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He likes dipping into the character in public and the general aesthetic is one that he's embraced. He may have built the character through many quirky experiments, but I think Sparrow is kind of where he wants to "live." This is his "Yacht Rock" old man era.
Actors Trapped in Characters
Borrowing from that other thread I mentioned, a perfect example for THIS thread is the Marx Brothers. Despite making a slew of films where their characters had completely different names, the three brothers played the exact same three characters in all their movies - not even deviating with their wardrobes most of the time!
(We wont be discussing Gummo or Zeppo = Milton & Hebert Manfred Marx - as they were lesser known and did not seem to have really established alter-egos like their brothers.)
Groucho (Julius Henry Marx 1890 - 1977) was an eccentric wise-cracker. He had the most extensive career and in his later years he broke character (which didn't seem too far off from his true personality) and let the world get to know him through movie & TV appearances and interviews. He hosted the popular radio and TV show You Bet Your Life.
Chico (Leonard Joseph Marx 1887 - 1961) created a character that was an Italian immigrant and much of his humor came from puns or mispronunciations of English words. Chico's main musical instrument was the piano which he also worked into many skits.
Harpo (Adolph Marx 1888 - 1964) probably fits this category best - it's said he never spoke in film or on TV except for the night he announced his retirement! For all intents and purposes, this pantomime harpist's true life (and voice) was a mystery to audiences.
(We wont be discussing Gummo or Zeppo = Milton & Hebert Manfred Marx - as they were lesser known and did not seem to have really established alter-egos like their brothers.)
Groucho (Julius Henry Marx 1890 - 1977) was an eccentric wise-cracker. He had the most extensive career and in his later years he broke character (which didn't seem too far off from his true personality) and let the world get to know him through movie & TV appearances and interviews. He hosted the popular radio and TV show You Bet Your Life.
Chico (Leonard Joseph Marx 1887 - 1961) created a character that was an Italian immigrant and much of his humor came from puns or mispronunciations of English words. Chico's main musical instrument was the piano which he also worked into many skits.
Harpo (Adolph Marx 1888 - 1964) probably fits this category best - it's said he never spoke in film or on TV except for the night he announced his retirement! For all intents and purposes, this pantomime harpist's true life (and voice) was a mystery to audiences.
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Robin Williams, he's always playing it as Robin Williams in his films. Well maybe not in One Hour Photo, I don't know as I haven't seen that one.
Andrew Dice Clay began as a character on the stage. He ended as a caricature, after having spent decades committing to the bit. This sort of thing happens to artists. Musicians can't escape their greatest hits and are forced to play them for their fans, forever.
With actors, the pattern of being absorbed into the one hit role. Johnny Depp stopped being Johnny Depp and he is now Captain Jack Sparrow. Jeff Bridges is the dude. Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. Vin Diesel is Toretto. In some cases, an actor with actual talent cashes out for being a self-caricature (e.g., Pacino and Walken). In other cases, meagerly talented stars peak early and play a cookie-cutter (The Rock, Statham, Keaunu).
It is interesting to note how the human can become trapped by a role, not just type-casting, but a particular character, and that their public persona will often take on the semblance of the character. I am the character, the character is me. How many cases are there? How many have surrendered or embraced to being the character, like Legosi being Dracula?
I'd like to push back on Robin Williams...he's almost always playing happy or goofy characters but he's a MUCH better actor than just that and often portrayed deeper issues beneath. And there's none of the cartoon character in Good Will Hunting.
>I was going to suggest the entire cast of Friends being trapped in their characters... but Courtney Cox at least managed to attach herself to Gale from the Scream franchise.
Agreed quite a bit with this. Though I feel Aniston's probably had the most lasting power.
>Should we really consider Vin Diesel as the talented actor who cashed out for becoming a self-caricature
I dunno...I feel comfortable that this era still has a few mindless action dudes like Diesel and Statham. You know what you'r getting with these dudes. I don't feel this is a knock on them.
>I was going to suggest the entire cast of Friends being trapped in their characters... but Courtney Cox at least managed to attach herself to Gale from the Scream franchise.
Agreed quite a bit with this. Though I feel Aniston's probably had the most lasting power.
>Should we really consider Vin Diesel as the talented actor who cashed out for becoming a self-caricature
I dunno...I feel comfortable that this era still has a few mindless action dudes like Diesel and Statham. You know what you'r getting with these dudes. I don't feel this is a knock on them.
I'd like to push back on Robin Williams...he's almost always playing happy or goofy characters but he's a MUCH better actor than just that and often portrayed deeper issues beneath. And there's none of the cartoon character in Good Will Hunting.
From my review of Good Will Hunting.
I've said before that I don't care for Robin Williams in movies...though he was a dynamic guest on late night talk shows. As I kinda expected he was able to play a more troubled, straight role with much veracity. Most talented comedians are able to give a damn fine dramatic accounting of themselves when given half a chance to shed the comedy stuff. But when Robin went into his free form improv, his character belief faded momentarily for me. Luckily he didn't do that much and overall he was solid.
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Would comedians who have vehicles written for them qualify here? People like Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell who have a certain style of lead they always play and are known for "that style character" even if it isn't them in real life? I don't know anything about Adam Sandler nor Will Ferrell outside of what their creative output is. I do, however, really hope they are nothing like their typical man-child moronic characters.
Are we allowed to mention late performers? Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were always cast as the same character in everything they did, although I hesitate to believe they were actually exactly like that outside of their characters.
James Stewart was commonly portrayed as the golden soul who was always on the correct moral side (except in his earliest work).
Are we allowed to mention late performers? Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were always cast as the same character in everything they did, although I hesitate to believe they were actually exactly like that outside of their characters.
James Stewart was commonly portrayed as the golden soul who was always on the correct moral side (except in his earliest work).
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I hate insomnia. Oh yeah. Last year I had four cases of it, and each time it lasted three months.
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Well, Robert Downey Jr. has been trapped playing Robert Downey Jr. in every movie since at least 1985. Even Chaplin.
Everyone thinks of Bruce Willis as the hard-nosed tough guy nowadays even though he started in rom-coms.
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Talking of Courtney Cox in Scream... I have difficulty seeing Neve Campbell and David Arquette in anything other than their respective Scream roles as well.
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The Rock and Ryan Reynolds, for starters:
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I'd like to push back on Robin Williams...he's almost always playing happy or goofy characters but he's a MUCH better actor than just that and often portrayed deeper issues beneath. And there's none of the cartoon character in Good Will Hunting.
>I was going to suggest the entire cast of Friends being trapped in their characters... but Courtney Cox at least managed to attach herself to Gale from the Scream franchise.
Agreed quite a bit with this. Though I feel Aniston's probably had the most lasting power.
>Should we really consider Vin Diesel as the talented actor who cashed out for becoming a self-caricature
I dunno...I feel comfortable that this era still has a few mindless action dudes like Diesel and Statham. You know what you'r getting with these dudes. I don't feel this is a knock on them.
>I was going to suggest the entire cast of Friends being trapped in their characters... but Courtney Cox at least managed to attach herself to Gale from the Scream franchise.
Agreed quite a bit with this. Though I feel Aniston's probably had the most lasting power.
>Should we really consider Vin Diesel as the talented actor who cashed out for becoming a self-caricature
I dunno...I feel comfortable that this era still has a few mindless action dudes like Diesel and Statham. You know what you'r getting with these dudes. I don't feel this is a knock on them.
's Gratest Dad and his guest appearance on Law and Order SVU set him free from said trap.
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