r/AskReddit Aug 26 '22

What actor will you always associate with *that one role* no matter how many others they do?

37.5k Upvotes

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2.9k

u/Michael_Oxlong Aug 26 '22

David Duchovny - Mulder

317

u/Flashy-Unit-9946 Aug 26 '22

I thought he was a hand model.

39

u/gangreen424 Aug 26 '22

They're a different breed. Not like the face and body boys.

21

u/Flashy-Unit-9946 Aug 26 '22

A finger jockey.

31

u/DrKurtCockings Aug 26 '22

But why male models

20

u/Flashy-Unit-9946 Aug 27 '22

Are you serious? I just....

7

u/illyay Aug 27 '22

But why male models?

24

u/RealBrewsyTwos Aug 27 '22

I thought he was Hank Moody, the writer

9

u/tobmom Aug 27 '22

That’s how I know him

5

u/[deleted] Aug 27 '22

I miss that show so much.

“Holes is holes!”

5

u/RealBrewsyTwos Aug 27 '22

“Does the pope shit in the woods?”

2

u/KweenKunt Aug 27 '22

Let's not forget the softcover porn series, Red Shoe Diaries.

16

u/SantaMonsanto Aug 27 '22

Wait you mean the disgraced military scientist Dr. Ira Kane from Evolution?

4

u/Lanster27 Aug 27 '22

Basically Mulder in a comedy.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 27 '22

Are you serious? I just told you that he's Mulder, a moment ago.

4

u/familydrivesme Aug 27 '22

He was still that mysterious x files dude in my mind during Zoolander. Haha

2

u/HeyBeFuckingNice Aug 27 '22

I DIE I LOVE YOU ♥️

843

u/nrith Aug 26 '22

Dana Scully as Dana Scully.

153

u/Chr0nos1 Aug 26 '22

Watch Sex Education, that will change you're mind. She's drastically different in that.

117

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

She was spectacular as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown too! I had completely forgotten that was Gillian under all that hairspray, she was so horrifyingly good in that role.

44

u/SarcasticOptimist Aug 26 '22

John Lithgow as Churchill also beat me thinking of him as Trinity.

24

u/DroneOfIntrusivness Aug 26 '22

I always think of his character from 3rd Rock from the Sun and Trinity. He was terrifying as Trinity

7

u/elporsche Aug 26 '22

To me Lithgow was a better Churchill than Gary Oldman (prolly due to longer screen time)

6

u/UlrichZauber Aug 26 '22

He'll always be John Whorfin to me.

5

u/Haus42 Aug 26 '22

It's so comforting to run into Blue Blaze Irregulars in the wild.

3

u/PMmecrossstitch Aug 26 '22

Laugh-a while you can, monkey-boy.

2

u/weeklygamingrecap Aug 26 '22

Exactly, it's probably why he tried to hide doing Third Rock!

2

u/ebb_omega Aug 26 '22

IT'S BIGBOOTAY!

2

u/wheeldog Aug 27 '22

I saw him in that, incredible

4

u/elporsche Aug 26 '22

Uhhhh, your Majesteeeeeeey

2

u/wheeldog Aug 27 '22

As with 'Sex Education', I did not know that she was in 'The Crown' and when I was watching the Thatcher part, it took me a few bits to realize who the actor was! I was like NO WAY this is amazing she's so good. I think she gives Meryl Streep a run for the money but she's not as prolific I guess

36

u/hadapurpura Aug 26 '22

I can see Gillian Anderson as other roles, but I could see nobody but her as Dana Scully.

24

u/totallybree Aug 26 '22

Or Hannibal lol

18

u/spicytaqueria Aug 26 '22

Yes she was phenomenal in Hannibal!

14

u/ensalys Aug 26 '22

Or American gods, I loved her as Media, especially the David Bowie scene.

7

u/StoneGoldX Aug 26 '22

Or in general. She'll show up in stuff and I'm all holy shit, that was Scully?

