In film, television, and theatre,typecasting is the process by which a particularactor becomes strongly identified with a specificcharacter, one or more particular roles, or characters having the sametraits or coming from the samesocial orethnic groups. There have been instances in which an actor has been so strongly identified with a role as to make it difficult for them to find work playing other characters.
Actors are sometimes so strongly identified with a role as to make it difficult for them to find work playing othercharacters. It is especially common amongleading actors in populartelevision series andfilms.
One example of typecasting occurred with the cast of the originalStar Trek series.Parade stated of the cast, "They are 'stars' only in the world ofStar Trek ... [They] lost control of their destinies the minute they stepped on the bridge of the make-believeEnterprise in 1966",[1] andThe New York Times observed in 1991 that "For most of the actors in the original "Star Trek" series,Starfleet has never been far off the professional horizons".[2]
DuringStar Trek's original run from 1966 to 1969,William Shatner was the highest-paid cast member at $5,000 per episode (equivalent to $48,000 in 2024), withLeonard Nimoy and the other actors being paid much less.[3] The press predicted that Nimoy would be a star after the series ended,[4] andJames Doohan expected that appearing on an NBC series would help his post-Star Trek career.[5] The series typecast the actors, however. As early as March 1970,Nichelle Nichols complained ofStar Trek having "defined [her] so narrowly as an actress",[6] and Doohan said that by 1971 producers were calling him "Scotty" when turning him down for roles,[7] with even those he worked with beforeStar Trek telling his agent "I don't want a Scotsman".[8] Only Shatner and Nimoy continued working steadily during the 1970s, and even their work received little attention unless it wasStar Trek-related.[1]
Walter Koenig in 1976 noted the disparity between the adulation fromTrekkies atStar Trek conventions and his obscurity in Hollywood.[8]Residuals from the series ended in 1971;[8][9] Koenig, Doohan, andDeForest Kelley discussed the paradox of starring in what Kelley described as "the most popular series in the world" because ofreruns, but "not getting paid for it".[8] Cast members' income came mostly from personal appearances at conventions; by 1978 Kelley, for example, earned up to $50,000 (equivalent to $241,000 in 2024) annually.[1] In 1979, the first ofsix films starring the cast appeared; Kelley earned $1 million for the final film,Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).[3]
Being identified so closely with one role[2] left the series' cast with mixed emotions; Shatner called it "awesome and irksome". Koenig called it "bittersweet ... People are interested in Chekov, not me", but admitted that there was "a certain immortality in being associated withStar Trek".[1] After Doohan complained about being typecast, his dentist replied "Jimmy, you're going to be Scotty long after you're dead. If I were you, I'd go with the flow". Doohan said "I took his advice, and since then everything's been just lovely",[10] noting that being part of a "classic" was "beautiful. Your great-grandchildren will still be seeingStar Trek".[8]
Some of theNext Generation actors also became typecast.Patrick Stewart recalled that a "distinguished Hollywood director I wanted to work for said to me 'Why would I want Captain Picard in my movie?' That was painful".[11] His most prominent non-Star Trek film or television role,Professor X in theX-Men film series, shares similarities toJean-Luc Picard. Stewart stated "I don't have a film career. I have afranchise career"; he continues to work on stage as a Shakespearean actor.[12]The Next Generation had one of the largest budgets of its time,[13] and the cast became very wealthy.[12][14]Jonathan Frakes stated that "it's better to be type-cast than not to be cast at all."[15]Michael Dorn said in 1991, "If what happened to the first cast is called being typecast, then I want to be typecast. Of course, they didn't get the jobs after 'Trek.' But they are making their sixth movie. Name me someone else in television who has madesix movies!"[16]
