Summary

• Some actors become so closely associated with one character that it's hard to imagine them in anything else, like Carrie Fisher's iconic role as Princess Leia.
• Superhero films have led to many actors becoming synonymous with their blockbuster characters, but some, like Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman, have had successful careers outside of those roles.
• Certain actors, like Leonard Nimoy as Spock or Christopher Reeve as Superman, have solidified themselves as the definitive versions of their characters, becoming icons in the process.

Several stars are explicitly known for playing one great role in movies that distinguished them as cultural icons. While many actors spend their careers working to find suitable parts that play to their strengths, some actors have found their perfect fit and become so closely associated with one character that it's hard to imagine them in anything else. Great performances like Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia or Christopher Reeve's Superman have resonated with audiences for generations, and they're iconic actors despite not having hugely successful careers outside those projects.

Especially with the rise of superhero films in the 21st century, it's common for some of the biggest film stars in the world to be closely tied to their blockbuster characters. However, actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman, who are synonymous with iconic superhero roles, have also had fantastic careers away from Iron Man and Wolverine. Many stars are specifically known for one role, and that's mentioned with praise for their ability to make that character so profound and memorable in some of the best movies of all time.

10 Carrie Fisher

Princess Leia in Star Wars

As one of the classic film heroines, Carrie Fisher helped push the film industry forward as Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. From the moment she teams up with Luke, Han, and Chewie aboard the Death Star, Leia proves to be a level-headed leader and a badass warrior, setting a gold standard for female leads in action movies. Carrie Fisher reprised her role in the Star Wars sequels, though aside from Leia, her career consisted mainly of ing roles or guest appearances in comedies.

9 Jason Alexander

George Costanza in Seinfeld

Seinfeld left its cast with enormous shoes to fill for the rest of their careers. After all, it's almost impossible to top one of the biggest and best TV shows of all time. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the only star who truly found success on another show with Veep. Jason Alexander is still best known as George Costanza, which the actor even joked about during his recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Throughout Curb, he played a fictional version of himself, trying to break away from his Seinfeld persona, to no avail.

8 Leonard Nimoy

Spock in Star Trek

Starting with the original 1960s Star Trek series, Leonard Nimoy became one of the world's most famous actors, known primarily for playing Spock in several versions of Star Trek media. He played the character in several shows, films, and video games, and the late actor remained one of the most beloved stars in the world until his ing in 2015. Despite Zachary Quinto taking on the character for the modern film reboots, Nimoy is still the actor most commonly associated with Spock.

7 Christopher Reeve

Superman in Superman: The Movie

Given the enormous popularity of superhero films in the 21st century, Christopher Reeve's legacy has become even further cemented in pop culture. Reeve was the perfect Superman and Clark Kent, and his charm and demeanor helped to launch decades of superhero movies that followed. Reeve's career was tragically cut short, but in four Superman films from 1978 to 1987, he solidified himself as the definitive version of the Man of Steel for generations.

6 James Gandolfini

Tony Soprano in the Sopranos

Another star whose career was tragically cut short, James Gandolfini, is still ed as one of the most prolific television performers ever. The Sopranos is commonly considered the greatest show ever made, with Gandolfini's Tony cited as one of the most complex TV protagonists. His work on six seasons of HBO's masterpiece solidified him as an acting legend and was massively influential on the rise in prominence of prestige television in contemporary culture, proving what could be accomplished in the medium.

5 Jim Parsons

Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory

Jim Parsons is one of the most famous actors in the world, and he's really only known for playing Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory. The CBS sitcom is one of the most well-known modern comedy series, and Sheldon's quirky humor and ability to get under the skin of the rest of the cast made him a favorable character. Parsons has impeccable comedic timing and gave one of the most unique and funny TV performances ever while balancing a touching vulnerability that made Sheldon so heart-warming.

4 Anthony Perkins

Norman Bates in Psycho

Commonly considered Alfred Hitchcock's best movie, Psycho is an enduring, influential horror film that still holds up over 60 years later. Anthony Perkins portrayed Norman Bates, which is regarded as one of the most iconic movie performances ever, conveying a seemingly charming character with a terrifying underlying menace. His chilling portrayal has been massively influential on villain performances for decades following, yet Perkins never found much success outside of the 1960 classic and its later sequels.

3 Macaulay Culkin

Kevin McCallister in Home Alone

It can't be stressed enough how challenging it is for a child actor to have a lasting career. Actors like Christian Bale and Kristen Stewart have been appearing in great films since they were kids, but neither had the immediate spotlight of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, which made him one of the most sought-after child actors in the '90s. Culkin has struggled to find suitable roles as an adult, but the role of Kevin in Home Alone is still a beloved and timeless performance that's cemented him as an iconic star.

2 Adam West

Batman in Batman (1966)

Adam West's role as Batman in the 1966 film and subsequent television series made him one of the most famous stars of his time. Compared to modern iterations of the character, it's hard to even compare West's Batman to the portrayals of Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson. Leaning heavily into campy humor, the '60s Batman took a far more light-hearted approach to the tragic hero than contemporary superhero films. Adam West spent most of his career voicing Batman in various media or playing fictional versions of himself in shows like Family Guy.

1 Elijah Wood

Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy are some of the most beloved franchise films ever made, faithfully adapting Tolkien's source material for the epic adventure saga that balances fun and excitement with a deeply emotional journey. Elijah Wood is at the center of the film trilogy, playing the core hero and ring-bearer, Frodo Baggins. The Hobbit actor hasn't had many notable appearances outside of the Lord of the Rings films, though his portrayal of Frodo has made him one of the most treasured actors in the world to the many devoted Lord of the Rings fans.