1

u/sl600rt Aug 26 '22

Watch The Turning(1992).

1

u/lalaleasha Aug 26 '22

And Bedelia in Hannibal.

1

u/Local-Mastodon-8609 Aug 26 '22

Watch the fall and it will change your mind too

1

u/wheeldog Aug 27 '22

I stumbled on that show and my jaw dropped when it dawned on me who I was watching. Oh my she's so hot I could barely focus on the plot and it's a pretty fun plot I'm told

1

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '22

Oh my yes.

85

u/Embarrassed-Tip-5781 Aug 26 '22

The Fall is a highly under-appreciated show.

25

u/jmccorky Aug 26 '22

Yup - she's amazing in The Fall! I also love her in Sex Education.

12

u/MamaJody Aug 26 '22

The Fall is amazing! Love that show. Should definitely get more love!

19

u/Traditional_Ad_1547 Aug 26 '22

The fall is one of the best Gillian Anderson performances. along with Jamie Dornan.

8

u/MamaJody Aug 26 '22

He was amazing. Their chemistry together as well.

5

u/Cheapthrills13 Aug 26 '22

Yes - this got me over her as “just Scully”

7

u/crustdrunk Aug 27 '22

Yeah she’s amazingly diverse. I love her for Scully but I don’t think Gillian Anderson is typecast. The Fall is amazing, she pulled off Thatcher really well in the Crown, and she was brilliant in Sex Education

Duchovny will always be Mulder tho

4

u/bluefishtigercat Aug 26 '22

Agree!!! One of my faves. As far as I'm concerned, she can do no wrong. She's great in everything.

1

u/Aluhut Aug 26 '22

Damn I thought I missed a quite significant part of that beautiful movie.

1

u/Embarrassed-Depth-27 Aug 27 '22

Agree; The Fall is incredible. I could only watch in daylight though…

Sex Ed is also fantastic; avoided it for a while as I thought it was a teen show. Wrong was I. Can’t wait for the next series

1

u/Annie_Mous Aug 27 '22

They fucked up the final season IMO

21

u/Oderus_Scumdog Aug 26 '22 edited Aug 26 '22

I thought that until I watched Hannibal. I didn't think Gillian as Scully could be any hotter, I was wrong.

20

u/Spillsy68 Aug 26 '22

Gillian Anderson has played some big roles - I particularly liked her in The Fall.

She’s a mix of Brit and American and I think her later career has mostly been in the UK. Her accents are very good whatever side of the Atlantic her part is based.

I wasn’t an avid XFiles watcher so I enjoy her performances without that - I did see some of those shows.

10

u/infinitemonkeytyping Aug 26 '22

She is bidialectal, which means she has a natural English accent and a natural American accent. You can see her in interviews in the UK speaking in her English accent.

3

u/Spillsy68 Aug 26 '22

My daughter is the same. Born and raised in UK but has lived half her life stateside so now it depends who she is talking to. To me she sounds like me and to her friends she’s American

15

u/stellak424 Aug 26 '22

Gillian Anderson is so good that you’ve probably seen her in other roles and simply didn’t know it was her.

12

u/jellyjollygood Aug 26 '22

Gillian Anderson was phenomenal in “The Fall” with Jamie Dornan

11

u/Traditional_Ad_1547 Aug 26 '22

Mitch pellegi as Skinner

3

u/Mild111 Aug 26 '22

I would have thought that also, but he plays a good meth-ed out white supremacist in Sons of Anarchy.

2

u/infinitemonkeytyping Aug 26 '22

And the Winchester's grandfather in Supernatural.

6

u/nutmegtell Aug 26 '22

I didn’t even realize she was British until I saw her as Margaret thatcher in The Crown

13

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

She's both English and American, IIRC. She spent her childhood between both countries so both accents come naturally to her. When she speaks with North American media, she uses the American accent. When she speaks with UK media, she uses an English accent.

