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

A few select actors have taken on a role so masterfully that it has become synonymous with their name. A recent internet poll recently asked, “which actor crushed a role so hard that nobody else will be able to live up to it?” and here are the top 25 answers. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger – The Terminator (Terminator Movies)

Photo Credit: Orion Pictures.

“He was meant to be an infiltration unit; he’s the least subtle actor in the world and built like a tank. On paper, he was TOTALLY wrong for the part. The fact nobody questions that, shows what a great performance it was.”

Ian McKellan – Gandalf (The Lord Of The Rings)

Photo Credit: New Line Cinema.

“I still think they should do a Muppets LotR trilogy where everyone is played by a muppet except Gandalf, who is still Ian McKellen.”

“McKellen captures the whole spectrum. The crankiness, the severity, the wisdom, the occasional goofiness, and wit–it’s all there.”

Maggie Smith – Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter Movies)

Maggie Smith - Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter Movies) Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Dame Maggie Smith crushes every single role she plays. McGonagall was a piece of cake for such an actress.”

“Maggie Smith was literally born for that role. Warner Bros definitely cast Professor McGonagall perfectly! Maggie was absolutely phenomenal. Out of this world.”

Christopher Lloyd – Doc (Back to the Future)

Christopher Lloyd - Doc (Back to the Future) Universal Studios
Photo Credit: Universal Studios.

“It’s the role he was born to play.”

“I honestly was not expecting to see this at the top, but it was the FIRST thing I thought of when I saw the question.”

Tom Hanks – Woody (Toy Story)

Tom Hanks - Woody (Toy Story) Walt Disney Pictures
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Pictures.

“Other characters I feel could be replaced quite easily. 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.”

Michael Keaton – Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice)

Michael Keaton – Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice) Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“I love it. Michael Keaton was delightfully, hilariously grotesque. I was revolted but so entertained.”

“Keaton was literally other-worldly in that role.”

“Deserved an Oscar.”

Sigourney Weaver – Ellen Ripley (Alien Movies)

Sigourney Weaver - Ellen Ripley (Alien Movies) 20th Century Fox Brandywine Productions
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox/Brandywine Productions.

“Oh yeah. She killed that one! At the time, she was the first female lead to cross the 7-figure ceiling.”

“She was so great in her role she even nailed the backward no-look basketball shot in one take. That wasn’t movie editing. She hit nothing but net.”

Christian Bale – Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

Christian Bale American Psycho Edward R. Pressman Productions Muse Productions
Photo Credit: Edward R. Pressman Productions/ Muse Productions.

“I laughed out loud at the card scene when Christian creamed himself seeing the font.”

“Kept scrolling hoping to see this. That Huey Lewis and the News scene is iconic.”

“He looks so perfect for that role.”

Viggo Mortensen – Aragorn (Lord Of The Rings Trilogy)

Photo Credit: New Line Productions.

“Best book-to-movie translation for a character I’ve ever seen.”

“He definitely got the look down. I remember, when I first saw the trailers, thinking, “that guy looks like a Ranger,” as in the D&D archetype. Then I realized that’s exactly what Aragorn was called in the book.”

Leslie Nielsen – Frank Drebin (The Naked Gun)

Leslie Nielsen the naked gun Paramount Pictures
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“The absolute deadpan delivery is what the dramatic experience brings to his comedy.”

“But he was so good as Drebin that he typecast himself. I mean, why bother even hiring Leslie Nielsen for another role — just make another Naked Gun movie!”

Val Kilmer – Doc Holliday (Tombstone)

Val Kilmer tombstone Hollywood Pictures Cinergi Pictures
Photo Credit: Hollywood Pictures/Cinergi Pictures.

“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.”

“The movie wasn’t supposed to be focused on Doc Holliday, but the cast must have seen that he was doing something truly special and were like, ‘This is his movie now’.”

Christopher Lee – Lord Summerisle (Wickerman)

Christopher Lee - Lord Summerisle (Wickerman) British Lion Films
Photo Credit: British Lion Films.

“The original Wicker Man is my favorite movie. I love how well he portrayed Lord Summerisle as someone aware his power is slipping and trying to cling onto it while also believing his own lies.”

“No one has mentioned him as Lord Summerisle in the original Wicker Man!?”

Nick Offerman – Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation)

Nick Offerman - Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation) Universal Television
Photo Credit: Universal Television.

“No one else could play Ron in my eyes. I mean, Eagleton Ron could act like Pawnee Ron instead of like a hippy, and it would probably be pretty decent.”

“There is no Nick Offerman, there is only Ron Swanson.”

Imelda Staunton – Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter Movies)

Imelda Staunton - Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter Movies) Warner Bros
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

“Umbridge sucked in the books, but in the movies, she turned Umbridge into a character that you just don’t like into one that you hate with a burning passion.”

