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Typecasting is the process by which an actor is strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters with the same traits or ethnic grouping. Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... The term role in the performing arts is usually taken to mean an actors interpretation of a fictional character written in a script that culminates in a unique performance of that character. ... Trait theory is an approach to personality theory in psychology. ...

The process of selecting an actor

Actors are selected for their roles either by a casting director, typically found in small productions, or, in larger productions such as motion pictures, a group referred to as central casting. Central casting often exhibits a pattern of placing an actor in subsequent similar character roles after his or her first success, especially if an actor is particularly well-received in that role by the audience or by critics. Typecasting happens to actors of both great and modest ability: an actor may become typecast either because of a strong identification with a particular role or because he or she lacks the versatility or talent to move on to other roles. Some actors welcome the steady work that typecasting brings, but in general it is seen as undesirable. In the performing arts, casting is a vital pre-production process for selecting a cast (a meaning of the word recorded since 1631) of actors, dancers, singers, models and other talent for a live or recorded performance. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Central Casting is a company located in Burbank, California specializing in casting Extras, Body Doubles, and Stand-ins. ...

When typecasting is particularly strong

There have been instances in which an actor has been so strongly identified with a role as to make it impossible for him or her to find work playing other characters.

Typecasting is a problem for character actors in particular. It is especially common among leading actors in popular TV series and films. Clayton Moore and George Reeves, who played the Lone Ranger and Superman, respectively, in the Golden Age of television, were victims of typecasting, Reeves to such an extent that his large role in From Here to Eternity was practically removed from the film after test audiences shouted "There's Superman!" whenever he appeared. A character actor is an actor, especially in motion pictures, who predominantly performs in similar roles throughout the course of a career. ... A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead, plays the role of the protagonist in a film or play. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Clayton Moore (September 14, 1914 - December 28, 1999) was an American actor best known for playing the fictional western character The Lone Ranger. ... George Reeves (January 5,[1] 1914 – June 16, 1959) was an American actor, best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman and his controversial death at the age of 45. ... The Lone Ranger was an early, long-running radio and television show based on characters created by George W. Trendle of Detroit, Michigan and developed by writer Fran Stryker of Buffalo, New York. ... Superman is a fictional character and comic book superhero , originally created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian artist Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. ... From Here to Eternity is a 1953 movie based on a James Jones novel in which characters work through ordinary bouts of intimidation and infidelity on a military base in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor. ...

Adam West, who played Batman has had incredible difficulties with typecasting, and has taken many roles since as a parody of himself because of this excessive typecasting. Adam West (born William West Anderson on September 19, 1928) is an American actor who is best known for playing the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne on the 1960s TV series Batman (which also had a film adaptation). ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ...

Jason Alexander, who portrayed George Costanza in Seinfeld, as well as Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Michael Richards (Elaine Benes and Cosmo Kramer respectively) have been typecast into their Seinfeld roles. This has been mocked in several episodes of the HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm, co-written by Larry David who has claimed his own personality traits and escapades were the basis for the George character. Jason Alexander (born Jason Scott Greenspan on September 23, 1959) is a Jewish American television, cinema and musical theatre actor, best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit television series Seinfeld. ... George Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the United States-based television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Jason Alexander. ... For other uses, see Seinfeld (disambiguation). ... Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, the role she is most well known for. ... For other persons named Michael Richards, see Michael Richards (disambiguation). ... Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. ... Cosmo Kramer is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Michael Richards. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American sitcom starring Seinfeld writer, co-creator, and executive producer Larry David as himself. ... Lawrence Gene David, (born July 2, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York) better known as Larry David, is an Emmy-winning actor, writer, comedian, producer and film director. ...

Dennis Farina, who was a policeman in Chicago before becoming an actor, is frequently cast as a cop, examples being his roles on the shows Crime Story and Law & Order. He is also sometimes cast on the opposite side of the law, as a criminal, such as a Mob henchman in Thief and a Mob boss in Midnight Run. Dennis Farina as Detective Joe Fontana in Law & Order Donaldo Guglielmo Dennis Farina (born February 29, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Italian-American film and television actor, starring since 2004 as Detective Joe Fontana on NBCs Law & Order. ... Crime Story was an NBC TV drama created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. ... This article is about the original television series. ... Thief is a 1981 noir crime drama written and directed by Michael Mann, based on the novel The Home Invaders by Frank Hohimer (the pen name of real-life jewel thief John Seybold). ... For the Konami Arcade Racing game, see Midnight Run (video game). ...