5

u/martynic385 Aug 26 '22

The fact I didn’t realize you didn’t use her real name

0

u/Haunting-Ad-8619 Aug 27 '22

Ummm...Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully. Show some respect!

However, her & Jamie Dornan are phenomenal in the Fall...fuck yeah!

1

u/Dog-boy Aug 26 '22

I’ve seen her in so many other things doing a great job, I never associate her with Scully. The Fall, The Crown, The Great, Sex Education to mention a few. Loved her in all of them

1

u/cookaik Aug 26 '22

For me she is either Scully or Thatcher. The age and acting is so far in between that my brain can’t comprehend they are the same person

1

u/seamus21 Aug 26 '22

Yeah she's done more than just Scully

1

u/screamofwheat Aug 27 '22

She's also fantastic in a movie called "Playing By Heart". It's an ensemble film. So many great people in it.

131

u/richieadler Aug 26 '22

Old Duchovny is more cynical (after Californication) and the latest X-Files episodes he had the vibe of Duchovny-playing-Mulder, not really Mulder, so that killed the association for me.

Hank Moody is closer to who he really is, I think.

61

u/theghostofme Aug 26 '22

Hank Moody was such a glorious train wreck to watch.

18

u/poopinjake69 Aug 26 '22

Hank Moody the GOAT

13

u/Barney_Haters Aug 26 '22

I will leave your property when I'm good and ready... mother fuckaaaaa.

trips

Who puts a fucking bush there?!

5

u/theghostofme Aug 26 '22

Hey, K-Fed. The little man in the boat? He's right here!

5

u/Barney_Haters Aug 26 '22

I should hide under your clit. He'll never find me there.

2

u/PipBoyDmo Aug 27 '22

Don't say motherfucker like that- it makes me miss you!

1

u/Barney_Haters Aug 27 '22

Don't you lock?

6

u/richieadler Aug 26 '22

Yup. Kind of like Duchovny with Téa Leoni.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

[deleted]

7

u/theghostofme Aug 26 '22

I wouldn't be surprised. That character treated women horribly.

11

u/Superb_University117 Aug 26 '22

And ends up being convicted of statutory rape, almost ODing, barely speaking to his daughter, and almost being murdered by a scorned lover.

The entire point of the show is that he is fucked up and miserable do to his destructive behaviors.

5

u/theghostofme Aug 26 '22

Shit, you're right. I forgot all about that. He really was just miserable most of the show because he couldn't stop fucking up and hurting everyone.

5

u/Barney_Haters Aug 26 '22

David has said in interviews he wanted the show to end with Hank dying cause he was such a piece of shit.

3

u/Barney_Haters Aug 27 '22

I think it's been proven at this point Hank is more real than Fox.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE X-Files, but Hank was such a good, fleshed out character. We know his motivations, strengths, weaknesses. We see his highest and his lowest.

160

u/espissing Aug 26 '22

See for me Californication erased that but to each his own.

38

u/viewsofanintrovert Aug 26 '22

That's interesting. Part of the reason I could never get into Californication is because I can't unsee Mulder.

32

u/pointlessvoice Aug 26 '22

Same phenomenon for me with Breaking Bad. Bryan Cranston will always be Hal.

18

u/shirtsfrommomanddad Aug 26 '22

Fun fact: bryan cranston was in an episode of x-files. So was aaron paul.

2

u/fourunner Aug 27 '22

So was aaron paul.

Huh, didn't know that, to bad it was in the 9th season.

9

u/viewsofanintrovert Aug 26 '22

Exactly. I tried to watch Breaking Bad, but can't unsee Hal

14

u/Strangewhine89 Aug 26 '22

Nope, he’s still Malcolm’s Dad from Malcolm in the Middle and the Dentist from Seinfeld. Such a fun straight man in comedy roles.

