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25 Actors Who Crushed A Role So Hard That Nobody Else Could Be Live Up To It

Is there any actor who wins your heart with just a movie role? Well, a lot of names are coming to my mind. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Andy Serkis as Gollum, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, or Gary Oldman as Dracula. These actors gained worldwide recognition and (even critical acclaim) for the character they portrayed. They embed their character so brilliantly that the audience couldn't separate their real names from their characters' names.
Recently, Reddit user u/Ghsdkgb raised an exciting question on r/AskReddit, one of the biggest Reddit communities. It tells "Which actor crushed a role so hard that nobody else will be able to live up to it?". People don't hold it back and the OP's question received thousands of upvotes and hundreds of comments. A lot of the big names are introduced, including both iconic and rising actors. These talented performers have devoted themself (physically and mentally) to every character they play. Are you curious about these actors? Scroll down and check them out!

#1 John C. McGinley as Dr. Cox in the TV series "Scrubs"

Source: (Justin Lubin/NBC Universal Photo)

I've teared up twice watching scrubs: Bens funeral and the end of My Lunch. McGinley really sells the emotional part of his character incredibly well, seeing this man break down breaks my heart.- u/DaShizzne

#2 Raul Julia as Gomez Addams in "The Addams Family" (1991, 1993)

Source: paramountpictures

I loved his portrayal of Gomez Addams so much that one year I went all out as Gomez Addams for Halloween. I spent a decent amount because I wanted a good costume that matched his look in the film as closely as possible. I cut and dyed my hair, shaved and dyed my facial hair to get the mustache, even got brown contacts.

When it was all said and done, I stepped in front of one of those floor length mirrors to examine my final product and immediately thought to myself...- u/Frys100thCupofCoffee


#3 Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise

Source: Warner Bros

If an actress manages to make her character the most hated in a franchise (more so than the main villain), you know she made a damn great job. - u/Ptony_oliver

#4 Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000)

Source: Lions Gate/Kobal/Shutterstock

Christian Bale in anything. The guy's physique is so malleable... From The Machinist to Batman... insane. - u/FantomUnicorn

#5 Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth in the TV series "Arrested Development"

Source: ©20thCent Fox/Everett Collection

Jessica Walter in Arrested Development ( and Archer) .. her mean mom character dynamic is gold. - u/ModelChimp

#6 Andre the Giant as Fezzik in "The Princess Bride" (1987)

Source: Twentieth Century Fox

I'm reading the book at the minute, and he so perfectly epitomises 'book Fezzik'. In fact, all of the actors cast portray their book characters flawlessly.- u/ewoofk

#7 Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun"

Source: Everett Collection

"Who are you, and how did you get in here?!"

"I'm a locksmith, and... I'm a locksmith" - u/Unicron500


#8 Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn in "Lord of the Rings"

Source: New Line Cinema

He definitely got the look down pat. I remember, when I first saw the trailers, thinking "that guy looks like a Ranger," as in the D&D archetype. Then a moment later I realized that's exactly what Aragorn was called in the book...- u/bobfrank_

#9 Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" (1993)

Source: screenrant

Every once in a while there's a role that it seems like the actor was born to play. There's really not another role that compares in his career. - u/TessaMurphy

#10 Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in "The Wolverine" (2013)

Source: Movie Still

He played an amazing Wolverine. I know it’s not the best movie overall, but his performance in Wolverine Origins is incredible. He is Wolverine.

He also did an amazing job as Valjean. Had no idea he had so much range before I saw Les Miserables. - u/Seicair


#11 Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971)

Source: Warner Bros

Gene Wilder in every role of his.

There are so few actors out there that could be so funny with such an air of dignity about them. The boat scene in Willy Wonka simply could not be pulled off by anyone else. - u/the_less_great_wall


#12 Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter franchise

Source: Warner Bros

She was sooo annoying I LOVE IT lmao

She really did nail the part. - u/WatchBat


#13 Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice in "Beetlejuice" (1988)

Source: Warner Bros

“Ah. Well... I attended Juilliard... I'm a graduate of the Harvard business school. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and had a pretty good time during that. I've seen the EXORCIST ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT". u/damnyoutuesday

#14 Christopher Lloyd as Doc in Back to the Future

Source: universalpictures

It's the role he was born to play.- u/PrinceOfLemons

#15 Tom Hanks as Woody in Toy Story

Source: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage; Disney/Pixar

Other characters I feel could be replaced quite easily. Tim Allen is obviously brilliant as Buzz, but it's a pretty standard Captain Kirk inspired space captain performance. But I just can't imagine Tom Hanks' manic, neurotic Woody being played by anyone else. It's really impressive to see a screen actor do such a good job as a voice over too. A lot of them end up sucking, because cartoons require pretty big , exaggerated performances for them to work, and actors can seem to either do it or not. - u/AlterEdward

#16 Danny Trejo as Machete in "Machete Kills" (2013)

Source: Joaquin Avellán/20th Century Fox

He woke up one morning and thought "Today is the day i ride a rocket" and dammit he did it! - u/Jack_Bartowski

#17 Tim Curry as Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Source: ©20thCent Fox/Everett Collection

Tim Curry as anything. Furter, Wasdworth, Hexxus, Cherdenko, all gold. - u/AVgreencup

#18 Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park franchise

Source: FILE

I joke that Jeff Goldblum doesn't act. He just sorta shows up on set after leafing through the script and makes it work with his awkward charm. - u/BW_Bird

#19 Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in the "Aliens" series

Source: 20th Century Fox/Everett Collection

The best part of Alien and Aliens. The hero is a woman and no one cares. Anyone man or woman would follow Ripley to the ends of the earth. - u/jsteph67

#20 Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies

Source: Todd Eyre

Ian McKellen once came into my school during pride month and performed his famous quote "you shall not pass!" in the context of if you don't revise you will not pass any tests. Legendary moment. - u/Rxckfish

#21 Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator

Source: Todd Eyre

If the clothes, boots, and motorcycle don’t fit, you must acquit. - u/OmarBarksdale

#22 James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in the TV series The Sopranos

Source: ©20thCent Fox/Everett Collection

I only just watched the series for the first time over these past few months, I’m down to the last 6 episodes and I just don’t want it to ever end. He’s so good! It’s heart warming that his son is about to be playing Tony in the prequel series, but I’m a little nervous that he won’t be able to fill James’ shoes… no pressure or anything kiddo lol, jeeez! - u/PM_YOUR_LOWHANGERS

#23 Ronald Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket"

Source: Warner Bros

"You're so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece". - u/Doc_Zed_42

#24 Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise

Source: Walt Disney


#25 Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise

Source: CBS/Getty Images

Omg the episode where the scientist wants to take data and disassemble him so they have a trial is one of my favorite episodes of TV ever. - u/djskunkybeerz
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