John Larroquette said that after winningfour consecutive Emmy Awards, "it was 10 years afterNight Court ended before I got a role as a dad. BecauseDan Fielding was such a bizarre character, he had made such an impression, that typecasting does happen. Every role was some sleazy lawyer or some sleazy this or some sleazy that."[17] During his years on the comedyMarried... with Children,Ed O'Neill's scenes were cut from the film dramaFlight of the Intruder (1991) after a test audience laughed when he was on the screen.[18]
Jon Hamm stated that after the success ofMad Men, he received "about 40 scripts that were all set in the 60s, or had me playing advertising guys" like his characterDon Draper.[19]
Clayton Moore, who played theLone Ranger in theGolden Age of Television, embraced his typecasting, stating that he had "fallen in love" with the character of Lone Ranger, and regularly appeared in public in character, to the point thatJack Wrather, who owned the character, issued acease and desist order to Moore in 1979. The dispute was dropped in 1984 and Moore resumed his appearances.[20] In a similar case,Alan Hale Jr. parlayed his fame asSkipper Jonas Grumby onGilligan's Island into a seafood restaurant and a travel agency that offered three-hour boat tours.[21]
Jonathan Frakes' sentiments about typecasting were echoed byBen McKenzie, who became a star in the role ofRyan Atwood inThe O.C. at age 24, after two years of seeking acting work in New York City and Los Angeles. Eleven years later, after starring in two more television series playing whatThe New York Times described as a "quiet, guarded leading man", McKenzie said that "if you are being stereotyped, that means you have something to stereotype. So they're casting you. That is an amazing thing. That is a gift. Worry about being pigeonholed in your 50s."[22]
Gary Sandy noted that being typecast as handsome characters such asAndy Travis onWKRP in Cincinnati strictly limited the amount of roles he was offered and the control he had over his choice of scripts; he left television after his role on that show, spending the rest of his career on stage.[24]
Peter Robbins largely left acting after aging out of his most famous role, the voice ofCharlie Brown. He retained a strong affection for the role throughout his life, including having a tattoo of the character.[25]
Marilyn Monroe was typecast as asex symbol of the 1950s throughout her acting career. Notable for portraying comedic "blonde bombshell" sex symbol characters in films such asNiagara (1953) andHow to Marry a Millionaire (1953), as well as in musical comedies such asGentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953),[26] Monroe stated in late 1954 that she was "tired of the same old sex roles",[27] and portrayed an embittered, pessimistic character for her final acting role in theblack comedy filmThe Misfits (1961).[28]
Soviet actorMikheil Gelovani depictedJoseph Stalin in 12 films made during the leader's lifetime, which reflected hiscult of personality. Among them wereThe Great Dawn (1938),Lenin in 1918 (1939),The Vow (1946),The Fall of Berlin (1950) andThe Unforgettable Year 1919 (1952). These films were either banned or had the scenes featuring Stalin removed after the 1956Secret Speech. Following Stalin's death, Gelovani was denied new roles since he was so closely identified with Stalin.[29] According toThe Guinness Book of Movie Facts and Feats, Gelovani had probably portrayed the same historical figure more than any other actor.[30]Die Zeit columnist Andreas Kilb wrote that he ended his life "a pitifulKagemusha" of Stalin's image.[31]
Vaughn Meader is another example, as he depicted PresidentJohn F. Kennedy in the 1962 comedy recordThe First Family. Meader's career success came to an abrupt end after President Kennedy'sassassination on November 22, 1963. Meader's TV and nightclub bookings were all canceled. His career never rebounded as he was too closely associated with President Kennedy and his attempts to criticize his typecasting also led to hisindirect blacklisting.[32]
"Playing against type" is when an actor performs in a role or style different from the types of roles that they are known for.[33][34]
Christian Bale's role asPatrick Bateman inAmerican Psycho (2000) was different from his earlier performances and he was warned against the film.[35] Similarly, when he was offered the role ofBatman inChristopher Nolan'sBatman Begins (2005), he was warned that he would be forever known as only Batman and would have trouble getting roles.The Dark Knight Trilogy turned out to be a blockbuster and Bale's performance was appreciated.[36] Bale has since performed in a range of award-winning roles.[37]