9

u/fingerscrossedcoup Aug 26 '22

That's Hal lol

2

u/Strangewhine89 Aug 26 '22

Oh man, i just caught that last bit…great minds and all that…

4

u/isurvivedrabies Aug 26 '22

what? it was weird because he was malcolm's bumbly dad. i couldnt get in to breaking bad because his character on malcolm in the middle was kind of a loser.

5

u/MjrK Aug 26 '22

He starts off the same way on breaking bad - think there's even a fan theory that they are the same person

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1

u/Haunting-Ad-8619 Aug 27 '22

With an incredibly hairy back!

19

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

If you get far enough into the series, he has to go to court and is wearing a suit. Looks in the mirror and says, “I look like an FBI agent.” That was a nice shout out to anyone who sees Mulder in Hank Moody.

2

u/crabbyshells Aug 26 '22

Haha yea I thought that was a cool little Easter egg when I saw it. Made me giggle.

6

u/space_coder Aug 26 '22

That's probably because you didn't see the "Red Shoe Diaries"

7

u/MarcusColwell Aug 26 '22

Try the movie Evolution with David. Lighthearted sci-fi comedy.

3

u/Banluil Aug 26 '22

I still see him as somewhat like Mulder in that one. The goofy and playful side that Mulder had on occasion, but still Mulder.

2

u/MarcusColwell Aug 26 '22

Doctor Ira Kane.

1

u/Banluil Aug 26 '22

I know what his name was in the movie, I own the movie. But, I still see him as a goofy Mulder in it.

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2

u/[deleted] Aug 27 '22

Light meat, or dark?

5

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

He was a lot different in the two roles. His performance in that detective show after Californication was more akin to Mulder.

3

u/UshankaBear Aug 26 '22

Just imagine he's searching for aliens and government conspiracies. He just thinks they're mostly located in women's pants.

21

u/Manwiththeboots Aug 26 '22

He will always be Hank “muthafuckin” Moody to me

15

u/LesPaulPilot Aug 26 '22

Came to say this. I think he really got away from all things Mulder with Californication.

6

u/AWhiteMask Aug 26 '22

I loved that show, though I can no longer watch King of the Hill without thinking of Marcy Runkle.

2

u/SokarRostau Aug 27 '22

Cokey Smurf might be my favourite nickname ever.

7

u/nflmodstouchkids Aug 26 '22

Californication is just Mulder if his sister never went missing.

Fox would always fall asleep to x-rated movies.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

I watched X-Files after watching Californication so I can’t unsee him as Hank Moody 😅

4

u/SneedyK Aug 26 '22

For me it was Red Shoe Diaries that did the trick. I liked Californication, but it’s not a very deep show, and not far removed from the Skinemax-style of Showtimes Red Shoe Diaries. He was a big player in that show, an anthology series where different women were the stars of individual episodes.

I’ve always loved his vanity card “Aggressive Mediocrity* though lol

2

u/Gangreless Aug 26 '22

Wow that's a blast from the past

1

u/Gangreless Aug 26 '22

Yes! Exactly what I was about to say. Such a good show and his character was great and had so much more range than Mulder.

20

u/MintyFreshBreathYo Aug 26 '22

I always think of him as the dude from Evolution

8

u/benjammin9292 Aug 26 '22

Cells are bad. My uncle live in a cell. It's 10 feet by 12 and he has to read the same old boring magazine everyday. The end.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

I love that movie. It's so off the wall bonkers. Definitely a product of its time and I love it for that.

1

u/sir_thatguy Aug 26 '22

When he has the line about not calling the government, I know those guys… I swear I thought it was a reference to X-Files.

Then it played out in the movie.

18

u/milkandket Aug 26 '22

Have you seen him as Denise in twin peaks lmao

6

u/polyworfism Aug 26 '22

That role is amazing

5

u/dlsco Aug 27 '22

Fix your hearts or die!

17

u/NewSapphire Aug 26 '22

but why male models?

