from the states since they have to put on an accent when they get roles over here.

 

[Ziggyman]

Bill Murray doesn't neccessarily play himself...but basically the same guy...

 

[Mace Dolex]

Sean William Scott plays a jerk in all his movies now where is he?

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Leo Dicaprio

Robert Downey Jr

 

[bullets]

Sean William Scott plays a jerk in all his movies now where is he?

Probably in his mansion trying to decide if he should do Kevin Smith's hockey flick or another one that just popped up.

 

[bullets]

I would say Clooney , I like his work but it seems like his personality overshadows his roles.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Katharine Hepburn always playing the same character is a pretty weak argument. Most movie stars before Marlon Brando predominately played themselves. James Stewart, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant ect. That was the style of movie acting back in the 1930's and 1940's. Moviegoers payed to see their favorite film stars onscreen more than for what the film was about.

 

[Johnny Drama]

Bill Murray doesn't neccessarily play himself...but basically the same guy...

Yes he does, he was HIMSELF in Zombieland lol.
Ghostbusters, Meatballs, Stripes, Groundhog Day, What About Bob, that was Bill playing himself when he was younger and more flamboyant.

Now he is all old and akward, and it shows in movies like Lost In Translation, The Royal Tennenbaums, Broken Flowers, The Life Aquatic, ect.

 

[Laderlappen]

Most of these actors mentioned play different characters all the time. They just dont change their looks or voice.

 

[Octoberist]

John Wayne, as the ideal, clean cut American do-gooder.

 

[Octoberist]

Yes he does, he was HIMSELF in Zombieland lol.
Ghostbusters, Meatballs, Stripes, Groundhog Day, What About Bob, that was Bill playing himself when he was younger and more flamboyant.

Now he is all old and akward, and it shows in movies like Lost In Translation, The Royal Tennenbaums, Broken Flowers, The Life Aquatic, ect.

When you said 'awkward, you're making it as if it's a bad thing.. It works for him in the later movies.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Well, this is why we have the terms 'character actor' and 'leading man'. Most Hollywood stars have an onscreen persona that audiences like, so obviously they want to see that, with a slight variation, every time.

Genuinely amazing actors like Gary Oldman never even seem to be the same person from film to film. Dracula and Commisioner Gordonare the same actor. Amazing.

 

[KevanG]

Stan Lee

<.<

>.>

 

[Johnny Drama]

When you said 'awkward, you're making it as if it's a bad thing.. It works for him in the later movies.

Oh of course it does

 

[terry78]

I confess that most of the time we are paying to see *insert actor here* in an alien invasion, then next see them as a cop, or see them fighting demons, then see them next year trying to find love, and so on. And we don't really mind it so much.

 

[Johnny Drama]

Will Smith comes to mind

 

[Superfreak]

I haven't seen Robert Redford mentioned: but he is my definitive example of this concept.

In every movie he is in, he IS robert redford, irregardless of who the character may be. But that being said, Redford also takes roles that are always fairly similar (adjusting for time and space of course)

 

[DarkKnight88]

Will Smith comes to mind

Not really. At least not anymore. The Will Smith of Men in Black definitely wasn't the Will Smith of I Am Legend.