Richard Roundtree, who portrayed John Shaft in the Shaft films, has tried numerous attempts to disassociate himself from being known as a Black Action Hero - from playing authority figures (e.g. Capt. Stevens in the Chuck Norris film An Eye for an Eye or a gay uncle in the TV series Roc - he has came to terms that he would always be asssociated with the Shaft character for life. Since Shaft was one of the contributors to the blaxploitation genre, actors who appeared in blaxploitation films (Ron O'Neal in Superfly, Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite, or Pam Grier) have embraced typecasting (O'Neal being casted as a villain in films e.g. A Force of One or Red Dawn where he was seen as a Cuban colonel). Richard Roundtree Richard Roundtree (born July 9, 1942 in New Rochelle, New York) is an African American actor and hero famous for portraying John Shaft in the film Shaft (1971) and in its two sequels: Shafts Big Score in 1972, and Shaft in Africa in 1973. ... John Shaft is a fictional character created by screenwriter/novelist Ernest Tidyman as a sort of African-American answer to Ian Flemings James Bond. ... Carlos Ray Chuck Norris (born on 10 March 1940) is an American martial artist, action star, Hollywood actor, and recently, an internet phenomenon, who is best known for playing Cordell Walker on Walker, Texas Ranger. ... This article is about the principle of retributive justice. ... ROC, Roc, roc, R.O.C, The R.O.C. or R.o. ... A shaft can be Look up shaft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Shaft (1971) Blaxploitation is a film genre that emerged in the United States in the early 1970s when many exploitation films were made that targeted the urban black audience; the word itself is a portmanteau of the words “black” and “exploitation. ... Ron ONeal (September 1, 1937 in Utica, New York, USA – January 14, 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA — of pancreatic cancer) was an American actor, director and screenwriter. ... Superfly is a 1972 (see 1972 in film) blaxploitation film known primarily for its soundtrack by soul singer Curtis Mayfield (see Superfly (soundtrack)). The movie starred Ron ONeal as Youngblood Priest, a cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the business. ... Rudy Ray Moore (born March 17, 1937 in Fort Smith, Arkansas) is an African-American comedian, singer, film actor, and film producer. ... For the mineral, see Dolomite. ... Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an iconic American actress. ... A Force of One is a 1979 action/martial arts movie starring Chuck Norris, Ron ONeal, Clu Gulager, and Bill Wallace. ... For other uses, see Red dawn (disambiguation). ...

Bela Lugosi would be forever known as Count Dracula, even though he only played him once in Universal Studios' 1931 production of Dracula. Bela Lugosi as Dracula United States stamp. ... Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stokers 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. ... This article is about the American media conglomerate. ... Dracula is a 1931 horror film produced by Universal Pictures Co. ...

Mark Hamill found it difficult shaking off his Star Wars persona after three movies playing Luke Skywalker. As did Ralph Macchio of The Karate Kid fame. Mark Richard Hamill (born September 25, 1951) is an American actor. ... This article is about the series. ... Luke Skywalker is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe portrayed by Mark Hamill in the films Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. ... This article is about the actor. ... The Karate Kid is a 1984 John G. Avildsen film starring Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio and Elisabeth Shue. ...

Kelsey Grammer, known for his character Frasier Crane, an intellectual, classy and cultured man, also did Sideshow Bob's voice-overs and played the Beast in the X-Men movies. Both Sideshow Bob and the Beast are cultured and intellectual characters. Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955 in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) is a six-time Emmy and a two-time Golden Globe-winning American actor who is best known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, whom he played for nine years on Cheers... Dr. Frasier Winslow Crane (b. ... Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known by his stage name Sideshow Bob, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... For other uses, see Beast (disambiguation). ...

DeForest Kelley had been enjoying a thriving career as a character actor before being typecast as "Bones," the ship's doctor on the television series Star Trek, after which he was very seldom cast in any other role. DeForest redirects here. ... This article is about the entire Star Trek franchise. ...