Jackie Chan was originally known for playing heroic andphysically comedic roles in action and adventure films across over three decades. He was cast against type for a serious role as a Chinese immigrant oppositePierce Brosnan as a corrupted Irish politician in the 2017thrillerThe Foreigner, for which Chan garnered critical acclaim.[38]
Matt Damon was at first best known for his dramatic performance skills, as showcased inGood Will Hunting (1997), before being cast against type as the action heroJason Bourne in theBourne films.[41]
Henry Fonda, best known for playing morally upright, everyman heroes, was cast by directorSergio Leone to play a sadistic villain in the WesternOnce Upon a Time in the West (1968).[42] Film criticRoger Ebert argued that much of the principal cast inOnce Upon a Time in the West were cast against type: "Fonda is the bad guy for once in his career;Charles Bronson is impressively inscrutable as the mysterious good guy; andJason Robards is a tough guy, believe it or not."[43]
Matthew McConaughey, who, after making several romantic comedies, sought other, more dramatic film roles. He appeared in a supporting role inThe Wolf of Wall Street and starred inInterstellar andDallas Buyers Club, receiving critical acclaim in all three films and winning theAcademy Award for Best Actor for the latter. This change in the direction of his career has been dubbed the "McConaissance", and is considered a remarkable career turnaround.[52]
Glenn Milstead performed mostly as a woman under hisdrag queen persona,Divine, performing mostly in the works ofJohn Waters. In 1985, he appeared in what would his be his only male role inTrouble in Mind, a role written for him but against his usual drag type.[53][54] A second male role inMarried... with Children was never filmed, as Milstead died after rehearsals but before taping.[54]
Pat Morita was known for his comedic roles in his early acting career, particularly as Arnold in the American TV sitcomHappy Days. The casting directors ofThe Karate Kid (1984) were initially opposed to casting Morita asMr. Miyagi, a serious role, due to Morita's background in comedy.[55]
Leslie Nielsen had an established career as a dramatic actor since the 1950s before appearing in the successful comedy filmAirplane! (1980), specifically due to thegravitas he was able to bring to the satire. This prompted a career reinvention that saw Nielsen go on to helm thePolice Squad! series andThe Naked Gun trilogy.[41] Reflecting on his against-type casting, Nielsen later stated that he always felt more comfortable as adeadpan comedic performer and embraced being typecast in that style the rest of his life.[56]
George Peppard was typecast in "tough-guy" film roles following his portrayal of a young playboy and megalomaniacal tycoon in the 1964 filmThe Carpetbaggers.[57] His career as a traditional leading man had been fading at the time by 1983, when he accepted the lead role in the TV seriesThe A-Team, as the wisecracking, cigar-smoking head of a team of wanted commandos. Peppard stated he had wanted to transition into character actor roles but had never been given the opportunity untilThe A-Team.[58][59]
Tyler Perry came to prominence for comedic roles but in the crime drama inGone Girl (2014) played a lawyer who specializes in defending men accused of killing their wives.[60]
Bob Saget began his career as a particularly vulgar stand-up comic. In the late 1980s, he was cast against type on television as the squeaky-clean Danny Tanner onFull House, which led to him also hosting thefamily-friendlyAmerica's Funniest Home Videos. Despite his new reputation as "America's Dad" from these roles, Saget maintained his vulgar stand-up routine for the rest of his life and played the contrast between the two types for laughs, which is credited with keeping his appeal fresh among the young adults (millennials) who watched him as children.[61]
