Typecasting: Difference between revisions

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* [[Keanu Reeves]] is the embodiment of spaced-out characters. See ''[[The Matrix]]'', ''[[Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure|Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'', and ''[[A Scanner Darkly]]''. There is some debate over [[Dull Surprise|how intentional this is]].
* [[Keanu Reeves]] is the embodiment of spaced-out characters. See ''[[The Matrix]]'', ''[[Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure|Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure]]'', and ''[[A Scanner Darkly]]''. There is some debate over [[Dull Surprise|how intentional this is]].
** It's a pity that so few people have seen the movies in which he plays [[The Heavy]]: in ''[[The Gift]]'', he plays a violent, wife-beating redneck, and in ''[[The Watcher (film)|The Watcher]]'', he plays a ''[[Serial Killer]]'', and is terrific in both. As an [[Action Hero]]? Not so much.
** It's a pity that so few people have seen the movies in which he plays [[The Heavy]]: in ''[[The Gift]]'', he plays a violent, wife-beating redneck, and in ''[[The Watcher (film)|The Watcher]]'', he plays a ''[[Serial Killer]]'', and is terrific in both. As an [[Action Hero]]? Not so much.
* To younger American audiences,it would probably be weird to see [[Alan Rickman]] as anything but the creepy bad guy with the sexy voice thanks to ''[[Die Hard]]'', ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' (though he's {{spoiler|just a red herring bad guy}}), even though his career has seen him in a very wide variety of roles. (''[[Sense and Sensibility (film)|Sense and Sensibility]]'', ''[[Love Actually]]'', ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'', ''[[Dogma]]'')
* To younger American audiences, it would probably be weird to see [[Alan Rickman]] as anything but the creepy bad guy with the sexy voice thanks to ''[[Die Hard]]'', ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' (though he's {{spoiler|just a red herring bad guy}}), even though his career has seen him in a very wide variety of roles. (''[[Sense and Sensibility (film)|Sense and Sensibility]]'', ''[[Love Actually]]'', ''[[Galaxy Quest]]'', ''[[Dogma]]'')
* Andrew J. Robinson made his film debut as the baby-faced serial killer Scorpio in ''[[Dirty Harry]]''. He was so associated with the role that, despite winning an Emmy as the lead on ''[[Ryan's Hope]]'', he was recast after two seasons because they didn't want someone noted for playing a serial killer as a sympathetic lead. He went on to play a whole string of psychotic killers in films like ''Hellblazer'' and ''[[Child's Play (film)|Childs Play]] 3'', until he finally got to play one of the good guys: former assassin and torturer Elim Garak in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.
* Andrew J. Robinson made his film debut as the baby-faced serial killer Scorpio in ''[[Dirty Harry]]''. He was so associated with the role that, despite winning an Emmy as the lead on ''[[Ryan's Hope]]'', he was recast after two seasons because they didn't want someone noted for playing a serial killer as a sympathetic lead. He went on to play a whole string of psychotic killers in films like ''Hellblazer'' and ''[[Child's Play (film)|Childs Play]] 3'', until he finally got to play one of the good guys: former assassin and torturer Elim Garak in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.
** Also his role in ''[[Hellraiser]]''.
** Also his role in ''[[Hellraiser]]''.
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** He plays a computer scientist in 1983's ''[[Twilight Zone the Movie]]'', a University of Kansas science professor in 1983's ''[[The Day After]]'', physicists in 1986's ''[[The Manhattan Project]]'' and 1984's ''[[The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension]]'', and an engineer who designs interplanetary spacecraft in 1984's ''[[Main/ptitledixtv 2 ac|2010]]''
** He plays a computer scientist in 1983's ''[[Twilight Zone the Movie]]'', a University of Kansas science professor in 1983's ''[[The Day After]]'', physicists in 1986's ''[[The Manhattan Project]]'' and 1984's ''[[The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension]]'', and an engineer who designs interplanetary spacecraft in 1984's ''[[Main/ptitledixtv 2 ac|2010]]''
* Rodney Dangerfield had pretty much played the same act in most movies he did the past couple of decades, with the possible darker exception of ''Natural Born Killers''.
* Rodney Dangerfield had pretty much played the same act in most movies he did the past couple of decades, with the possible darker exception of ''Natural Born Killers''.
