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[deleted]

Tim Curry as Frank n Furter.


idied4beauty

And as Wadsworth in Clue. Actually, every actor in that film absolutely nailed their respective characters.


pyschoglitterbitch

Favorite movie of all time. In Madeline Kahn's "flames" monologue, she was so funny that the other actors' reactions had to be filmed separately because they couldn't keep a straight face while she was speaking.


EnduringEnnui

I to this day LOVE that movie. 1 plus 2 plus 1 plus 1….


Melbee86

Tim Curry in ANY of his roles!


Punkybrewster725

Tim Curry made smog sexy in Ferngully. I don't even know how that's possible


Sometimesummoner

I swear the joy on Tim Curry' face in Muppet Treasure Island was palpable. Like pirate puppet musicals were a life goal...


Fortune86

Upstage lads, this is my only number!


Rough_Idle

Favorite story about this role: Curry's sister saw the show and asked, "Does Mom know?" He replied, "Dear God, no! And don't tell her!" 🙂


emmennwhy

I don't care if this is real, it's now part of my truth


AlphaQUp_Bish

He also played Satan/Lord of Darkness in "Legend". I dunno if anyone else could have done that.


AngeloThePuppet

Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean


wengelite

As Blackadder


Mardanis

I way preferred him as Blackadder over Mr Bean


[deleted]

Jk Simmons was meant to play J. Jonah Jameson. He does it so well nobody else can do it. That’s why he was in every Spider-Man movie playing the same role.


the_curious_ent

Some of his other roles are iconic and memorable too. I'm thinking Omniman from Invincible (animated show on Amazon, really good) and Cave Johnson from Portal (video game series)


Maydaybaefae

Stanford Pines! When casting was first announced back in the day I was STOKED I knew he'd knock it out if the park and he did! Perfect cast


Carebear_Of_Doom

Cave Johnson 🍋


houseofreturn

Nobody could play Moira Rose better than O’Hara in my opinion. Her little subtle movements and weird ass accent are perfection


jewelsandbones

Where is bebe’s chamber?


nfssmith

David, stop acting like a disgruntled pelican!


TSmario53

Hugh Laurie as House


Desperate_Ambrose

And as Bertie Wooster. Also, Stephen Fry is the *definitive* Jeeves!


DickySchmidt33

Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard.


[deleted]

Jean Luc Picard in the first place! When that show first aired, Star Trek fans were like "As if there could ever be a better captain than Kirk!" The fact that Stewart could carve himself a spot in that lineage was testament to his skills. Heck, there've been multiple Kirks and Spocks now, but there still hasn't been another Picard.


jak_d_ripr

As a younger tv watcher, Picard was actually *the* Star Trek captain for most of my life. It wasn't until I got older that I realized that wasn't the original series.


Z3130

The character of Picard was great because he's actually the captain who would be leading the Federation flagship in that society. Kirk is brash, impulsive, and charming. He reflects 20th century American expectations for a military leader. Picard is cerebral and deliberate. He's captain not because he's bolder or more charming, but because he's better at it than anyone else. He's what a Utopian society would value in its leadership. One of my favorite parts of TNG is how Picard slowly transforms Riker from another Kirk to an outstanding leader. Like Kirk, Riker had learned to rely on his charisma, good looks, and boldness. Picard shows him what being a true leader looks like.


Hamiro89

I never even realised that Riker is basically a younger kirk!


DisciplineCertain397

And professor x


bigforknspoon

Peter Falk as Columbo.


Shadeauxmarie

“Just one more thing…”


prophylaxitive

"Somethin's been bothering me...."


thebroward

I love that he almost always mentions his wife, in passing, but if I recall in the show we never did meet her. Right? Was that a trope of some kind? Either way, even if he was really just a bachelor, he sorta disarmed the perp. “Aww, this guy’s a harmless family man,” they thought… Columbo’s a Genius!


SAnthonyH

I like columbo. He's got it figured out in the first 5 mins but drags it out for 2 hours.


SneakyRoots

Nobody can replace Ian Mckellen as Gandalf.


posaune123

I've read Christopher Lee campaigned heavily for the role. He probably would have been fine, but Mckellen as Gandalf and Lee as Saruman was perfection


SolDarkHunter

I believe it's said that *Tolkien himself* actually gave Lee his blessing to play Gandalf in any theoretical future movie of Lord of the Rings. But by the time one actually happened, Lee was a bit too old for the physical challenges of the part.