John Travolta has lived with typecasting throughout his acting career (from his 1970s roles e.g. Welcome Back Kotter, Saturday Night Fever, or his association with two Brian DePalma films - Carrie and Blow Out) - especially during the 1980s after the sequel to Saturday Night Fever (Staying Alive) became a box office flop - his agent intervened several times - some of his aborted roles went to actor Richard Gere or recasted (he was suggested by the producers of Splash where Tom Hanks became the lead. After a friendship with Bruce Willis (for the Look's Who Talking films c. 1989 - his acting career was considered resurrected until his Oscar nomination for Pulp Fiction. John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor, dancer, and singer, best known for his leading roles in films such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction. ... Welcome Back, Kotter is an American television sitcom that originally aired on the ABC network from 1975 to 1979. ... Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 movie starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to a Brooklyn discotheque. ... Brian De Palma (born September 11, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American film director. ... Look up Carrie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Blow Out is a 1981 film by Brian DePalma starring John Travolta as Jack Terry, a movie sound effect technician from Philadelphia who, while recording sounds for a low-budget horror film, accidentally captures audio evidence of the possible assassination of the Pennsylvania governor who was planning to run for... Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 movie starring John Travolta as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to a Brooklyn discotheque. ... Staying Alive is a 1983 film sequel to Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta as the same character, Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes, Steve Inwood, Julie Bovasso, and dancers Viktor Manoel, Kate Ann Wright, Kevyn Morrow and Nanette Tarpey. ... Richard Tiffany Gere[1] (born August 31, 1949) is a Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actor. ... Look up splash in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Thomas Jeffrey Tom Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American film actor, director, voice-over artist, writer and film producer. ... Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a Golden Globe- and double Emmy-winning German-born American actor and singer. ... Look up Oscar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pulp Fiction is an Academy Award-winning 1994 film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote the screenplay with Roger Avary. ...

Child actors may also suffer from typecasting (e.g. Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, Jay North in Dennis the Menace). The appearance of the adult actor may differ so much from his or her childhood persona as to make him or her less marketable. Typecasting in children is seen as less of an issue when the child is portraying a dramatic or mature character, such as Haley Joel Osment, the child actor in The Sixth Sense and A.I., Bill Mumy, the ex-child actor in Lost in Space, or Brandon Cruz, the former child actor in The Courtship of Eddie's Father. The term child actor is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion the latter is also called a former child actor. ... Macaulay Carson Culkin (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. ... Home Alone is a 1990 comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. ... Jay North (born August 3, 1951 in Hollywood, California, USA) is an actor best remembered for his lead role in the TV series Dennis the Menace. ... Dennis the Menace denotes either of two cartoon characters. ... Haley Joel Osment (born April 10, 1988) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor. ... For the ability sometimes referred to as sixth sense, see Extra-sensory perception. ... Artificial Intelligence: A.I. is a science fiction film co-produced, written, and directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 2001. ... Charles William Mumy, Jr. ... For other uses, see Lost in Space (disambiguation). ... Brandon Edwin Cruz (born May 28, 1962 in Bakersfield, California) was a child actor and is a musician. ... The Courtship of Eddies Father is a 1963 comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli. ...

In rare cases, it is a medical condition that gives an actor a distinct appearance and contributes to typecasting. Michael Berryman, whose hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia caused him to fail to develop hair, sweat glands, fingernails or teeth, has been typecast as an array of disturbing characters, mostly in horror films. Michael J. Anderson's case was parodied in an episode of The X-Files in which the three-foot tall actor bridled at being mistaken for a former circus freak. A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ... Michael Berryman (born September 4, 1948) is an American character actor. ... Michael Berryman. ... This article is about the body feature. ... In humans, there are four kinds of sudoriferous or sweat glands which differ greatly in both the composition of the sweat and its purpose. ... For other uses, see Nail. ... Michael J. Anderson (October 31, 1953, Denver, Colorado) is an American actor best known for his role as the Man from another place in David Lynchs television series Twin Peaks, notable for being a little person. // Anderson was born with a genetic bone condition osteogenesis imperfecta. ... This article is about the TV show. ... A freak show is an exhibition of rarities, freaks of nature — such as unusually tall or short humans, and people with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics — and performances that are expected to be shocking to the viewers. ...