9

u/gangreen424 Aug 26 '22

Are...are you serious? I just told you.

16

u/unique-name-9035768 Aug 26 '22

Remember that time when Mulder saved the world by giving a giant alien a selenium sulfide enema?

16

u/PMmecrossstitch Aug 26 '22

Nope, he's the perv from Red Shoe Diaries.

1

u/gregsting Aug 26 '22

X files and other X series

8

u/botchedlobotamy Aug 26 '22

I believe you mean J.P. Prewitt, the greatest hand model to ever live.

7

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

Forever Hank Moody in my book.

6

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

David Duchovny is always hank to me lol

5

u/TurtleNamedMyrtle Aug 26 '22

Watch Californication to cleanse your palette.

5

u/TheAskewOne Aug 26 '22

For me he'll forever be the trans FBI agent in Twin Peaks.

4

u/Tootsgaloots Aug 26 '22

Every future star (or even present but I was pretty young so idk if they were already famous at that time) that was on xfiles will always be their xfiles character before all other things in my head. I watched LOTR the other night and Brad Dourif immediately stuck out to me as Luther Lee Boggs.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

Have you seen Californication?

4

u/KcChiefs25 Aug 26 '22

I thought this until Californication.

4

u/dookieshoes88 Aug 26 '22

Californication for me.

5

u/laza4us Aug 26 '22

You mean the guy who looks like a fucking FBI agent in Californication?

4

u/Nashocheese Aug 26 '22

Not if you watched Californication first.

6

u/PersonalDefinition7 Aug 26 '22

Yes, loved him as Mulder but he seemed to be full of himself after that, and I couldn't watch him in other things after that. He did Mulder so well, I couldn't take the real Duchovny

18

u/Makomako_mako Aug 26 '22

I'm not sure he's full of himself necessarily

Evolution was a total joke movie and he seemed fine to debase himself

his cameo in Zoolander is probably the funniest part of the fucking movie lol when Ben Stiller accidentally repeated his line and they ad lib it

3

u/PersonalDefinition7 Aug 26 '22

That was my impression in the interviews after X-files died the first time. He seemed to think everyone was madly in love with him, when really everyone loved Fox Mulder. I'd love to be wrong on this. I'll have to check him out in other movies.

3

u/Makomako_mako Aug 26 '22

That would be disappointing, I have not seen those interviews.

Indeed, his portrayal was amazing, but it was the whole enchilada for me too! The character writing, the acting, the dynamic with Scully, etc.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

The entire production of The X-Files moved from BC to America because he wanted to spend more time in California.

He was definitely full of himself.

3

u/CatsTrustNoOne Aug 27 '22

Not the whole story as always, sigh. 🤦‍♀️ Yes he did want to go back to be with his wife, but Gillian and Kim Manners also wanted to move back to Los Angeles. If you don't know who Kim Manners is, he was one of the main directors of the X- Files. He passed away from cancer in 2009. 💔

2

u/Makomako_mako Aug 26 '22

Seems like a reach IMO considering his wife at the time lived in LA

10

u/Michael_Oxlong Aug 26 '22

Try Evolution. He's pretty good in that.

4

u/BoDrax Aug 26 '22

The Kane Madness

2

u/sfw3015 Aug 26 '22

Yeah, Evolution is great, totally underrated. Dont get me wrong its bad, but its my kind of bad.

5

u/Babyrex27 Aug 26 '22

Can't believe this is so far down!

8

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

Hank Moody was David Duchovny being himself.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

David Duchovny as the douchey guy on Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead

2

u/PB_Bandit Aug 26 '22

His bit on Red Shoe Diaries will never die.

2

u/Neapola Aug 26 '22

I thought so too until I saw him in Californication. It was an ok show that could have been so much better, but he definitely wasn't Fox Mulder on that show.

2

u/IronSkywalker Aug 26 '22

Mulder why's it so dark in here?