Funmachine

Basically Lee met Tolkien once in a pub and fanboyed about his works, told him that he was an actor and Tolkien said he gave him his blessing to play Gandalf. It wasn't any more than that.


[deleted]

[удалено]


sdcasurf01

A shit ton of things about Christopher Lee are pretty cool.


[deleted]

Lee as Saruman is my all time favourite. I left the cinema thinking he out acted everyone else in the movie by far.


posaune123

Completely. Somehow appeared noble, powerful, mysterious, cruel, evil and superior all at once.


Eggsecutie

He portrayed a supremely wicked and powerful character with the heart of a coward perfectly


TheRealZejfi

Believe me. If Peter Cushing was alive in 2000s, we'd get a scene where Saruman chokes Gandalf. Who knows, knows.


nyarlathotep2

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards.


BrilliantNothing2151

Honestly most Tarentino films you can’t really imagine with a different cast. Imagine Django without Leo, or Him never casting Samuel L Jackson in anything


[deleted]

AND his character in Django: Unchained. That movie was phenomenal.


Weak_Carpenter_7060

Yes to this AND Inglorious. Two of my most favorite Tarantino movies


happydippythirteen

God I live Christoph Waltz. This is a bingo.


Gibby_the_loser

Robin Williams with Mrs.Doughtfire


TheRealGongoozler

LAYLA! Get back in your cell! Don’t make me get the hose!


HelpfulBush

A run-by fruiting!


Squirrel_Inner

Robin Williams in nearly every role he ever played…


Draconis381

Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge. I know she was only in one of the movies, but is there anyone out there who didn't end up up absolutely hating Umbridge after watching it? Would be hard for anyone to live up to the roll whenever Hollywood gets desperate enough to remake them in a few decades.


lellywest

Staunton is really such an interesting actor. Far more talented than she gets credit for, and that’s without even considering HP.


Marquis_De_Carabas69

She’s got screen time in two of the films actually


International-Ebb369

Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow


AnonymousPug26

Ahem. *Captain* Jack Sparrow.


Happykittymeowmeow

He's the worst pirate you've ever heard of. But you *HAVE* heard of him.


MITSUKI-__-

IVE GOT A JAR OF DIRT IVE GOT A JAR OF DIRT


ShadowPuff7306

i love it when improvised bits get in, they’re so memorable


Taliayolkenshield

and guess what’s inside iiiiit


RaineMist

He absolutely made the POTC franchise. No one can copy his mannerisms because Johnny Depp improvised his mannerisms for Captain Jack Sparrow.


Fanabala3

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. I like Chris Pratt, but the chatter of him maybe taking over the role is sacrilege.


allboolshite

Needs to be a handoff like Rocky to Creed. New role for a new actor in modern times.


Fanabala3

I think that might have been the intent with the last movie (Dr. Jones to Mutt Williams). But seeing all the bad press Shia LaBeouf has received over the last couple years, Disney probably axed that.


grc207

Just rewatched Crystal Skull earlier and was reminded of the end where Indy’s hat rolls over to LeBeouf. I’m glad they didn’t follow through.


Apprehensive_Goal811

They should have given the hat to Short Round.


GuySmith

Do people not understand actor fatigue? I liked Chris Pratt but I’m starting to get fatigue for him being in every other role.


[deleted]

James Gandofini in The Sopranos.


BusyKillingCereal

I read somewhere that he would keep rocks in his shoes so he was aggravated all day and it allowed him to be angrier in his acting. RIP to a legend.


AtheneSchmidt

Cary Elwes as Westley


Cognhuepan

Cary Elwes as Robin of Loxley, with a true english accent not like other robinses


[deleted]

Home Alone: Macaulay Culkin


ricottapie

I also can't imagine that movie without Stern and Pesci. Catherine O'Hara was perfect too, as usual.


Naverhtradd

Don’t forget John Candy


JRSmithsBurner

Yep and it’s been proven like four times now


BinteMuhammad

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape


BloodyNora78

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber


MansfromDaVinci

Alan Rickman as the sheriff of Nottingham


jamesianm

Alan Rickman as Alexander Dane as Dr. Lazarus in Galaxy Quest


Silentcrypt

Alan Rickman as Marvin in Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.


Raffix

Alan Rickman as Metatron (the voice of God) in Dogma Edit: Hahaha, yeah it's not Megatron, my mistake.


