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Summary
- Actors often reprise iconic roles in unexpected places, like commercials, music videos, and TV shows.
- The appearance of familiar characters in new contexts can surprise and delight audiences, creating memorable moments.
- Some actors enjoy revisiting beloved characters for the joy of playing the role again and connecting with fans.
When an actor’s performance in a role becomes so iconic that they’re known for playing that character, they usually get asked to reprise the role in new and different places outside the original material. It can be shocking to turn on the TV one day and see an actor reviving a character thought long gone for a seemingly random project. However, the more niche and unexpected the circumstances are, the more fun an actor can have with the role outside the confines of a major movie or TV show.
For some, it might be monetary, but for others, they simply enjoy playing the role and know that their fans will love seeing them back in the saddle, even in another context.
While actors reprise iconic roles in commercials plenty of times, there are other instances in music videos, other films, and different television shows in which they can also appear. Since these actors have gained so much notoriety, their appearance in small bit parts, sometimes in an ad campaign, makes audiences question why the actor is participating in this kind of content. For some, it might be monetary, but for others, they simply enjoy playing the role and know that their fans will love seeing them back in the saddle, even in another context.
Actors | Movie/TV Show & Role |
Bill Murray | Phil Connors in Groundhog Day (1993) |
Adam West | Batman in Batman (1966 – 1968) |
Sarah Jessica Parker & Jeff Bridges | Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (1998 – 2004) & The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998) |
Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, & Christopher Lloyd | Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, and Professor Plum in Clue (1985) |
Matthew McConaughey | Wooderson in Dazed and Confused (1993) |
Harvey Keitel | Winston Wolfe in Pulp Fiction (1994) |
Pat Morita | Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984) |
Judi Dench | M in James Bond (1995 – 2015) |
Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul | Walter White & Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013) |
Marlon Brando | Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) |
10 Actors Who Are Famous For Just One Iconic Role
For some actors, all it’s taken is one great role to cement them as cultural icons. These stars are recognized for one classic character.
10 Bill Murray As Phil Connors In A Jeep Commercial
Reprising his role in Groundhog Day (1993)
Groundhog Day
In Groundhog Day, the arrogant weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) finds himself living the exact same day over and over for what feels like an eternity. To cope with his curse, he learns a variety of skills in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and tries to earn the heart of his colleague Rita Hanson (Andie MacDowell) while he adapts to the time loop.
- Cast
- Bill Murray , Andie MacDowell , Chris Elliott , Stephen Tobolowsky , Brian Doyle-Murray , Marita Geraghty
- Runtime
- 101 minutes
The unfortunate Phil Connors gets trapped in a time loop in Groundhog Day in the universe’s attempt to cure him of his cynicism and make him start caring about others. Along the way, he falls for Rita (Andie MacDowell) and learns a lot about love, making this sci-fi twist on the classic rom-com formula a standout in the genre. Of course, there’s plenty of Bill Murray’s brand of humor in the movie as well, which the commercial spot he did for Jeep capitalizes on.
In the ad, he’s Phil once again and is trapped back in the time loop, but this time, there’s a Jeep to keep him company, and he’s much more zen about the situation. Familiar actors from the film make cameos, as does a stuffed groundhog he takes for a ride in the car. Murray has become more particular about his public appearances later in life, but for a chance to be Phil again, he emerged and caused quite a stir with his performance.
9 Adam West As Batman/Catman In The Fairly OddParents
Reprising his role in Batman (1966 – 1968)
The Fairly OddParents
Nickelodeon’s Fairly OddParents, conceived by Danny Phantom creator Butch Hartman, revolves around teenage boy Timmy Turner’s adventures with his fairy godparents Cosmo and Wanda, his friendship with classmates AJ and Chester, and his attempts to escape his mean babysitter Vicky and his cruel teacher Denzel Crocker. It aired from 2001 to 2017 with 10 seasons and 172 episodes.
- Cast
- Tara Strong , Carlos Alazraqui , Dionne Quan
- Release Date
- March 30, 2001
- Seasons
- 10
Nickelodeon’s animated series The Fairly OddParents, about a young boy who is suddenly granted two fairy godparents because of his tough lot in life, featured many spoofs and satires of film and television. Adam West spent three seasons portraying one of the greatest comic book characters of all time, Batman, in the series of the same name that ran in the late 1960s. Although Adam West’s Batman was canceled, it still lives on in the memories of many.
For this reason, he was asked to appear as a slightly different character, but one that was a spin on his portrayal of Batman, Catman. In The Fairly OddParents, West lends his voice to Catman, the superhero who chases down bad guys but is afraid of his own shadow. For younger audiences, it’s unlikely that they were aware of the history behind the voice of this silly character, but for parents, it was a treat.