“If an actress manages to make her character the most hated in a franchise (more so than the main villain), you know she did a damn great job.”

Raul Julia – Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)

Raul Julia – Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) Paramount Pictures
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“That movie was a pile of hot garbage, but I still tell people to watch it just for Raul Julia’s iconic performance. The man was one of the most underrated actors of the time.”

“The fact he sold it so well actually made it age better than a lot of similar movies.”

“Can’t believe he was dying while filming it. What a work to leave behind.”

Martin Freeman – Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit Movies)

Martin Freeman – Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit Movies) MGM Studios. Warner Bros
Photo Credit: MGM Studios. Warner Bros.

“I think he’s my favorite actor. He is unbelievable in everything he’s in. Brilliant both in comedy and drama.”

“The Hobbit movies were released to Dutch Netflix last week, so I had my first rewatch since they came out in theatres. Completely agree.”

Hugh Jackman – Wolverine (Wolverine)

Hugh Jackman Wolverine 20th Century Studios. Marvel Studios
Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios.

“First one that came to mind, and I had to scroll until I saw it! Next movie with Wolverine won’t feel the same at all without Hugh.”

“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.”

Gene Wilder – Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory)

Gene Wilder - Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory) Paramount Pictures
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“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.”

“He was able to play the character in a way that let you see his inner child, his playfulness, but also his crazy, almost sadistic genius, and his inner hatred towards adults.”

John C. McGinley – Dr Cox. (Scrubs)

John C. McGinley - Dr Cox. (Scrubs) ABC Studios
Photo Credit: ABC Studios.

“It’s absolutely criminal that he never got an Emmy for that role. I still maintain that Dr. Cox is one of the most complex characters to ever appear on television.”

“McGinley really sells the emotional part of his character incredibly well. Seeing this man break down breaks my heart.”

Madeline Kahn – Mrs. White (Clue)

Madeline Kahn – Mrs. White (Clue) Paramount Pictures
Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

“Nicely played. Fantastically acted by her.”

“This. Mrs. White is the one Clue role that my wife and I struggle to recast for our imaginary remake. Our best pick is Aubrey Plaza; there’s not another Madeline Kahn, so the next best option is someone who is just as deeply, uniquely weird in their own way.”

André René Roussimoff – Andre The Giant (The Princess Bride)

André René Roussimoff - Andre The Giant (The Princess Bride) 20th Century Studios
Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios.

“Every character was perfectly cast. There is no way to remake that movie. It is magical.”

“The director said, ‘I knew I had a giant in the story, and I thought André could play the giant. Then I saw him live and fell in love with him like everybody did. And he was wonderful for us.”

Louise fletcher – Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest)

Louise fletcher - Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest) United Artist
Photo Credit: United Artist.

“She is an incredible actress & I can’t see anyone else in that role.”

“I despised her character so much & respected the actress so much for how she got me to despise her character. She is absolutely incredible.”

Gary Oldman – Dracula (Bram Stoker’s Dracula)

Gary Oldman – Dracula (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) Columbia Pictures
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

“Great choice! Gary was AMAZING as Dracula!”

Gary Oldman wanted to play Dracula because he wanted to say: “I’ve crossed oceans of time to find you.” To him, it was worth playing the role just to say that line. 

Danny Trejo – Machete (Machete)

Danny Trejo, Machete, 20th Century Studios
Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios.

“I thought Machete was just a film crew following around Danny Trejo on a Tuesday.”

“All of Danny Trejo’s characters are the exact same person, and it’s perfect.”

“Some people are born to act; Danny Trejo was born to be himself on screen.”

Tim Curry – Frank-N-Furter (The Rocky Horror Show)

Tim Curry – Frank-N-Furter (The Rocky Horror Show) 20th Century Studios
Photo Credit: 20th Century Studios.

“Anyone else in the role knows they never live up to that sexy God of a man. ‘I can make you a man’ is the most brilliant filthy scene ever, without nudity.”

“Others may try, but none will measure up. Tim Curry reached immortality in that role.”

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Photo Credit: lev radin _ Shutterstock.com.

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Viggo Mortensen As Aragorn The Lord of the Rings_ The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) New Line Productions
Photo Credit: New Line Productions.

A few select actors have taken on a role so masterfully that it has become synonymous with their name. A recent internet poll recently asked, “which actor crushed a role so hard that nobody else will be able to live up to it?”

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Photo Credit: BAKOUNINE _ Shutterstock.com.

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Photo Credit: carrie-nelson _ Shutterstock.com.

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David Hasselhoff - DFree _ Shutterstock.com
Photo Credit: DFree _ Shutterstock.com.

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Source: Reddit