Adam Sandler is best known for his comedy roles, in which he typically plays an "aggressive man-child" and an "extreme character surrounded by regular people."[62] DirectorPaul Thomas Anderson cast Sandler in a dramatic role inPunch-Drunk Love (2002), as a man facing psychosis who goes "from understated sorrow to rage and back again."[41] He again returned to serious work inThe Meyerowitz Stories (2017), with Peter Debruge ofVariety writing of his role, "With no shtick to fall back on, Sandler is forced to act, and it's a glorious thing to watch."[63] For his leading role inUncut Gems (2019), Sandler received critical acclaim, with some commentators calling it the best of his career.[64][65]
Gailard Sartain was typecast as a "country bumpkin" comic actor based on his work in the Ernest P. Worrell series and onHee Haw. He took on a villainous role based on real-life sheriffLawrence Rainey inMississippi Burning, a role that few actors were willing to take and one that Sartain reflected upon as a "turning point" in his career.[66]
WhileJames Stewart was known for his "affable"everyman roles, such as a businessman and father inIt's a Wonderful Life, inAlfred Hitchcock'sVertigo (1958), he was cast against type as a "troubling or unsettling" character whose "mind unravels" until he attains a "cold, chilling air of sexual paranoia and control."[41]
Betty White, known for playing the sexually liberatedSue Ann Nivens onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,[68][69][70] andRue McClanahan, who had been known for playing scatterbrained characters such as Vivian Harmon inMaude andFran Crowley inMama's Family, were cast in opposite types inThe Golden Girls: White played the naïveRose Nylund, and McClanahan played sultry Southern belleBlanche Devereaux.[68]Bea Arthur, for whom the lead role ofDorothy Zbornak had been conceived, was initially reluctant to join the cast, thinking that the typecasting would prompt viewers to see White and McClanahan as simply continuing their previous roles, but the "flip-flop" casting of the two types, and the originality of the show's premise, convinced her to sign on to the project.[68][71]
Robin Williams, a successful comedian and situation comedy actor, was cast against type inInsomnia andOne Hour Photo (both 2002), two films in which he depicted "spine-chilling psychosis" and insanity. He also played the role of a therapist inGood Will Hunting.[41]
Chris Evans' first real success as an actor came by playing a series of character he has called "jocky pricks": good-looking but mean-spirited men known for their smugness, in films includingFantastic Four (2005),Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), andWhat's Your Number?. Evans has commented, "I got cast as a lot of assholes." His role inCaptain America featured a very different morality to the character.[72][73] After fulfilling a seven-picture contract withMarvel Studios to play the character, which ended withAvengers: Endgame (2019), Evans returned to playing villainous characters in films such asKnives Out (2019),The Gray Man (2022), andPain Hustlers (2023).[72]
Jet Li, notable for mainly portraying heroic roles in martial arts and adventure movies, played as a terminally ill single father who struggles to look up for his autistic 21-year-old son and work to make ends meet in his first drama movieOcean Heaven (2010).[77]
^Churchwell, Sarah Bartlett (2005).The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe (1st ed.). New York: Henry Holt & Company. pp. 61–65.ISBN978-0-312-42565-4.
^Spoto, Donald (2001).Marilyn Monroe: the biography (1st ed.). New York: Cooper Square Press; Distributed by National Book Network. pp. 302–303.ISBN978-0-8154-1183-3.
^Robertson, Patrick (1991).The Guinness Book of Movie Facts & Feats. Abbeville Press.ISBN9781558592360.. Page 105.
^Kilb, Andreas (20 September 1991)."Die Meister des Abgesangs" [The Masters of the Swan Song].zeit.de (in German).Die Zeit. Retrieved19 September 2011.
^Jay, Bernard (1993).Not Simply Divine!. London: Virgin Books. pp. 179–181.ISBN978-0-86369-740-1.
^abMilstead, Frances; Heffernan, Kevin; Yeager, Steve (2001).My Son Divine. Los Angeles and New York: Alyson Books. pp. 122–125, 149.ISBN978-1-55583-594-1.
^Loughrey?, Clarisse (January 31, 2020)."Uncut Gems review: The best performance of Adam Sandler's career".The Independent.Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. RetrievedMarch 30, 2023.In the Safdie brothers' Uncut Gems, he plays Howard Ratner, a gambling addict and jeweller in New York's Diamond District – it's the best performance of his career. Sandler toys with his audience's empathy, disgust and pity like a cat with its next meal.
