Summary
- Bryan Cranston transitioned from comedic Hal to dramatic Walter White impeccably and earned four Emmys.
- Daniel Radcliffe broke out of his Harry Potter role with diverse characters, including Weird Al Yankovic.
- Sandra Oh successfully shifted from ing roles to lead as Eve in Killing Eve, winning a Golden Globe.
After years of playing the same character, several TV and movie actors amazingly reinvented themselves. Some of TV’s longest-running characters kept their respective actors in work for years, even decades, but not all of them wanted to stay in their comfort zones. It wasn’t unusual for these actors to be typecast as a certain kind of character, especially when they were so committed and reliable in their roles. While regular work in TV and film was a rare occurrence, some actors wanted to expand their careers.
Unfortunately, many actors weren’t fortunate enough to break away from their most memorable characters. Although they tried, audiences weren’t able to see them as anyone else, and some were so impactful that the line between character and actor became blurred. Even the best movies of all time were guilty of causing this, with actors becoming forever associated with a specific film or franchise for decades to come. That said, there are many exceptions to this rule.
10 Actors Who Played Near-Identical Roles In Totally Different Movies
Actors often get typecast in roles that suit them, but it’s rarer for an actor to play two near-identical characters in completely unrelated movies.
7 Bryan Cranston
From Hal Wilkerson To Walter White
Bryan Cranston was a sitcom legend for his portrayal of the bumbling father Hal Wilkerson in Malcolm in the Middle, to the point that it was hard to imagine him playing anyone else. Hal’s kind nature often got him involved in some ridiculous situations, which allowed Cranston to demonstrate his physical comedy talents brilliantly. Before Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston had a few successes on TV, but Hal was his breakthrough role and the character that put him on the map in the industry. So when he was cast as the lead in Breaking Bad, it was shockingly exciting.
It was refreshing seeing Cranston make the shift from light-hearted comedy to straight and dark drama anywhere near as well as he did. However, his performance as the chemistry teacher turned drug lord was astonishing and incredibly powerful, earning Cranston four Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Lead in a Drama Series. Even the actor himself acknowledged the sheer difference in his two most notable characters, and in an alternative ending to Breaking Bad from the DVD boxset, he reprised Hal alongside Jane Kaczmarek as Lois for a Malcolm in the Middle gag.
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Malcolm in the Middle
9/10- Release Date
- 2000 - 2006-00-00
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Linwood Boomer
Cast
Frankie Muniz
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingMalcolm in the Middle tells the story of an average dysfunctional American family. When Malcolm, one of four children, learns that he possesses a genius-level intellect, his whole young world is turned upside down. Still desperately trying to fit in with his friends and family despite his extraordinary gifts, Malcolm finds that though his life might have changed, it's still just as chaotic as ever.
- Directors
- Linwood Boomer
- Seasons
- 7
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Breaking Bad
10/10- Release Date
- 2008 - 2013-00-00
- Network
- AMC
- Showrunner
- Vince Gilligan
Cast
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Walter White
Jesse Pinkman
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYBreaking 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.
- Directors
- Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren
- Seasons
- 5
6 Daniel Craig
From James Bond To Benoit Blanc
Daniel Craig was the most recent incarnation of super spy James Bond, who made his debut as the character in 2006’s Casino Royale. Craig’s career soared when he was cast as the legendary literary and movie figure, and he faced a lot of pressure to be as popular and likable as past James Bond actors like Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan. Craig was outspoken about wanting to move on from playing Bond, but considering that he was his most notable role, it was an impressive feat that the actor managed to make such a splash as Benoit Blanc.
Knives Out’s protagonist detective differed greatly from James Bond in of personality, body language, accent, and even style. Daniel Craig’s 007 was dark and somber, and while Blanc also had a strict side, he was generally a lot more relaxed and had a comical side. Craig’s interesting American accent wasn’t expected, and it was a bit jarring at first, but it was also easy to get used to and very entertaining. Blanc allowed Craig to slip into the shoes of a character who was just as mysterious as Bond but had a lot more intrigue to his personality.
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Casino Royale
8/10- Release Date
- November 17, 2006
- Runtime
- 144 minutes
- Director
- Martin Campbell
Cast
James Bond
Eva GreenVesper Lynd
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYCasino Royale introduces Daniel Craig as James Bond in his first mission as a 00 Agent. Tasked with preventing the terrorist financier Le Chiffre from winning a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, Bond teams up with Vesper Lynd and Felix Leiter, kicking off a pivotal chapter in the espionage saga.
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Knives Out
9/10- Release Date
- November 27, 2019
- Runtime
- 130 minutes
- Director
- Rian Johnson
Cast
Chris Evans
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYWhen renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, there are suspects aplenty. Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.
