For this list, we have chosen 9 actors who may be in many movies and/or TV shows, but continue to be referred to as their one iconic role. I wouldn't say these actors are necessarily type cast in each case, but their real names have become synonymous and interchangeable with their character names.
#1 Bryan Cranston - Walter White from Breaking Bad. I don't think it matters how many things Bryan Cranston is in, he will always be referred to as Walter White, and not as the guy from Godzilla, or Tim Watley from Seinfeld. Walter White has even taken over his Malcom In the Middle alter-ego.
#2 Arnold Schwarzenegger - Terminator from the Terminator franchise. Though he has been in movies like Predator, Commando, and even Batman and Robin and Jingle All the Way, his iconic role as the Terminator will always be his main role. Even in his position as governor of California, he was often referred to as the "Governator."
#3 Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter from the Harry Potter franchise. He is effectually just Harry Potter now. When you see another movie with him in it, you always lean to whoever is next to you and do the obligatory, "Hey look, it is Harry Potter!" Poor guy...I wonder if he gets free passes to Harry Potter land?
#4 Johnny Depp - Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise. Though he is in many other famous movies and takes on a variety of roles, Jack Sparrow is such an iconic character that it may never be trumped by any other performance he does! He has been immortalized at Disneyland in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and will even sometimes go to the ride and position himself near his animatronic character. In fact, people love him so much, they are making a fifth Pirates movie!
#5 Christian Bale - Batman from the Dark Knight franchise. Once again, an extremely accomplished actor in a variety of roles. But, let's be honest. No one can watch him in a movie anymore without leaning over to whoever they are with and saying, "Where is she!?" or "Where are the drugs!?" in a deep Batman voice. Christian Bale is an incredible actor, but the Batman movies were too incredible to soon forget while we watch him in other things. He will play Moses in the new Exodus: Gods and Kings movie. We will see if he says, "Let my people go!" in his Batman voice.
#6 Kiefer Sutherland - Jack Bauer from 24. I am convinced that Kiefer Sutherland is called Jack Bauer as a household name more often than he is by his own name. He almost has Chuck Norris status. I watched Pompeii recently where he plays and English general...and the whole time you are waiting for him to just yell, "Dang it Chloe!!"
#7 Kristen Stewart - Bella from the Twilight franchise. Sorry Kristen, you are Bella now. No turning back. For better or worse, she is Bella and always will be. If we ever see her in anything ever again, there is absolutely no chance whatsoever of us as viewers not saying, "Oh geez, it's Bella. Hey Bella! Where's Edward?"
#8 Daniel Craig - James Bond from the James Bond franchise. Though he is also in other movies, his career has done the same thing that Pierce Brosnan's did. He has become James Bond, and it may be hard for him to shake that status when he decides he wants to. However, I love him as James Bond!
#9 Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars franchise. I am sure he has lived his whole life just going by Luke Skywalker. This is mainly because we haven't seen him in much else! A little trivia: he is actually a really prominent and famous voice actor. He has been the Joker's voice in the Batman cartoons for years. But, who cares!? He is and will always be Luke Skywalker to us!
Who else has had an iconic movie role that we always associate them with? Look for our list of actors who have been successful in maintaining an iconic role in more than one franchise coming soon. Let us know your thoughts and comments and don't forget to like us at
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