Famous Role = Career Killer?

[PyroChamber]

Say you were an actor/actress and you played a role that ended up becoming a big success, almost to where it's considered one of the best characters ever according to fans and critics.

When you're done playing that role and you work on other projects, would it ever bother you if all people ever wanted to talk about was that one role?

Or worse, if you were constantly chosen for roles very similar to that one?

 

[Jennifer Walters]

Yes. That's kinda what happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar. Her career has failed to pick up because people will always see her as Buffy.

Even when she tried to break away from the role, it was as Daphne in Scooby Doo, who they made less of a damsel in distress and more of action heroine like Buffy.

Me myself, I'd be happy just to be known as a popular character, even if it meant my career was haltered by that particular role.

 

[Ugfugly]

If I got lots of money, hell no. I'm not an ungrateful prima donna. but who knows, I think to be an actor you need to have some form of ego, which I don't which obviously why I'm not.

 

[November Rain]

yeah, it's like sisqo's thong song, you just can't top that

it depends what you are in it for.

I think after a really big hit, if i got typecast, i would go into theatre work or maybe community stuff to bring out the talents of others, or go behind the scenes and try some editing/directing opportunities

 

[Master Chief]

I was thinking about this, wanting to be a professional performing actor and all, and no, I'd actually love it. Boris Karloff said the monster was the best friend he ever had. To be known for a specific role is powerful s**t, and so long as I still got work even though I was always traced back to one role, I wouldn't mind at all.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

I wouldn't mind getting "known" for 1 spectacular role. If you're a good enough actor, you'll be able to break out if it....unlike Viggo Mortensen. That dude hasn't done anything near Aragorn level since. Hidalgo, psh :

 

[November Rain]

what about if you're known for a role for the wrong reasons,

like you had a catchphrase or you thought you did a poor job of it

what about if you were a comedy actor and wanted to show your serious side but was never able to because you kept getting typecast

 

[Darthphere]

I wouldn't mind getting "known" for 1 spectacular role. If you're a good enough actor, you'll be able to break out if it....unlike Viggo Mortensen. That dude hasn't done anything near Aragorn level since. Hidalgo, psh :

History of Violence? Eastern Promises?

 

[Darthphere]

what about if you're known for a role for the wrong reasons,

like you had a catchphrase or you thought you did a poor job of it

what about if you were a comedy actor and wanted to show your serious side but was never able to because you kept getting typecast

Urkel Syndrome.

 

[November Rain]

or garycolemanitis

 

[Darthphere]

But Gary Coleman had no talent. Urkel could've been the next Cuba Gooding Jr.....oh wait.

 

[November Rain]

thats harsh, i liked men of honour

 

[Darthphere]

Yeah, I also loved Boat Trip.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

History of Violence? Eastern Promises?

Those don't even sound interesting

Are/is there:

boobs?
cursing?
explosions?
robots/zombies/aliens?

 

[Darthphere]

Those don't even sound interesting

Are/is there:

boobs?
cursing?
explosions?
robots/zombies/aliens?

Everything but the last one.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Well damn

 

[November Rain]

history of violence is a comic book adaptation spoons, you're slacking on the genre

 

[Darthphere]

You have failed us.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

History of Violence was a great movie!

 

[huskerwebhead]

I don't think actors are likely to get typecast unless they are in a series of movies, i.e. Aragorn or Harry Potter. I expect it to be a little difficult for the Potter kids. But even worse are actors in TV. Just ask the cast of Star Trek. Shatner has done alot of different stuff...but he'll always be James Kirk. I'd say Patrick Stewart is the only Trek alum that has branched out and made a name for himself outside of Trek. TV is where actors really get stuck as certain characters.

 

[Erzengel]

Spoons doesn't know of History of Violence or Eastern Promises. I think I'm going to have to block him.

 

[The Guard]

I think some people definitely get typecast. Ted Neely of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR has been Jesus longer than Jesus was Jesus, as he has returned to the role since leaving it years ago.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Ask Harrison Ford if it killed his career.

Or Al Pacino.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

what about if you're known for a role for the wrong reasons,

like you had a catchphrase or you thought you did a poor job of it

what about if you were a comedy actor and wanted to show your serious side but was never able to because you kept getting typecast

You just have to work on breaking out of that. Make sure you have an agent that will work with you to break out of that mold. Look at Tom Hanks, he could of easily been type cast as the screwball comedy actor, but was able to break that stereotype with a few really good roles. It's all about finding the right project to break the public's image of you.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Mark Hamil always says, "Once a Mousekateer, always a Mousekateer."

Great attitude.


Luckily publicists have advanced their craft over the years so you don't get typecast as bad as Shatner or Hamil or Reeve.


Take Patrick Stewart for example. He was cast in a role that could have easily destroyed his career but luckily his publicist got him gigs doing voice over commercials and Broadway and supporting roles that kept his career fresh.

Then Prof. X came along. He's still Picard but thank goodness he's others as well.