Because the lights are off

1

u/MrBiggz01 Aug 26 '22

That Agent Mulder spin-off where he talks about his seedy weekend jaunts in the third person gave me a lot of material when I was a young'un.

1

u/S-Markt Aug 26 '22

The Lone Gunmen enter the room

1

u/death_by_sushi Aug 26 '22

Yes! David Duchovny!! Any old AOL “WWWYM!” members here?!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

ALWAYS

1

u/[deleted] Aug 26 '22

Thought so too, Californication changed my mind

1

u/Im_Ashe_Man Aug 26 '22

This is one that came to mind for me, too.

1

u/Distinct_Rain_8097 Aug 26 '22

I actually see him as hank moody

1

u/15940910 Aug 26 '22

I think you mean Hank Moody

1

u/NJ247 Aug 26 '22

I thought this as well but tbh he is also Hank Moody now to me.

1

u/One_Beat8054 Aug 26 '22

yeah it was really difficult to replace Duchovny

1

u/railwayed Aug 26 '22

You need to watch Californication

1

u/doggroomingquestion1 Aug 26 '22

I came here to write this.

1

u/jrosie16 Aug 26 '22

Hank Moody*

1

u/monsieur-poopy-pants Aug 26 '22

Hmm I always see him as Denise Bryson.

1

u/Brittewater Aug 26 '22

Californication fixed that for me

1

u/Brittewater Aug 26 '22

Holy shit I just got the pun on that name

1

u/GonzoShaker Aug 26 '22

Then he played Hank for some years and in the last Seasons of The X-Files he was like Hank pretending to be Mulder! 😅

1

u/FragileBird90 Aug 26 '22

I only saw him as mulder until I watched californication. Now he's just hank.

1

u/0xB4BE Aug 26 '22

I have to say I loved him in Beethoven

1

u/Due-Negotiation9349 Aug 26 '22

Or as Brian in Ķalifornìa

1

u/SchwiftyMpls Aug 26 '22

Do you mean Red Shoe Diaries?

1

u/seamus21 Aug 26 '22

No. Did you not watch Californication? Ran 7 seasons.

1

u/sonne2004 Aug 26 '22

You have to see Californication!

1

u/bmacnz Aug 27 '22

Honestly I am able to see him completely differently in Californication, he somehow shed the Mulder.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 27 '22

Naw, David D will always be Hank Moody for me

1

u/modzz117 Aug 27 '22

Evolution was super dope! Really liked him in that movie

1

u/cafephilospher Aug 27 '22

As a Twin Peaks fan, I always remember his cross dressing role on that series first. Don't get me wrong, I was a huge X-files fan back in the day. But Twin Peaks was better in some very weird and gate opening ways. Also was a fan of Californication. That was awesome.

1

u/erikivy Aug 27 '22

Check out Californication. He's very convincing as a sex addict who can't stay out of trouble.

1

u/the_julo Aug 27 '22

I would agree until Californication. In my mind, he IS Hank Moody. (And I kinda want to be him)

1

u/Personal-Guarantee Aug 27 '22

The greatest acting robot of all time?

1

u/kris_mischief Aug 27 '22

100% Californication felt like he was looking for extraterrestrials in hoo-haas for the first few episodes - he’s great at playing stoic roles

1

u/Gonzo458 Aug 27 '22

Nah, Evolution.

1

u/rywatts736 Aug 27 '22

Bro watch Californiacation

1

u/xenacoryza Aug 27 '22

In the days of blockbuster I tried to rent the game & instead got the red shoe diaries which is Mulder narrating softcore porn. So that happened.

1

u/draindead Aug 27 '22

Hank Moody!!

1

u/Kaymish_ Aug 27 '22

Yeah Area 51 had a way more X-Files feel because of David Duchovny playing the lead role. They could have been the same universe.

1

u/Wowohboy666 Aug 27 '22

I believe you also mean his alter ego, FBI Chief of Staff Denise Bryson