10 Actors Who Broke Typecasting In The Worst Way Possible
1. Robert Downey Jr - Dolittle
His Typecasting:
Ever since his comeback to Hollywood, RDJ has made a name for himself as the smart but tough action hero. When he originally took the role of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the idea of an action hero that wasn't a complete meathead seemed fresh and new. And since then RDJ has continued to find roles that fit into this same stereotype; including a gritty, tough guy version of Sherlock Holmes.
How He Broke It:
Unable to fully shake the need to play a genius, RDJ took a role as the eccentric Dr Dolittle, played famously by the wacky comedian Eddie Murphy in the 90s. This kooky character could and should have been a completely new direction for Downey Jr.
What Went Wrong:
It was not the best basket for RDJ to put all his eggs into. Not only was the film a complete box office bomb, tainting his reputation as a sure-fire financial win for studios, his acting was also called into question, to say the least. He gives his best effort at a welsh accent, and the nicest thing you can say about it is that he tried. His attempt to fit the mould of a wacky Disney protagonist falls flat and is completely humourless. RDJ took the movie's title and ran with it quite literally.. he really did do very little to make you remember this disatrious flop.