Reportably Ted Knight nearly left The Mary Tyler Moore Show because fans typecast him as Ted Baxter; he later played the comic role in Too Close for Comfort. Other reported examples of fans typecasting were Gilligan's Island stars Bob Denver, Russell Johnson and Natalie Schafer. Larry Linville also played typecasted roles of unstable Frank Burns types. Khigh Dheigh played Asian villain types. Werner Klemperer and John Banner played stereotype Germans. In addition, many actors whose roles have been particularly typecasted were Ray Walston and Bill Bixby of My Favorite Martian, who both had difficulty finding roles, Raymond Burr of Perry Mason, Don Adams and Barbara Feldon both from Get Smart, found lesser roles after playing Maxwell Smart and Agent 99, respectively, Lost in Space's Jonathan Harris was no longer working, despite of his Dr. Zachary Smith, role, which was obviously typecasted, Paul Petersen of The Donna Reed Show had trouble finding adult roles, Andy Griffith found lesser-known roles after starring in The Andy Griffith Show, Carroll O'Connor of All in the Family, was not having any luck in finding better known roles, Barbara Eden also had trouble finding roles after starring in I Dream of Jeannie, long before her former co-star Larry Hagman was extremely typecasted for portraying J.R. Ewing in Dallas, and William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, whose characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, have also been extremely typecasted (Nimoy published two books - I Am Not Spock and I Am Spock based on his personal experiences). In addition, Buddy Ebsen who portrayed the role of Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies, was severely typecasted, but found another role, playing Barnaby Jones, and Delta Burke had a hard time finding roles after her Suzanne Sugarbaker character, was severely typecasted. For other people with the same name, see Ted Knight (disambiguation). ... Mary Tyler Moore is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977. ... Ted Baxter was a fictional character on the long running situation comedy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. ... Too Close for Comfort can refer to: Too Close for Comfort, a popular song written by Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd, and Dougie Poynter (McFly) in 2006. ... For the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) video game, see The Adventures of Gilligans Island. ... Robert Osbourne Bob Denver (January 9, 1935 – September 2, 2005) was an American comedic actor best known for his role as Gilligan on the television series Gilligans Island. ... Russell Johnson as The Professor on Gilligans Island Russell David Johnson (born November 10, 1924, in Ashley, Pennsylvania), is an American television and film actor best known as The Professor on the CBS television sitcom Gilligans Island. ... Natalie Schafer (November 5, 1900 – April 10, 1991) was an American actress. ... Larry Linville (September 29, 1939 – April 10, 2000) was an American actor. ... For other characters named Burns, see Burns (disambiguation). ... Khigh Alx Dheigh (b. ... Klemperer as Colonel Klink on Hogans Heroes Werner Klemperer (March 22 1920Cologne – December 6, 2000) was an Emmy Award-winning comedic actor, best known for his role as Colonel Klink on the television sitcom, Hogans Heroes. ... John Banner (January 28, 1910–January 28, 1973) was a Jewish Austrian actor. ... Ray Walston (December 2, 1914 – January 1, 2001) was a stage, television and feature film character actor who played the title character on the situation comedy My Favorite Martian and Judge Henry Bone on the drama series Picket Fences. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... My Favorite Martian was an American television sitcom aired on CBS from September 29, 1963 to September 4, 1966 for 107 episodes (75 in black and white 1963-1965, 32 color 1965-1966). ... Raymond William Stacey Burr (May 21, 1917 – September 12, 1993) was an Emmy-nominated actor and vintner, perhaps best known for his roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. ... Perry Mason is a fictional defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner. ... For American former professional basketball player, see Don Adams (basketball). ... Barbara Feldon (Barbara Hall) (born March 12, 1932) is an American actress, game show panelist of the 1960s and model, known for her character-type roles. ... For the updated film based on the TV series, see Get Smart (film). ... Get Smart was a United States comedy television series that ran from September 18, 1965 until 1970. ... Agent 99 of CONTROL Agent 99 is a fictional spy portrayed by Barbara Feldon on the 1960s television series Get Smart. ... For other uses, see Lost in Space (disambiguation). ... Jonathan Harris (November 6, 1914 – November 3, 2002), was an American stage and character actor. ... Image:PaulPetersen. ... The Donna Reed Show was a situation comedy which aired on ABC from 1958 to 1966. ... Not to be confused with Andy Griffiths. ... The Andy Griffith Show is an American television series that aired on CBS from October 3rd, 1960 to April 1st, 1968. ... John Carroll OConnor (August 2, 1924 – June 21, 2001) was an Emmy Award-winning American actor, producer and director whose television career spanned four decades. ... For other uses, see All in the Family (disambiguation). ... Barbara Eden (born August 23, 1934 in Tucson, Arizona) is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. ... For the episode of The Twilight zone, see I Dream of Genie (The Twilight Zone). ... Larry Hagman (born on September 21, 1931) is a popular American actor who is famous for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony Nelson on the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. ... Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing John Ross J.R. Ewing, Jr. ... The Southfork Ranch, home of the Ewing family The original cast of Dallas. ... William Alan Shatner (born on March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor who gained fame for playing James Tiberius Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the television show Star Trek from 1966 to 1969 and in seven of the subsequent movies. ... Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. ... James Kirk redirects here. ... Spock, commonly called Mr. ... I Am Not Spock is Leonard Nimoys first autobiography. ... I Am Spock is the second autobiography written by Leonard Nimoy. ... Buddy Ebsen (April 2, 1908 – July 6, 2003) was an American actor and dancer, who is best-remembered for his role as Jed Clampett in the popular television series The Beverly Hillbillies. ... For the 1993 film, see The Beverly Hillbillies (film) The Beverly Hillbillies was an American television program about a hillbilly family transplanted in Southern California. ... Barnaby Jones Barnaby Jones {{Infobox Television Barnaby Jones | show_name = Barnaby Jones | image = [[image:barBarnaby Jones nabytvg. ... Delta Ramona Leah Burke (born July 30, 1956 in Orlando, Florida) is an American television and film actress. ...

