Walt Disney Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) This is a thread about actors and their signature roles. Some actors, no matter how many great roles they have had and how many great movies they have been in, are remembered for one signature character. I wanted to list actors and actresses and what I believe is their signature role (if they have one that can be called their signature role). Everyone is welcome to reply with other actors and actresses and their signature roles. Or, you're welcome to disagree with me and choose a different character who you think an actor will always be known for. 1. Marlon Brando - Don Vito Corleone 2. Christopher Reeve- Superman 3. Sean Connery- James Bond 4. Robert Downey Jr. - Iron Man 5. Chris Evans - Captain America 6. Johnny Depp - Jack Sparrow 7. Sylvester Stallone - Rocky (tough one between Rocky and Rambo, but I think it's Rocky) 8. Harrison Ford - Indiana Jones (another tough one because of Han Solo) 9. Eddie Murphy- Axel Foley 10. Bruce Willis - John McClane 11. Arnold Schwarzenegger- the Terminator 12. Anthony Hopkins - Hannibal Lector 13. William Shatner- Captain Kirk 14. Michael J. Fox - Marty McFly 15. Christopher Lloyd- Dr. Emmitt Brown 16. Julia Roberts- Vivian Ward 17. Judy Garland- Dorothy Gale 18. Robert Englund- Freddy Kruger 19. Heath Ledger- The Joker 20. Will Ferrell- Ron Burgundy Edited August 19, 2014 by Walt Disney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Disney Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 If a mod can fix the title by correcting the typo on the word "signature" that would be great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AniNate Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump Morgan Freeman - Red Samuel L. Jackson - Jules Winnfield Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt Robin Williams - Dan Hillard/Euphegenia Doubtfire Michael Caine - Alfred Pennyworth Robert De Niro - Jake La Motta Cameron Diaz - Mary Ian McKellen - Gandalf Gary Oldman - Commissioner Gordon Will Smith - Steven Hiller (His breakout role, Agent Jay was pretty much the exact same character) Matt Damon - Jason Bourne I think Julia Roberts is probably better known for either Anna Scott or Erin Brockovich. Edited July 7, 2014 by tribefan695 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Marston Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump Morgan Freeman - Red Samuel L. Jackson - Jules Winnfield Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt Robin Williams - Dan Hillard/Euphegenia Doubtfire Michael Caine - Alfred Pennyworth Robert De Niro - Jake La Motta Cameron Diaz - Mary Ian McKellen - Gandalf Gary Oldman - Commissioner Gordon Will Smith - Steven Hiller (His breakout role, Agent Jay was pretty much the exact same character) Matt Damon - Jason Bourne I think Julia Roberts is probably better known for either Anna Scott or Erin Brockovich. I disagree with almost all of these. None of these actors really seemed tied to a certain character with the exception of Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Edited July 7, 2014 by John Marston 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Disney Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 I disagree with almost all of these. None of these actors really seemed tied to a certain character with the exception of Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Yeah, I agree with you. I can think of multiple roles for most of those actors. There isn't one role that really sticks out to me as a defining role for a lot of them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AniNate Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Yeah, I agree with you. I can think of multiple roles for most of those actors. There isn't one role that really sticks out to me as a defining role for a lot of them. I could argue half your list if you go by that narrow definition. For me the signature role is the first one that comes to mind when I hear the actor's name. Edited July 7, 2014 by tribefan695 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommycruise Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Robert Downey jr- Iron Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superstancer Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Stallone - Rambo nd Rocky Arnold- Terminator Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt Matt Damon- Jason Bourne RDJ- Iron Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkelf Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 If a mod can fix the title by correcting the typo on the word "signature" that would be great. Gary Cole - Bill Lumbergh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Disney Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 I could argue half your list if you go by that narrow definition. For me the signature role is the first one that comes to mind when I hear the actor's name. You're free to argue my list. It is very debatable. For example, some may not feel that Schwarzenegger really has a signature role. However, when I say signature role, I mean the role that defines the actor no matter how many other great movies they make. No matter what Sean Connery does, he's always thought of as James Bond. No matter what RDJ does, people will always remember him as Iron Man. No matter what Anthony Hopkins does, people will always think of him as Hannibal Lector. When people think of Tom Hanks, they don't automatically think Forrest Gump. They think of a bunch of famous roles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalo Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Scarlet Johansson - Black Widow (sure she's known for more then that, but she didn't become a mega star until that role. and has played the character 3-soon to be 4 times. Jennifer Lawrence - Katiness Everdeen - Sure she is a would famous mega star. but come on she's Katiness Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter Toby Maguire - Peter Parker/Spider-Man. (Probably much to the dismay of Mr. Maguire) Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia Keanu Reeves - Neo Edited July 8, 2014 by KaloVisor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilmac Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Brad Pitt - Legend of the Falls 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webslinger Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Brad Pitt - Legend of the Falls Tyler Durden begs to differ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazer Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump Morgan Freeman - Red Samuel L. Jackson - Jules Winnfield Tom Cruise - Ethan Hunt Robin Williams - Dan Hillard/Euphegenia Doubtfire Michael Caine - Alfred Pennyworth Robert De Niro - Jake La Motta Cameron Diaz - Mary Ian McKellen - Gandalf Gary Oldman - Commissioner Gordon Will Smith - Steven Hiller (His breakout role, Agent Jay was pretty much the exact same character) Matt Damon - Jason Bourne I think Julia Roberts is probably better known for either Anna Scott or Erin Brockovich.If the highlight of Michael Caines acting life is playing an elderly Alfred, he just turned over in his grave....and he isn't even dead yet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasmmi Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 Anthony Hopkins - Hannibal Lector Andy Serkis - Golem (although one more awesome performance as Caesar could change this) Harrrison Ford - Indiana Jones Tobey maguire - Spiderman Mike Myers - Austin Powers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChD Posted July 12, 2014 Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) Pretty convinced Emma Watson will never stop being Hermione, so... Edited July 12, 2014 by ChD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Disney Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) Pretty convinced Emma Watson will never stop being Hermione, so... That's a good one. Also, I agree with KaloVisor that Radcliffe will always be thought of as Harry Potter Edited July 12, 2014 by Walt Disney 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