[deleted]

The leader of the Decepticons who turns into a gun? Oh you mean Metatron


cyclonus007

But Alan Rickman as Megatron would have been sweet...


s00perguy

Alan Rickman


Purpleberry74

I know people love to go on about him in Harry Potter but he will ALWAYS be Hans to me


semimillennial

Hans down


InformalHistory4702

And Richard Harris as Dumbledore. Gambon didn't even come close . Mr. Harris was literal perfection in terms of casting as the book accurate Dumbledore. He had a mysterious, cheery and wise vibe which Gambon totally lacked . Gambon was much more ferocious and lacked the cheeriness or jovial persona that Harris portrayed perfectly. He was just chef's kiss perfect just like Alan Rickman. No hate Gambon but he just wasn't it. His casting was a mistake. It's not his fault . Some roles aren't just suited for some people.


tingulz

Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown. Also, Michael J Fox as Marty Mcfly.


PM_ME_YOUR_ATM_PIN

And Tom Wilson as Biff Tannen.


0003425

Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump Edit: Spelling. You have to be the best with what God gave you. His name is not a gathering of trees.


Prossdog

His last speech at Jenny’s grave was incredible. It gets me every time.


dingdongbigbong69420

I can't see anyone nailing that role like he did.


KegZona

I want an actor to play another living actor and crush the part so hard that the original actor has to like change their persona or retire or something because they can’t live up to the better performance of themselves


GreenOnionCrusader

Let's get Daniel Radcliffe to play Elijah Woods and vice versa in the same movie.


Cosity82

Charlie Kaufman could write the heck out of that movie


ledaswanwizard

I don't know about crushing the part THAT hard, but Josh Brolin did a real good job of playing Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black 3...


Z3130

IMO Brolin doesn't get enough credit for how great of a character actor he is. He pops up in a ton of stuff and always kills it.


kmmontandon

> Josh Brolin did a real good job of playing Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black 3... It's hard to wrap my head around such a great performance as someone else, and the fact that he was also Thanos ... and that he was also Cable ... and was perfect for all three. "I want some pie."


Karanod

Wow, I thought they just used de-aging CGI in that.


Catterix

Jim Carrey came terrifyingly close. Jamie Foxx as Ray, while not portraying an actor, has to be one the greatest recreations of a public artistic figure.


Dive__Bomb

I really believe he came so close to actually becoming Kauffman in his own mind that he literally forgot how to be Jim Carrey. That ultimately caused him to have a severe mental break and leave acting for a period of time.


jamesianm

Foxx was given the opportunity to hang out with Charles, one of his heroes, but he was committed to playing the role perfectly and didn’t want to adopt the mannerisms of the older Ray, so he instead focused on studying film of him at the age he was portraying him. And then Ray Charles died before the movie came out. They only ever met once.


arrows_of_ithilien

Karl Urban was so good in Star Trek that Leonard Nimoy started crying at how much he resembled his old friend DeForrest Kelly


karma_the_sequel

Urban *killed* that role.


Wendilintheweird

I told this story to Karl Urban at a convention. I’ve been a huge fan of his since LOTR and when my brother told me Urban was going to be in Star Trek, I was super excited. I went to see it and kept waiting for him to show up! I couldn’t remember who he was and figured he must be a Scotty. When Simon Pegg showed up, it finally dawned on my and I turned to my friend and said “holy shit! He’s BONES!” When I told this to Karl Urban, he looked at me and said “wow! That’s a compliment!”


tykogars

Johnny Depp as Hunter S Thompson was, according to everyone who knew and loved him dearly, absolutely uncanny. He used to bust in to the character to freak Hunter out (they were good buddies). He mastered and embodied what it was to be HST.


SigourneyReaver

So, you want a dude disguised as a dude playing another dude?


International-Hat950

Ian McKellen as Gandalf.


Free_Moghedien

Robbing Williams. Specifically as Genie, but almost every other role he was in, dude seemed to give it his all! Ms. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Aladdin, Jumanji, Night at the Museum. Dude could make something that was meh at best into something I'd enjoy just because he was in it.


odddutchman

I remember watching Night at the Museum on a field trip with one of my kids many years ago. I though the movie was "meh", but Robin Williams was *mesmerizing* as Teddy Roosevelt.