9 Adult Jokes Kids Missed In Fairly Oddparents
The Fairly Oddparents was one of Nickelodeon’s longest-running programs. Although aimed at children, the adult humor often snuck past the radar.
8 Sarah Jessica Parker As Carrie Bradshaw & Jeff Bridges As The Dude In A Stella Artois Commerical
Reprising their roles in Sex and the City (1998 – 2004) and The Big Lebowski (1998)
Sex and the City
Sex in the City follows Carrie Bradshaw, a New York writer who finds inspiration for her column from the genuine, emotional, and often humorous exploits of life in the city. Joined by best friends Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York, and Samantha Jones, Sex and the City follows the ups and downs of the characters’ romantic relationships, being single, sex, and friendship as 30-something women.
- Cast
- Kim Cattrall , Cynthia Nixon , Sarah Jessica Parker , Kristin Davis
- Release Date
- June 6, 1998
- Seasons
- 6
- Streaming Service(s)
- Max
This Stella Artois commercial isn’t just famous because it includes two people who’ve become intertwined with their characters, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Jeff Brides as The Dude, but because they’re in the commercial together. Both characters are known for being particular about their drinks, so it isn’t a big leap that they would be asked to star in a beer ad, but putting them together was unexpected. The Big Lebowski and Sex and the City have almost nothing in common.
Both the show and movie came out in 1998, and perhaps part of the fun is the juxtaposition of their characters, which matches the cognitive dissonance of seeing Bradshaw without a cosmopolitan and The Dude without a white Russian. However, it’s a strange place to see them, and getting both actors to sign on must have cost a fortune. Whether this impacted the company’s sales is up for debate, but it is certainly memorable.
7 Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, And Christopher Lloyd From Clue In The Psych Episode “100 Clues”
Reprising their roles in Clue (1985)
Clue
Based on the classic board game, Clue features an ensemble cast that includes Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. In the film, six strangers, each with a dark secret, are lured to a mansion by a mysterious blackmailer who is then killed when everyone has arrived. The group, accompanied by the butler and the maid, must work together to determine who the murderer is before it’s too late.
- Director
- Jonathan Lynn
- Cast
- Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd , Michael McKean , Martin Mull
- Runtime
- 94 minutes
- Release Date
- December 13, 1985
Psych is a beloved comedic detective show, and for its 100th episode, the series pulled out all the stops. Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and Christopher Llyod all starred in the cult classic film Clue, based on the popular board game in the 1980s, and the hilarious movie is still frequently watched to this day. Though they don’t play the exact characters from the movie, they get to say plenty of iconic lines from the film and have a similar dynamic within the plot.
Like any episode of Psych, it’s clear that the cast is having a great time together and that the environment on set is everything a guest star would want it to be. Unfortunately, not all the Clue stars could appear in the episode, as Tim Curry plays a different character in season 2, episode 1, “American Duos”. However, there are enough callbacks and references to the movie to make the viewer feel as if they’ve stepped back in time into the film.
10 Actors That Spoofed Their Past Roles In Psych
There have been plenty of guest stars featured on Psych. Many of them spoofed their past roles in some way or another.
6 Matthew McConaughey As Wooderson In A Butch Walker And The Black Widows Music Video
Reprising his role in Dazed and Confused (1993)
Dazed and Confused
The coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused, directed by Richard Linklater, follows a group of high school students on the last day of school before summer vacation. Set in the 1970s, the film explores themes of rebellion, freedom, and nostalgia, and features an ensemble cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, and Parker Posey.
- Cast
- Jason London , Wiley Wiggins , Matthew McConaughey , Rory Cochrane , Joey Lauren Adams , Milla Jovovich
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
- Release Date
- September 24, 1993
Neither director Richard Linklater nor Matthew McConaughey would have guessed that McConaughey’s small role in Dazed and Confused would become the most iconic part of the movie. The character, Wooderson, has become a hallmark of pop culture from his clothes and hair to his quotable line, “Alright, alright, alright.” This line of dialogue is rumored to have been improvised, one of the many things audiences didn’t know about Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused.
McConaughey is no stranger to making appearances in commercials or cameos in film and television, but his most unexpected reprisal of Wooderson came in a Butch Walker music video. The actor is dressed and styled like his character but placed in a club setting and plays the trumpet. Whatever direction McCaughey was given while shooting the video, he was likely encouraged to improvise once again.
5 Harvey Keitel As Winston Wolfe In Direct Line Insurance Commercials
Reprising his role in Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
- Runtime
- 154 minutes
- Release Date
- October 14, 1994
Harvey Keitel perfectly captured Winston “The Wolf” Wolfe in Pulp Fiction. However, this wasn’t the first time Keitel collaborated with director Quentin Tarantino. He also starred in Reservoir Dogs, and his filmography proves that Keitel is good at playing the tough guy in any situation. In the film, he’s known as a fixer, which heavily comes into play in his recreation of the role for a series of insurance commercials.
