You know that feeling when you see an actor simply vanish into their character? More than just playing a part, it often feels as if the role was waiting for that one actor all along. Here are 10 perfect examples of actors who truly were born to play their most iconic roles.
10. J.K. Simmons — J. Jonah Jameson
Simmons’s over-the-top rendition of the Daily Bugle’s editor-in-chief might be even more memorable than Tobey Maguire’s Spidey, and that says a lot, coming from a trilogy that’s overflowing with memorable performances.
9. Sigourney Weaver — Ellen Ripley
Ripley was originally written as gender-neutral, but Weaver brought toughness and vulnerability in equal measure that made her the definitive sci-fi heroine. Even now, with Alien: Earth, you can notice how much Weaver redefined the course of this franchise.
8. Ian McKellen — Gandalf
It was a close call between Gandalf and Magneto, but ultimately, McKellen’s natural likability works perfectly for the legendary wizard. His excellent acting chemistry with Elijah Wood sells the idea that Gandalf and Frodo have been friends for a while exceptionally well.
7. Hugh Jackman — Wolverine
Despite multiple cast reboots, there’s one constant in the X-Men franchise: Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. Funnily enough, he almost wasn’t Wolverine at all, as he was considered “too tall” for the character.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger — The Terminator
Tall, imposing, and with a surprisingly impeccable comedic timing when the need arises, Schwarzenegger embodies the perfect killing machine in the first Terminator movie, and eventually becomes an unlikely anti-hero in the following films.
5. Robert Downey Jr. — Tony Stark/Iron Man
The entire Marvel Cinematic Universe owes most of its monumental success to Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Tony Stark. The fact that Downey could relate so easily to Stark’s background made it easier for him to create a character that feels uniquely genuine.
4. Christopher Lloyd — Dr. Emmett Brown
With his wide-eyed performance and quirky mannerisms, Lloyd modernized the image of the “mad scientist” for the eighties. The result was a bit less “Frankenstein” and more “Willy Wonka,” establishing Doc Brown as an entirely new archetype on his own.
3. Danny DeVito — The Penguin
Tim Burton struck gold with DeVito’s casting. Paired with Burton’s, let’s say, “unique” visuals, DeVito’s Penguin offers a more tragic take on Oswald Cobblepot that’s a far cry from the typical top hat gangster you’ll find in most other adaptations.
2. Johnny Depp — Jack Sparrow
Captain Jack Sparrow shattered the usual caricature of a pirate that dominated pop culture for years. Depp’s performance singlehandedly kick-started one of the most successful franchises of the early 2000s, bringing forth an unlikely revival of the swashbuckling adventure genre.
1. Heath Ledger — The Joker
Competing with the likes of Jack Nicholson is no easy job for any actor, and yet, Heath Ledger’s timeless performance as the Clown Prince of Crime completely reinvented Joker for an entire generation. Even the comics changed the character’s personality to fit Ledger’s brilliantly menacing aura from The Dark Knight.
