Typecasting is a dirty word to an actor. To be typecast means that producers, casting directors, directors, other actors and especially the film-going public cant see you in any other role. However, what some actors rebel against, others use to pay the bills, even years after the original role has long since disappeared from view. So heres a list of twelve actors who were perfectly cast for the roles they were given, and have become indelibly stamped in our minds whenever we think of that character, for better or worse. The criteria here is that the star in question must have carried the role for at least three films and become so identified with it that its hard, if not downright impossible, to consider someone else for it. Let's get to it;
12. Sean Connery James Bond Series
Well give Daniel Craig credit; hes revitalized a decades-old franchise that was starting to get too wrapped (again) in the technobabble and gadgets from Q Branch. But for the Boomers who were around when the character first appeared, the only real James Bond is Sean Connery. Series author Ian Fleming wasnt originally thrilled with the selection of Connery as James Bond; he felt that the bodybuilding Connery was an overgrown stunt-man, according to Wikipedia. Fleming changed his mind after the premiere of Dr. No; he created a half-Scottish, half-Swiss heritage for Bond in the later novels. The role wasnt initially appealing to Connery, but he understood that his fledgling career would take off if the films were a success. He starred in the six of the first seven Bonds, then retired, disgusted with the character and because the public thought his name was James Bond. He was enticed to come back for the 1983 remake of Thunderball, slyly retitled Never Say Never Again. After Connerys departure, the series producers signed Roger Moore on as his replacement. Moore made seven Bonds over the following twelve years, but his more debonair Bond was always compared unfavorably to Connerys rougher man of action. Timothy Dalton tried to get the character back to the original Fleming definition, but was not as well accepted by the film-going public. Pierce Brosnan showed some promise, but the role was becoming less secret agent and more science fiction by his final entry. Craig has come closest to capturing the original magic, but hes got to make a few more entries in order to catch up to Connery.
