Some actors were just born to play a role. Someone in a popular online forum asked, “What actor or actress was the most perfectly cast role in film or television?” Here are the top 17 responses.
1. Jason Alexander as George Costanza in Seinfeld
Many TV fans said Jason Alexander was born to play George. “You watch interviews of him and realize how great of an actor he is,” one person noted. “He was really playing someone very different than he is.”
Another added, “He has said it took him a little while to understand that he was playing a version of Larry David and that what makes Larry tick is an explosive oscillation between self-loathing and thinking he's better than everyone else.”
2. Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston nailed the role of Walter White. “His range is out of this world — he can literally play almost any character! He is honestly one of the best actors that has ever lived in my opinion,” one fan said. “Even Anthony Hopkins himself thinks that his performance as Walter White is the best acting he's ever seen.”
3. Jeff Bridges as The Dude in The Big Lebowski
One fan says it all: “Jeff Bridges is The Dude.”
Another agreed that this casting decision in The Big Lebowski was perfection. “He really brought the film together,” they said.
4. Andre the Giant as Fezzik in The Princess Bride
It's only fitting a perfect movie has a perfect casting choice. One fan shared, “So good. Andre's health was so bad during the making of the movie and he was in so much pain, it's amazing how he kept his humility and composure for the role. Serious good guy.”
5. JK Simmons as J Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man
“There have been several Peter Parkers, a few Aunt Mays, a couple of Uncle Bens, and even two pairs of the Osbornes. But there is still only one JJJ,” one fan said. Another person joked, “J.K. Simmons isn't cast as characters; characters are cast as J.K. Simmons.”
6. Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds
One person said, “Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds. It needed someone fluent in four languages who could fill a brilliant and evil role. That movie would not be the same without him.” When people discussed the opening scene, one person said, “My favorite opening scene in any movie, I think.”
7. Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown in Back to the Future
One movie lover said, “I can't imagine anyone else playing Doc Brown except Christopher Lloyd.” Another stated, “I know Christopher Lloyd is generally liked, but his career is underappreciated, especially across the eighties and nineties. Doc Brown, Uncle Fester, and Judge Doom were all iconic performances that would sit comfortably as the single highlight of a good actor's resume.”
8. Anthony Starr as Homelander in The Boys
“Whoever plays Homelander. That guy is so great as a villain. He makes me so nervous anytime he's on-screen with a character I like,” one person stated. “Anthony Starr. Honestly one of the best actors I've seen in a decade. His facial expressions are next to none,” another said.
9. Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf in The Lord Of The Rings
One film fan shared, “That whole Lord of the Rings trilogy was perfectly cast — every role. Even Liv Tyler, who I hate in everything because of her overly breathy and campy theater style in every movie she's ever been in, works in that movie.” Many disagreed with that sentiment regarding Liv Tyler but agreed that Sir Ian McKellen was the only one who could pull off the perfect Gandalf.
10. Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation
One person volunteered, “Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation.” Many people shared their favorite Ron Swanson quotes like, “I worry what you just heard was, give me a lot of bacon and eggs. Just bring me all the bacon and eggs you have. Wait. What I said was: give me all the bacon and eggs you have.”
11. Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery
“Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery, nobody else could touch that role,” expressed one movie fan. Another admitted, “I can't think of any role in which she wasn't fantastic.” She did fantastic in American Horror Story.”
A third commenter added, “That movie is fascinating. Bates took so much deserved credit for her role that people forgot James Caan's excellent Paul Sheldon performance and Richard Farnsworth's police officer Buster performance.”
12. Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family
“Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams,” one person shared, “Every single person in both Addams Family movies is perfectly cast.” Another stated, “This is the one. She nailed the role and had great line delivery too. ‘I'll be the victim!', All your life.”
13. Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones
“Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones,” one TV fan shared. Another argued, “99% of castings done in that show were magnificent.”
A third noted, “GoT had a lot of great actors, but I'm with you, Charles Dance killed Tywin and anyone else in a scene didn't compare. With the possible exception of those scenes with young Aria at Harrenhall and a scene or two with Tyrion.”
14. James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos
One TV fan said, “They couldn't have gone for a better casting. Gandolfini nailed the portrayal of Tony Soprano. And what a phenomenal show!” Another confessed, “As an Italian-American, Gandolfini (and the whole crew, really) did a stunning job on The Sopranos.”
15. Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Christian Bale's commitment to his roles in movies has become well-known in recent years. Rumors about Bale during filming have become infamous online. One fan said, “I read somewhere that when they filmed the business card scene, his co-stars noticed that he broke into a sweat at the same time on every take.”
16. Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark in Iron Man
Fans often joke that instead of playing Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. is playing himself in Iron Man. One comic fan shed some light that explains how well of a job Downey Jr. did as Stark, saying, “If you read the comics, RDJ is nothing like Tony Stark. He did such a good job in the movies that Tony Stark now is RDJ.”
17. R Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket
Fun fact: R. Lee Ermey wasn't originally supposed to be in the movie! One fan pointed out that “he was supposed to be a technical advisor until they saw him in drill instructor mode and cast him.”
Another mentioned that director Stanley Kubrick was impressed with Ermey's creative use of profanity.
Source: Reddit.