* You've got a fantasy or horror setting, and your [[Evil Overlord]] needs a [[Cowardly Sidekick|comically incompetent]] but [[The Renfield|very loyal]] henchman? [[Timothy Spall]] is your man, as evidenced by ''[[Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire]]'' (and subsequent Potter films), ''[[Enchanted]]'', and ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]''. He's recently tried to break out by playing the goddamn [[Winston Churchill]] in ''[[The King's Speech]]''.
* You've got a fantasy or horror setting, and your [[Evil Overlord]] needs a [[Cowardly Sidekick|comically incompetent]] but [[The Renfield|very loyal]] henchman? [[Timothy Spall]] is your man, as evidenced by ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' (and subsequent Potter films), ''[[Enchanted]]'', and ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]''. He's recently tried to break out by playing the goddamn [[Winston Churchill]] in ''[[The King's Speech]]''.
* Vincent Price, as 'the really creepy scary movie actor'.
* Vincent Price, as 'the really creepy scary movie actor'.
* [[Tom Selleck]] has been typecast as cops or soldiers, particularly in [[Magnum, P.I.]]. Selleck himself, however, claims that [[American Gun Politics|his support for the NRA]] has hurt his career.
* [[Tom Selleck]] has been typecast as cops or soldiers, particularly in [[Magnum, P.I.]]. Selleck himself, however, claims that [[American Gun Politics|his support for the NRA]] has hurt his career.
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* [[Claudia Black]] seems to show up as capable, confident, and very [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic]] characters, whether she is there in person or it is just her voice.
* [[Claudia Black]] seems to show up as capable, confident, and very [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic]] characters, whether she is there in person or it is just her voice.
* [[Zooey Deschanel]] seems to either play the [[Deadpan Snarker]] or the [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl]]. Or both. She's the [[Love Interest]] a lot, too. No wonder, she's ''beautiful''. It would take a lot of makeup and editing to make her creepy enough to be a villain, because [[Beauty Equals Goodness]]. She could probably pull off [[The Vamp|a seductress role]], though.
* [[Zooey Deschanel]] seems to either play the [[Deadpan Snarker]] or the [[Manic Pixie Dream Girl]]. Or both. She's the [[Love Interest]] a lot, too. No wonder, she's ''beautiful''. It would take a lot of makeup and editing to make her creepy enough to be a villain, because [[Beauty Equals Goodness]]. She could probably pull off [[The Vamp|a seductress role]], though.
* Characters played by British actresses Imelda Staunton and Pam Ferris are often of the [[Jerkass]], [[Sadist Teacher]], and/or [[Complete Monster]] variety. See ''[[Harry Potter]]'' and ''[[Matilda]]'' for examples.
* Characters played by British actresses Imelda Staunton and Pam Ferris are often of the [[Jerkass]], [[Sadist Teacher]], and/or [[Complete Monster]] variety. See ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'' and ''[[Matilda]]'' for examples.
* Loretta Devine is almost always cast as a doting mother/grandmother. And, she is rarely in starring roles.
* Loretta Devine is almost always cast as a doting mother/grandmother. And, she is rarely in starring roles.
** Except in ''[[Urban Legend (film)|Urban Legend]]'' and its sequel ''[[Urban Legends Final Cut]]''.
** Except in ''[[Urban Legend (film)|Urban Legend]]'' and its sequel ''[[Urban Legends Final Cut]]''.
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* Keri Lynn Pratt can never be cast as anything but a variation of [[The Ditz]], due to her comically squeaky voice. A ditzy intern on ''[[Brothers and Sisters]]'', ditzy girlfriend Missy on ''[[Jack and Bobby]]'', then a ditzy sorority girl in ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' {{spoiler|albeit a manipulative, lying, blackmailing one}}. With a voice like that, it seems like there's no way for anyone to take her seriously.
* Keri Lynn Pratt can never be cast as anything but a variation of [[The Ditz]], due to her comically squeaky voice. A ditzy intern on ''[[Brothers and Sisters]]'', ditzy girlfriend Missy on ''[[Jack and Bobby]]'', then a ditzy sorority girl in ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' {{spoiler|albeit a manipulative, lying, blackmailing one}}. With a voice like that, it seems like there's no way for anyone to take her seriously.
* Catalina Saavedra originally refused (angrily) the role of Raquel in ''[[The Maid]]'' (2009 Chilean film) because she had already played too many maids.
* Catalina Saavedra originally refused (angrily) the role of Raquel in ''[[The Maid]]'' (2009 Chilean film) because she had already played too many maids.