Sometimes, actors begin as one form of character in their break-out role and subsequently become typecasted for a role that is polar opposite, such as the case with actor Sean Penn, who in Fast Times At Ridgemont High portrayed a "surfer dude", but has since become known for intense, unsympathetic roles. Sean Justin Penn (born August 17, 1960) // Penn was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Leo Penn, an actor and director, and Eileen Ryan (née Annucci), an actress. ... Ridgemont High School redirects here. ... Surf culture is the people, language, fashion and sporting life surrounding the sport of modern surfing. ...

Katt Williams is considered typecast, as many of his characters are based on the stereotype of a pimp. Actor Juan Fernandez faced the same - portraying hitmen Crocodile Dundee II, pimps Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects, and a suicide bomber in the film Executive Decision. Katt Micah Williams (born September 2, 1973[1]) is an American comedian, rapper, and actor. ... Map of Isla Más Afuera / Selkirk Map of Isla Más a Tierra / Crusoe The Juan Fernández archipelago is located 670 km off the coast of Chile, and is composed of the volcanic islands Robinson Crusoe, located closest to the mainland at 33º 13 S, 78º 50 W... Crocodile Dundee II is a 1988 Australian adventure and comedy film. ... Executive Decision is a 1996 action film released on Friday, March 15, 1996. ...

American actor Seann William Scott is considered typecast, due to his role as Steve Stifler in the American Pie series, who is considered a 'jerk' and a person who only cares about sex rather than relationships. Further roles of his, such as in Road Trip, contain many similarities to the Steve Stifler character. Seann William Scott (born October 3, 1976) is an American actor perhaps best known for portraying Steve Stifler in the American Pie series of teen films. ... Steve Stifler Steve Stifler is a fictional character depicted in the three films comprising the American Pie series and played by actor Seann William Scott. ... This article is about the film Road Trip. ...

Bruce Willis played a hero in Die Hard; Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance; he plays a professional killer in The Jackal (film) Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a Golden Globe- and double Emmy-winning German-born American actor and singer. ... This article is about the 1988 action film. ... Die Hard 2, sometimes marketed under the title Die Hard 2: Die Harder, is a 1990 film, the second in the Die Hard series. ... Die Hard: With a Vengeance is a 1995 action film, and the second sequel in the Die Hard series. ... The Jackal is a 1997 suspense film starring Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Diane Venora and Sidney Poitier, directed by Michael Caton-Jones. ...