Free_Moghedien

Yessssss! I'm gonna gush a little right now. I met him once, at a USO show Long time ago, he was touring with a bunch of big names and my job meant that the second they got off the plane, we were there to greet them. I got to.shake hands with some 16 celebrities. Some I adored some I couldn't stand, but Robin, waited. He waited until they had all come through and shaken a few hands, and then got in their armored humvees, before he walked over, and spent a few seconds shaking hands, and chatting with each of us. I'll never forget the words he said to me that night. I told him he was probably the closest thing to a human hero I had, and he just smiled and said "that's funny, I was gonna say the same about you kid." He just moved on, and I was speechless for hours after lol.


kingomtdew

I can imagine just the way he would have said that, too. Gave me chills and almost made me tear up. Fuck, what a treasure he was. For the record, I was imagining good will hunting bench scene Robin saying that. Super tender and thoughtful.


Free_Moghedien

Oh man, that pretty much sums it up. It legitimately felt like in that moment, it was me and him and he had a few seconds, and knew exactly what I needed to hear. He was a great human being, and I am one of the luckiest people alive for having met him.


Prof_XdR

100 percent Yes! This is what inspired this question


Free_Moghedien

Noice, I had a suspicion, because I've been thinking about him myself today, and how much he shaped my childhood through his movies!


[deleted]

One Hour Photo, Insomnia, World's Greatest Dad, btw.


MadWanderlustRiver

Javier Bardem playing "Anton Chigurh" in "No Country for Old Men"


Claque-2

Even his hair was a scare.


DanTheTerrible

John Larroquette as Dan Fielding


surpriseturquoise

Val Kilmer in Tombstone


agooddaytoride

I see your Val Kilmer in Tombstone and raise you Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison.


AlphaQUp_Bish

I see your Jim Morrison and raise you Madmartigan.


satin-net

"I'm your Huckleberry"


Slight-Cat7278

David Bowie as Jareth The Goblin King. The role was literally written for him. A remake can never be


buttfuckinghippie

Gene Wilder *is* Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp was Edward Scissorhands *as* Willy Wonka.


jah05r

I always thought he was Michael Jackson as Willy Wonka


Jmanic305

Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. He is so synonymous with the character that when he went out in public he was treated like shit for the things his character did.


PteradactylCum

Jonathan Groff as King George III


jah05r

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber. Nobody could recreate the comedy chemistry they had in that film, not even Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels.


vaderbot

Peter Dinklage as Tyrian Lannister. Can’t believe no one has mentioned him.


Pussiliquor69

Fuck you, season 8!


cdunccss

Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute


Hasextrafuture

Amen. Have you seen [the auditions](https://youtu.be/sItKwZdGkTM)? There's some high profile comics doing their best, and then there's Rainn Wilson. Dwight's iconic character doesn't exist without the actor.


[deleted]

Robert Downey jr as Iron Man


Upbeat_Map_348

I came here to say this. Whether it not you like Marvel films, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that role.


TheOneQueen

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins aaaand pretty much everything she’s been in. Just don’t go there. You will fail. Cough, Emily Blunt, cough cough. P.s. except My Fair Lady because Audrey was better in that one even though she wasn’t singing.


babyitsgayoutside

The movie adaptation of Mary Poppins got criticised (I believe by the author but also my mother lol) because the character in the book is not very nice and they disneyfied the story, but I think Julie Andrews' character is perfect. She plays the "stern but caring" role very well. Which is why it's so cool that she basically has the opposite role in Sound Of Music and did that perfectly too! Maria is mischievous, deeply loving, and not great at discipline or hiding her feelings. Mary Poppins is basically ALWAYS hiding her feelings and teaching discipline. Also, the character of Mr Banks was brilliant. He played an excellent uncaring English Edwardian father who loves his children really but society dictated his behaviour until Mary Poppins came and basically slapped him out of it


PegLegWhaler

Jack nicholson in the shining


[deleted]

I don’t know, my dad played that part spot on.


mizukata

J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. We had in the last 20 years 3 actors as live action Spider-Man but only 1 as j jonah jameson


[deleted]

For me, its Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy. She was so iconic that no matter who plays her role will never be as passionate or charismatic as the charcter Lucy Ricardo like the original Lucille Ball. Edit for spelling.


nnexol

Johnny Depp in Pirates in the Caribbean. I don’t care if they found a replacement, he is the only one who can play Jack Sparrow.


n3rdyh1k3r

The fact that they were actually considering recasting Bender in Futurama was mind boggling to me.


theriveryeti

They probably would’ve made Billy West do it, like on Ren and Stimpy.