Direct Line Insurance somehow convinced Keitel to don a dark suit and explain to customers how the company would fix their insurance troubles. It’s a clever conceit, and Keitel is quite a recognizable figure, so even people who haven’t seen the movie would still pick up on the weight of his appearance in the ad. The commercials don’t run much anymore, but they were a network TV staple while they were airing.
4 Pat Morita As Mr. Miyagi In Alien Ant Farm’s Music Video
Reprising his role in The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid
Released in 1984, The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso on his unexpected journey to becoming a Karate expert under the tutelage of a martial arts master. Recently relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Daniel and his mother are trying to adapt to their new home. Unfortunately, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When his handyman, Mr. Miyagi, saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him his Karate to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.
- Director
- John G. Avildsen
- Cast
- Ralph Macchio , Pat Morita , Elisabeth Shue , William Zabka , Martin Kove , Yuji Okumoto
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
- Release Date
- June 22, 1984
Mr. Miyagi was a staple of not only The Karate Kid but many of the films within the franchise that came after. Pat Morita was a great choice to bring the character to life as he was an exacting teacher and mentor but also a sensitive father figure to the kids he taught. The Karate Kid is a widely referenced film itself, and the training montage with Mr. Miyagi and Danny (Ralph Macchio) is heralded as one of the best in a sports film.
What made the movie so successful was how well it blended aspects of both the sports and coming-of-age genres. However, the Alien Ant Farm music video that features Morita as Miyagi is less concerned with the way the film broke boundaries and more with its iconic nature. The video references many classic movies, and including Morita within it lends credibility to the video and is a fun easter egg for the film’s many fans.
Watch
The Karate Kid
on Starz.
3 Judi Dench As M In A Money Supermarket Ad Campaign
Reprising her role in the James Bond series (1995 – 2015)
James Bond
- Upcoming Films
- James Bond 26
Judi Dench is the kind of actress that only comes around once in a generation, and because of this, it’s no wonder that she starred as M in not only Pierce Brosnan’s Bond films but also Daniel Craig’s. Even though Skyfall killed off Dench’s M, it will be a long time before her performance as the fearsome leader of MI6 will be forgotten. Part of this is thanks to the series of Money Supermarket Ads that had her commanding secret agents and embodying the role of M once again.
In the ads, she’s determined to help save people money and get them the best deals possible. Although the stakes of this task are slightly lower than the usual world-ending events Bond deals in, Dench still gives the performance her all. After many years of providing audiences with amazing roles and lending her talent to different projects, it’s understandable if Dench just wants to have a little fun with a commercial.
2 Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul As Walt & Jesse In A Doritos Commercial
Reprising their roles in Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
- Cast
- Dean Norris , Bob Odenkirk , Aaron Paul , RJ Mitte , Anna Gunn , Giancarlo Esposito , Betsy Brandt , Bryan Cranston , Jonathan Banks
- Release Date
- January 20, 2008
- Seasons
- 5
- Franchise(s)
- Breaking Bad
- Directors
- Vince Gilligan , michelle maclaren
Breaking Bad is a dark show and has been credited with perfecting the anti-hero character through the performance of Bryan Cranston as the drug kingpin Walter White. He and Aaron Paul’s Jesse get into serious trouble, enact violence on many people, and are difficult people to redeem in any way. However, that didn’t stop Doritos from capitalizing on the popularity of the show and the chemistry between the actors.
Combining a drug operation with selling bags of chips is an interesting tactic for a company to take, and it’s clear from the commercial that it’s not supposed to be taken too seriously. Cranston and Paul both have strong comedic chops that make the tone work, and it’s nice to see the co-stars reunited. The commercial’s success makes it obvious that Breaking Bad won’t fade out of the cultural lexicon anytime soon.
1 Marlon Brando As Vito Corleone In The Freshman
Reprising his role in The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather
Francis Ford Coppola directed this 1978 classic that would go on to become one of the most iconic crime films ever made. Starring Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino, The Godfather gives a tense and introspective look into the Corleone crime family of New York City.
- Runtime
- 175 minutes
- Release Date
- March 24, 1972
The Freshman is one of the strangest movies of all time and stars Matthew Broderick as Clark, a college freshman who gets a job with Carmine, played by Marlon Brando. Carmine is the boss of an organized crime family and is exactly like Vito Corleone in almost every way. He’s supposed to be, and the film frequently comments on their similarities. The only things that The Freshman changes are his name, the context, and the quality of the film.
It’s difficult to live up to a movie as famous as The Godfather, and since The Freshman is supposed to be a comedy, it doesn’t try to be anything like the movie it draws inspiration from. However, the result is a strange, disjointed attempt at satire that has become a bizarre addition to Brando’s career. For the most part, The Freshman has been forgotten, and that’s largely for the best.
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