Victor McLaglen {an Englishman} played stupid or bullying Irishmen in films such as The Informer (film) or The Quiet Man Victor Andrew de Bier McLaglen (December 10, 1886[1] - November 7, 1959) was a British boxer and Academy Award winning actor, who later became a naturalized American citizen. ... The Informer is a 1935 dramatic film. ... The Quiet Man is a 1952 American film starring John Wayne, Maureen OHara, Victor McLaglen, and Barry Fitzgerald, and directed by John Ford. ...

Attempts to move beyond typecasting

Many actors attempt to escape typecasting by choosing opposite, unconventional, or simply unexpected roles. This is called "playing against type". For example, Tom Hanks eschewed his "nice guy" image by playing a gangster in Road to Perdition. Dustin Hoffman's choice to play the disreputable Ratso in Midnight Cowboy after playing the naive Benjamin in The Graduate is a famous instance of an actor avoiding typecasting. Elijah Wood attempted to escape typecasting after his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy by playing a trio of undesirables—a football hooligan in Green Street, a cannibalistic serial killer in Sin City and a dishonest employee in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. One of the most successful efforts to break away from typecasting came from renowned actress Deborah Kerr, who before 1953 was well known as the "English Rose", a prim, proper English lady. In 1953, she was cast as discontented wife Karen Holmes in From Here to Eternity, a role that resulted in one of the most iconic screen kisses of all time and proved that she did not have to be prim and proper. Although she returned to that image several times, most notably in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, she had successfully dispelled the danger of typecasting. Another pair of examples are Ronny Cox and Kurtwood Smith in RoboCop. Prior to 1987, Cox had been known for his "good guy" roles, so to play against type, Cox accepted the role of villain Dick Jones. Smith also chose to play against type; in addition to reading for Dick Jones, Smith ended up taking the role of Clarence Boddicker, a thinking man's villain. Thomas Jeffrey Tom Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American film actor, director, voice-over artist, writer and film producer. ... Road to Perdition is a graphic novel written by Max Allan Collins and illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner that was made into a motion picture of the same name in 2002. ... Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is a two-time Academy Award-winning, BAFTA-winning, and five-time Golden Globe-winning American method actor. ... This article is about the 1969 film. ... For the novel of the same name, see The Graduate (novel). ... Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981) is an American actor. ... Frodo redirects here. ... This article is about the Peter Jackson film trilogy. ... Ultras at FC Twente - SC Heerenveen in 2002 Hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour, usually by gangs of young people. ... For the actual street, see Green Street (street). ... Cannibalism is the act or practice of eating members of the same species, e. ... Serial killers are individuals who have a history of multiple slayings of victims who were usually unknown to them beforehand. ... Sin City is a 2005 film written, produced and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez. ... Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an Academy Award-winning 2004 American romance film by director Michel Gondry. ... Deborah Kerr, CBE (September 30, 1921 – October 16, 2007) was a Golden Globe Award-winning Scottish actress who was also awarded an honorary Academy Award and BAFTA recognition. ... From Here to Eternity is a 1953 movie based on a James Jones novel in which characters work through ordinary bouts of intimidation and infidelity on a military base in the days preceding the attack on Pearl Harbor. ... Rodgers (left) and Hammerstein (right), with Irving Berlin (middle) and Helen Tamiris, watching auditions at the St. ... The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Its script is based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. ... Daniel Ronald Ronny Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American character actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. ... Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American television and film character actor. ... RoboCop is a 1987 science-fiction, action movie and satire of business-driven capitalism, directed by Paul Verhoeven. ...

Daniel Radcliffe, the child actor in the Harry Potter film series, recently starred in a stage production of the controversial play Equus that involved an on-stage simulated sex act and full-frontal nudity. Although the role may not have been chosen to counter any typecasting he may face as an adult, Daniel let people know he was willing and able to move beyond the Harry Potter universe. Daniel Jacob Radcliffe[1][2] (born 23 July 1989)[3] is an English film, television and stage actor. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... Cover of 1993 Longman edition of Equus. ...