Why Daniel Craig Quit As James Bond
Daniel Craig was one of the most critically acclaimed James Bond actors to date, so why did he quit playing the character?
5 Daniel Radcliffe
From Harry Potter To Weird Al Yankovic
Most all of the Harry Potter movies. Radcliffe was only 12 in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which was released in 2001, and as Harry grew up on the silver screen, so did the actor. The Harry Potter series was one of the biggest movie franchises ever, and it was hard to picture Radcliffe as anyone other than Harry.
It took Radcliffe some time to shake off Harry, and the actor chose a wide range of hugely different roles in later years. Poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings and Igor in Victor Frankenstein were completely different characters to Harry, but the role Radcliffe took on that was the most obscure was as Weird Al Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story in 2022. Radcliffe’s performance was stellar, and he was praised for his quirky and hilarious encapsulation of the titular character. Considering he wasn’t known as a comedy actor, Radcliffe spectacularly proved otherwise.
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Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
7/10- Release Date
- September 8, 2022
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
- Director
- Eric Appel
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingWeird: The Al Yankovic Story is a comedy/documentary film featuring Daniel Radcliffe as the accordion-slinging comedic musician. In an exaggerated take on his life, the movie follows Al Yankovic’s early days and critical career points, including a tumultuous affair with a major celebrity, a domineering manager, and the various songs and performances that elevated him to stardom.
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- Created by
- J.K. Rowling
- First Film
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- First TV Show
- Harry Potter
- Cast
- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen
- TV Show(s)
- Harry Potter
- Movie(s)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
10 Fabricated Storylines in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, the musical comedy Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is an unconventional biopic, with more than one made-up story.
4 Zac Efron
From Troy Bolton To Ted Bundy
Zac Efron’s career truly kicked off when he was cast as Troy Bolton in High School Musical. Interestingly, Zac Efron didn’t sing in High School Musical. It wasn’t until after he portrayed Link in Hairspray that he started to gain more popularity as a musical actor, and so he then provided his voice in the two sequels. Efron made a name for himself as a teenage heartthrob and was cast in several similar roles after, such as Mike O'Donnell in 17 Again, which let him revive his basketball skills from High School Musical.
While he starred in various other projects, Efron was stereotyped as only playing teens in an educational setting. However, by 2024, Efron’s filmography had expanded massively. Efron starred in films like Baywatch and the second movie adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Firestarter, but there was one particular role of his that highlighted just how far he’d come since Troy. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile was groundbreaking for Efron, and his portrayal of Ted Bundy was creepy and uncomfortable, which was perfect. He recently shined in another dramatic role, The Iron Claw.
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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
5/10- Release Date
- January 26, 2019
- Runtime
- 110 Minutes
- Director
- Joe Berlinger
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingA dramatized film based on the true story of the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile tells the story as read by a former girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall. The film explores Elizabeth’s life with Bundy. It chronicles the various arrests and allegations levied against him and the chaos Elizabeth and her daughter went through via their approximation with the killer.
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- Created by
- Peter Barsocchini
- First Film
- High School Musical
- Latest Film
- Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure
- First TV Show
- High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
- Latest TV Show
- High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
- First Episode Air Date
- November 12, 2019
The High School Musical franchise is a successful Disney Channel Original Movie series that became a cultural phenomenon upon its debut in 2006. The story centers on the lives of high school students at East High School, particularly focusing on the relationship between Troy Bolton, the school's basketball star, and Gabriella Montez, a shy, academically gifted new student. The franchise explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and following one’s dreams, with a heavy emphasis on musical performances. The success of the original movie led to sequels, a spinoff, and a resurgence in popularity with a recent TV series.
3 Gillian Anderson
From Dana Scully To Jean Milburn
Gillian Anderson famously played Dana Scully in The X-Files from 1993 to 2002 and then again from 2016 to 2018, which was the most memorable role of her career. Anderson was initially a theater performer, but she unexpectedly auditioned for Dana after she went without work for a year. Thankfully, she was successful, and she became the face of one of the best TV shows of all time. Considering Anderson was Dana Scully for so many years, which earned her a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy, the actress was relatively comfortable in the world of sci-fi and hardcore drama.
However, Anderson's casting as Jean Milburn in Sex Education was unexpected. Anderson’s staple characters were straight-edged, profound, and compelling personalities, but Jean was different. While the character wasn’t over-the-top or wacky, Jean was a comedy character. Jean Milburn’s advice in Sex Education as an open-minded sex therapist was brilliantly funny. She also had a relaxed but ive relationship with her son, Otis, and her overall character was significantly unlike that of Dana Scully. Gillian Anderson was always a varied performer, but many knew her as Dana, so seeing her as Jean was a refreshing change of pace.