* [[Helena Bonham Carter]] used to be [[The Ingenue]]. Since the late nineties, however, she's typically been a darkly funny nutcase with a hag-ish look (''[[Fight Club]]'', ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]''), and when not, she is virtually ''always'' in a less-than-glamorous role (''[[Planet of the Apes]]'', ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and The Chocolate Factory]]'', ''[[Alice in Wonderland (film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'')
* [[Helena Bonham Carter]] used to be [[The Ingenue]]. Since the late nineties, however, she's typically been a darkly funny nutcase with a hag-ish look (''[[Fight Club]]'', ''[[Harry Potter (film)|Harry Potter]]'', ''[[Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (film)|Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street]]''), and when not, she is virtually ''always'' in a less-than-glamorous role (''[[Planet of the Apes]]'', ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', ''[[Alice in Wonderland (film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'')
* Luciana Salazar as "eye candy on rehashed sequel of an old comedy franchise/movie based on cartoon".
* Luciana Salazar as "eye candy on rehashed sequel of an old comedy franchise/movie based on cartoon".
* Ever since ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]'', [[Brenda Song]] has been typecast as the [[Asian Airhead]] in [[Disney]] productions. Ironically, her first major role was in a [[Nickelodeon]] show, ''[[100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd|One Hundred Deeds for Eddie Mcdowd]]'', as an ''[[Asian and Nerdy|egghead]]''—a retroactive [[Playing Against Type]]. Outside of Disney, she still occasionally gets typecast as an [[Asian Airhead]]. It seems she's just good at comedy.
* Ever since ''[[The Suite Life of Zack and Cody]]'', [[Brenda Song]] has been typecast as the [[Asian Airhead]] in [[Disney]] productions. Ironically, her first major role was in a [[Nickelodeon]] show, ''[[100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd|One Hundred Deeds for Eddie Mcdowd]]'', as an ''[[Asian and Nerdy|egghead]]''—a retroactive [[Playing Against Type]]. Outside of Disney, she still occasionally gets typecast as an [[Asian Airhead]]. It seems she's just good at comedy.
* Despite not even being 20 yet, [[Jennette McCurdy]] of ''[[iCarly]]'' fame has already been typecast to [[Mean Character, Nice Actor]] type roles, getting several [[Alpha Bitch]] characters as well as the occasionally sociopathic Sam Puckett.
* Despite not even being 20 yet{{when}}, [[Jennette McCurdy]] of ''[[iCarly]]'' fame has already been typecast to [[Mean Character, Nice Actor]] type roles, getting several [[Alpha Bitch]] characters as well as the occasionally sociopathic Sam Puckett.
* [[Tilda Swinton]] as the androgynous [[Ice Queen]].
* [[Tilda Swinton]] as the androgynous [[Ice Queen]].
* Although her most popular role was as Elliot's mom in ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|E.T.]]'', the rest of Dee Wallace's acting career seems to subsist of that of the victim in various horror films, with ''[[The Howling]]'', ''[[The Hills Have Eyes]]'', ''[[Cujo]]'' and the remake of ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]]'' being amoung the most popular.
* Although her most popular role was as Elliot's mom in ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial|E.T.]]'', the rest of Dee Wallace's acting career seems to subsist of that of the victim in various horror films, with ''[[The Howling]]'', ''[[The Hills Have Eyes]]'', ''[[Cujo]]'' and the remake of ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]]'' being amoung the most popular.
** Subverted in ''The Frighteners'', where she is portrayed as the victim only to {{spoiler|change gears halfway through the film to become the villain)}}.
** Subverted in ''The Frighteners'', where she is portrayed as the victim only to {{spoiler|change gears halfway through the film to become the villain)}}.
* Julie Walters is always the nanny or otherwise responsible for a [[Harry Potter|large group of kids]].
* Julie Walters is always the nanny or otherwise responsible for a [[Harry Potter (film)|large group of kids]].
* When Zhang Ziyi appears on the screen, you start to count down to the beginning of some serious [[Waif Fu]].
* When Zhang Ziyi appears on the screen, you start to count down to the beginning of some serious [[Waif Fu]].
* Kelly Preston seems to usually play the doting mother in family films (e.g. ''Jack Frost'', ''What a Girl Wants'', ''The Cat in the Hat'', ''Sky High'', ''Old Dogs'', and ''The Last Song'').
* Kelly Preston seems to usually play the doting mother in family films (e.g. ''Jack Frost'', ''What a Girl Wants'', ''The Cat in the Hat'', ''Sky High'', ''Old Dogs'', and ''The Last Song'').