To avoid being typecast as a comedy actor, Robin Williams accepted a number of dramatic roles, including Sy Parrish, a film developer who becomes obsessed with a particular client's family in One Hour Photo; the neurologist Oliver Sacks in Awakenings; and a sociopathic writer in Insomnia. Williams also won an Academy Award in 1998 for his role as the glum psychologist in Good Will Hunting. This article is about the American actor and comedian; for other people named Robin Williams, see Robin Williams (disambiguation). ... One Hour Photo (2002) is an American psychological thriller written and directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams. ... Neurology is the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system and disorders affecting it. ... Oliver Sacks in 2005. ... This article is about a 1990 film. ... Insomnia is the title of two films Insomnia (1997 film), a Norwegian thriller film. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Some actors turn down otherwise desirable roles for fear of typecasting. Denzel Washington declined to portray Martin Luther King Jr. after playing two civil rights leaders, Malcolm X and Steve Biko. Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ... Martin Luther King, Jr. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... Stephen Bantu Biko (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977)[1] was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and early 1970s. ...

Within some shows, an actor who has one of the leading roles may also play another part, for a change of pace. For example, on "Bewitched", Elizabeth Montgomery played the occasional role of Serena in addition to the regular role of Samantha.

Reportably Max Baer, Jr. who was on The Beverly Hillbillies for 9 years produced/wrote and acted in 1974 movie Macon County Line-so he would not be typecast as "Jethro Bodine"! Max Baer Jr. ... For the 1993 film, see The Beverly Hillbillies (film) The Beverly Hillbillies was an American television program about a hillbilly family transplanted in Southern California. ... Jethro Bodine is a fictional character in the 1960s television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies and in the 1993 movie remake. ...

Attempts to embrace typecasting

Some actors embrace typecasting. Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris usually portrays heroic characters, at least after his first two roles, in which he was a hitman in Way of the Dragon and a crime boss in the Hong Kong–produced Slaughter in San Francisco. Later, Norris turned down the role of Sensei Kreese in The Karate Kid because, as a martial arts champion, he felt he should not be connected to an evil character. Embracing typecasting is sometimes referred to as Seagalism, named for the often-typecast actor Steven Seagal. Fans often expect a particular actor to play a "type", and roles which deviate from what is expected can be commercial failures. This beneficial typecasting is particularly common in action movies (e.g., Jackie Chan) and comedies (Adam Sandler) but much less common in drama, although many B-list character actors make careers out of playing a particular dramatic type, and it is often suggested to would-be actors that they audition for roles that fit their type.^{[citation needed]} Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Carlos Ray Chuck Norris (born on 10 March 1940) is an American martial artist, action star, Hollywood actor, and recently, an internet phenomenon, who is best known for playing Cordell Walker on Walker, Texas Ranger. ... Jack Ruby murdered the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, in a very public manner. ... Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon Way of the Dragon (Chinese: 猛龍過江) released as Return of the Dragon in the U.S.) is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film. ... The Karate Kid is a 1984 John G. Avildsen film starring Pat Morita, Ralph Macchio and Elisabeth Shue. ... Steven Seagal (born April 10, 1951) is an American action movie actor, producer, writer, director, martial artist, singer-songwriter, and activist. ... Chan Kong-Sang (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as Jackie Chan Sing Lung (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) or Jackie Chan SBS, (born on April 7, 1954) is a Chinese martial artist, action star, actor, director, screenwriter, film producer, singer and stunt performer. ... Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American comedian, actor, musician, screenwriter, and film producer. ... A character actor is an actor, especially in motion pictures, who predominantly performs in similar roles throughout the course of a career. ...

Some actors e.g. Harold Sakata or Fred Berry have adopted their character names as part of their legal names (Harold "Oddjob" Sakata or Fred "ReRun" Berry). Toshiyuki Harold Sakata (July 1, 1920 – July 29, 1982) was a Japanese American professional wrestler and film actor most famous for his role as the villain Oddjob in the James Bond film Goldfinger. ... Fred Rerun Berry (March 13, 1951 - October 21, 2003) was an American actor best known for the role of Fred Rerun Stubbs on the popular 1970s television show Whats Happening!!. He was born in St. ...

Typecasting in other fields

Typecasting also occurs in other performing arts. An opera singer may be limited because of voice range or prior success in one role, as was Denyce Graves as Carmen. The performing arts are those forms of art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artists own body, face and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... Denyce Graves (born March 7, 1964 in Washington, D.C.) is an American opera singer. ... For other uses, see Carmen (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Child actor
• Rat pack
• Brat pack
• Frat pack
• Hollywoodland