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The X-Files
8/10- Release Date
- 1993 - 2018-00-00
- Network
- FOX
- Showrunner
- Chris Carter
- Directors
- Chris Carter
Cast
David Duchovny
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYThe X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
- Seasons
- 11
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Sex Education
8/10- Release Date
- 2019 - 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
- Laurie Nunn
- Directors
- Ben Taylor, Kate Herron, Runyararo Mapfumo, Sophie Goodhart, Alice Seabright
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingSex Education is a comedic-drama series that follows various students, parents, and staff of Moordale Secondary School and their awkward sexual dilemmas. The series primarily focuses on student Otis Milburn with a dour outlook on sex due to his mother's occupation as a sex therapist who has several affairs with zero attachments. Seeing an opportunity to capitalize on his second-hand knowledge and ambivalence to sex, Otis and his friend Eric set up an in-school clinic to advise other students with sexual issues. This clinic becomes compromised when Otis begins to have feelings for one of his clients.
- Seasons
- 4
Gillian Anderson On A Potential Scully Return In New X-Files Reboot
Original X-Files star Gillian Anderson responds to her potential return as Dana Scully in the reported series reboot from Ryan Coogler.
2 Jensen Ackles
From Dean Winchester To Soldier Boy
Jensen Ackles was known exclusively as Dean Winchester in Supernatural for a very long time. The show was the longest-running American live-action fantasy series in TV history, and Ackles starred in every season of Supernatural. Before this, Ackles appeared in shows like Days of Our Lives and Dawson's Creek, but Dean Winchester was his breakthrough role. Even though he was in other TV shows and films during Supernatural, audiences found it hard to separate Dean from Ackles’ other characters. When he debuted as Soldier Boy in The Boys, Ackles was able to start letting Dean go.
Although there were links between the two shows, as there were some similarities between Soldier Boy and Dean Winchester, there were also plenty of differences. Soldier Boy allowed Ackles to play a character who wasn’t as bothered by morality or motivated by the greater good. He was outright destructive and a generally satirical figure, unlike Dean. There weren’t many who were able to play a prominent character so quickly after leaving their iconic role, but Ackles did.
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Supernatural
8/10- Release Date
- 2005 - 2020-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYCreated by Eric Kripke, Supernatural is a fantasy/drama series that premiered in 2005. The series follows the adventures of Dean and Sam Winchester - two men wronged by supernatural beings as children who now spend their days investigating and hunting demons, ghosts, and monsters across the United States.
- Directors
- Philip Sgriccia, John F. Showalter, Robert Singer
- Seasons
- 15
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The Boys
7/10- Release Date
- July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
- Eric Kripke
- Directors
- Jack Quaid, Eric Kripke
Cast
Billy Butcher
Hugh Hughie Campbell
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYThe Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
- Seasons
- 4
1 Sandra Oh
From Cristina Yang To Eve Polastri
Dr. Cristina Yang was a fantastic part of Cristina Yang became better and better in Grey’s Anatomy. Oh’s efforts awarded her a Golden Globe for Best ing Actress in a Series in 2005, the same year the show was first broadcast, which was an astounding achievement for her. She left Grey’s Anatomy in season 10’s finale.
Oh then starred in Killing Eve as the titular character. The actress itted in an interview with Vulture that she initially didn’t realize she was being typecast as the protagonist's best friend (via Vulture), much like Cristina was Meredith’s closest companion. Thankfully, after reading the script, Oh accepted the role of Eve Polastri. Oh not only stepped away from ing roles and became the main character, she also completely nailed it. Her performance as Eve was powerful and poignant, and it earned her a second Golden Globe, this time for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama.
Sources: Vulture
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Grey's Anatomy
9/10- Release Date
- March 27, 2005
- Network
- ABC
- Directors
- Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan
Cast
Ellen PompeoDr. Meredith Grey
Chandra WilsonDr. Miranda Bailey
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYGrey's Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
- Seasons
- 21
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Killing Eve
8/10- Release Date
- 2018 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- BBC
- Showrunner
- Phoebe Waller-Bridge
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingKilling Eve is a black comedy thriller series starring Sandra Oh as British intelligence officer Eve Polastri who is assigned to track and capture a dangerous assassin named Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer. Bored with her life, Eve finds herself hired by an undercover MI6 division tasked with tracking down Villanelle - who, after just a brief time studying and following her, she becomes obsessed with her. However, the obsession becomes mutual as soon the two enter a game of cat and mouse that deviates them from their missions as they venture to learn more about one another.
- Directors
- Lisa Brühlmann
- Seasons
- 4
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