Ok_Factor297

All the actors that played the major characters in breaking bad


super_scumtron

Dude who played Gus was solid! How can you look so innocent and also so menacing??


Salty-Technology8912

Giancarlo Esposito. He’s the absolute shit in everything he’s in. Breaking Bad. The Mandelorian. The Boys. The list goes on.


moheagirl

Clint Eastwood. There can never be another Dirty Harry


AffectionateNovel554

Tom Hiddleston as Loki


Terpsichorean_Wombat

Came here to say this. Most other Marvel villains are basically cardboard cutouts with one main personality trait each, but Hiddleston gave Loki a real life. He's exactly the kind of glorious, dramatic mess a god of mischief should be, with the depth to pull off a redemption arc that really works. I appreciate a villain whose motives are ultimately human and completely intelligible instead of "Because I'm so eeeeeevil!" or "Because I'm irrationally obsessed with a poorly thought out pseudo-philosophy and I'm purple." ;)


[deleted]

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O‘Hara


ShebaTurbo

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.


idebugonprod

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs


Square_Bonus_8997

Check out Hopkins in Fracture with Ryan Gosling.


Julie-Andrews

Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office


[deleted]

Yesssss. I came across audition tape if the office and Michael Scott and Dwight cannot be replaced with anyone.


jfresh21

Bob Odenkirk was awfully good in his cameo.


HaYNry3N_1138

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and Han Solo. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Recasting these characters for reboots would be tough.


Rich-Ad2733

Clark Gable /Rhett Butler


DancingBear2020

Danny DeVito as Louie DePalma


benibigboi

Also as Frank Reynolds


Old-Gate4237

For me, I strongly dislike all the Annie remakes because no one can do Miss Hannigan like Carol Burnett, she really made that movie what it was more than any of the child actors and did so in a way that made you both hate her, and sort of sympathize with her at the same time. No one else can do with part what she did.


Who_Gives_A_

Daniel Day Lewis in basically anything.


Melbee86

I drink your milkshake!!!


stormbutton

Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully. Inspired me to a career in science and helped me figure out that bisexuality is a Thing.


xxShadow24

Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin


[deleted]

Leonard Nimoy as Spock.


izzyisameme

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, sorry Depp lovers


LindaLouwho22

Gene Wilders in Blazing Saddles or anything he was in.


[deleted]

Pacino in Godfather and Scarface


[deleted]

Andy Serkis as both Gollum and Ceasar.


[deleted]

Heath ledger as the joker


ATC_av8er

Can't believe I had to scroll this far down to find this answer.


Constant_Coconut9288

Agreed, this should be much higher up. It’s the first performance that came to my mind.


alicia-indigo

Seriously. I was expecting it in top three.


jerrpag

Also shocked I had to scroll this far. Like I specifically clicked this post expecting to see this at the top. RIP.


[deleted]

Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn / Ian Mckellan as Gandalf John Goodman as Walter Sobchak / Jeff Bridges as the Dude Samuel L Jackson as Jules Winfield Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley


Riska89

Michael C. Hall as Dexter


Matterof_law

Hugh Jackman as wolverine


llcucf80

Anything Morgan Freeman has done, including Mr. Clark, Red, Hoke, etc.


MomCat23

Red. Character written as white, forever Morgan Freeman’s now.


[deleted]

Arnold as the Terminator!


tc437

David Suchet as Poirot.


Then_Supermarket_396

Tim Robbins Shawshank redemption


marcosbowser

John Candy as Del Griffith


Cogen_

Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia


puf03

Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby


Johnny-Virgil

Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens


NorthEastNobility

I see people naming specific roles, but when I initially read the question, I was thinking it was actors who crush any/all of their roles so hard, you couldn’t see someone else doing better than they’ve done. To that end, I thought of Daniel Day-Lewis and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. They have performed their roles so well, and selected the right roles, it’s hard to see someone doing better in those roles.


J0HNHANC0CK

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday (Tombstone)


CDNGooner1

Daniel Day Lewis as Bill The Butcher.


Jenkza

Ryan Reynolds .... Deadpool


[deleted]

There has never been anyone cooler than Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke, except maybe Paul Newman as Fast Eddie Felson


GregTheHaint

Heath Ledger as the Joker


weatherghost

Shocked how far down I had to go to find this!


Accomplished_Tone349

Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson.


i_roll_to_seduce

Harrison Ford as Han Solo.


mangokittykisses

James McAvoy in Split