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Do you ever get that feeling of getting new and fresh opportunities in life, only to find out that they are just more of the same?

Well, turns out, this happens more often than you might think. And it’s especially visible in the film industry. But we’re not talking about films, though they are guilty of this, but about particular actors and the roles they are cast in.

People online have been listing famous names in the movie industry and the same-y roles they keep getting cast in, where effectively only names change, but you’re always either that macho dude, or an ex-cop, or the comic relief or whatever.

Check out the most spot-on observations from Redditors across multiple AskReddit posts (here, here, and here) on the topic in the curated list below, and why not upvote and share some big names who keep getting picked for the same old roles movie after movie.

#1

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Troubleshooter11 said:
Dwayne Johnson plays "The Rock" in every one of his movies.

Schmoova said:
The Rock is always a tough badass good guy.

Troubleshooter11 , therock Report

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DUN DUN
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to see him in negative role, with Ryan Reynold in positive in a proper action movie 😂 [Edit: Guys I have seen Red Notice, I want a 'serious' Ryan Reynold fight]

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#2

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group duh_metrius said:
I love him, but in the last ten to fifteen years Morgan Freeman is basically just Morgan Freeman in everything.

OwnagePwnage123 said:
Morgan Freeman is always the older advisor to the protagonist, from being God, to Red, to Vitruvius.

duh_metrius , morganfreeman Report

#3

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Adam Freaking Sandler....

Make some weird voices, scream a coupe times. All with a m***nic, lost facial expression. Rinse, Repeat

enterthedragynn , adamsandler Report

#4

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Bruce Willis is pretty much always some retired cop/military guy who is forced to return to a life of justice/military s**t after some bad s**t happens.

eat-KFC-all-day , Daiki Tomidokoro Report

#5

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group I_sell_phones_ama said:
Tom Cruise.

other-person replied:
I especially loved the movie in which he played the cocky young guy.

I_sell_phones_ama , Gage Skidmore Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He doesn't have an acting range as an actor! He is mediocre at least and wouldn't have this career if it wasn't for his looks

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#6

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Savarinoj said:
Ryan Reynolds. Sure he's a good looking guy with a smoking wife, but I mean come on people. I don't think I've ever seen him actually embrace a character - I just feel like "hey, that's how ryan acts in the real world"

jstewart0131 said:
Ryan Reynolds has made a career of being the wise cracking quick witted quipper. He’s literally Deadpool in every movie now, just sans the Uber violence, mutant abilities and 4th wall breaking.

That’s not a complaint, just the niche he has been able to very successfully embrace.

Savarinoj , vancityreynolds Report

#7

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group rumbidzai said:
Samuel L. Jackson pretty much just plays himself in every movie he's in.

ExternalUserError said:
Samuel L. Jackson is always the same badass.

rumbidzai , Samuel L. Jackson Report

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Chef Latte
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But like that’s true tho, he always is my favorite character in most of his movies

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#8

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Solterlun said:
Nicholas Cage portrays Nicholas Cage.

JavierLoustaunau said:
To his credit there are a ton of Nicolas Cages in his repertoire, mostly from mixing different levels of Crazy.

Solterlun , Gerald Geronimo Report

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#9

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Kevin Hart. Always the little guy that acts like he’s tough and is then shown being scared of everything.

indifferentleopard , kevinhart4real Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was different in the American adaptation of the French movie untouchables! (Untouchables is a lot better though)

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#10

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Sean Bean, the character that passes away by the end.

Stroke-Me-Clover , sean_bean_official Report

#11

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Will Ferrell is a bit of a one-trick pony. Sure his character has major differences based on the story-line, but at the end of the day, his version of an anchorman, pro-ice skater, basketball player, wedding/funeral crasher, nascar racer, etc.. is pretty much the same character every time..

jstehlick , Gage Skidmore Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh boy! If you want to torture me put me down to see a movie with him and Adam Sandler! Painful

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#12

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group John Wayne pretty much played John Wayne in every movie he was in even though the names of his character was different.

NWBoomer , Pixabay Report

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Stephen Steve Stephenson III
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was also a draft dodger who capitalized on the fact that most Hollywood leading men voluntarily went to war. Like Jimmy Stewart who gained weight after initially being rejected for being too slight—legend. https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/hollywood-legend-jimmy-stewart-was-a-world-war-ii-hero/

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#13

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Obligatory Michael Cera, always the quiet awkward guy.

Living-Ghost , Eva Rinaldi Report

#14

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Seth rogan... bumbling stoner buffoon.

OHPbrah Report

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Lily Mae Kitty
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's really who he is in real life but he's super nice. He's one of those people who sees the humor in everything and laughs a lot. I love that his parents drive him every time he interviews on Ellen. He's actually doing meatier roles and trying to be taken more seriously lately.

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#15

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Zooey Deschanel always plays the quirky quasi nerd hipster.

Bigleonard , zooeydeschanel Report

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#16

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Mark Wahlberg is always pissed and chasing someone. Swears a lot.

demarderollins , markwahlberg Report

#17

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Vince Vaughn has played a wacky underachiever from Chicago so many times it makes me sick.

Hopalicious , Gage Skidmore Report

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Sofie
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think he plays a real asshole to women in every movie I've seen him in. No offense to assholes. In Swedish the word I'm looking for is "mansgris". Man pig? No offense to man pig.

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#18

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group cheddarbiskit said:
As much as it pains me to say it, Chris Pratt. It always just seems like he is playing himself in different scenarios.

Serpensortia said:
Every time Chris Pratt is in a movie I always think of it as Burt Macklin: dinosaur wrangler / space hero / whatever.

cheddarbiskit , prattprattpratt Report

#19

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group RawRocKillz said:
Kristen Stewart.

sydneyunderfoot replied:
Seriously! One twitchy, angsty, but thinks she's cooler than everyone else and oh so edgy chick coming up.

RawRocKillz , Gage Skidmore Report

#20

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Sarah Jessica Parker is Carrie Bradshaw in every movie. Even in the movies she made before Sex and the City. Even the witch she plays in Hocus Pocus is Carrie Bradshaw.

[deleted] , sarahjessicaparker Report

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James016
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She wasn’t Carrie in Flight of The Navigator and she was really good in Divorce.

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#21

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group coffee-and-poptarts said:
Jennifer Aniston

MedschoolgirlMadison replied:
Blonde, tanned and her hair isn't even Gwyneth Paltrow nice (equally annoying). I'm a FRIENDS fan so can confirm she is so overrated.

coffee-and-poptarts , jenniferaniston Report

#22

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Benedict Cumberbatch is forever the genius character.

[deleted] , Gage Skidmore Report

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RoseTheMad
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe, but he's a fantastic actor. Just because a character is a genius doesn't mean they're the same character...

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#23

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Everything that I’ve seen Jesse Eisenberg in shows him as a stuck-up control freak snarker and I hate him for it.

SparksWatch51 , SRP Austin Photography Report

#24

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Judy Greer always plays the best friend/sidekick.

adhesives , lukeford.net Report

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Vicky Z
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a feeling they don't offer her something else! She is very underrated

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#25

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Aubrey Plaza. I love her but she can only do the sarcastic eye rolling act for so many movies.

demetrilennon , plazadeaubrey Report

#26

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Matthew Perry.

Since Friends premiered, I've never seen him play a character that isn't somewhat like Chandler. In mannerisms, humour, insecurity etc etc. Which makes me think - where does Chandler stop and Matthew Perry begin?

Teethandflowers , mattyperry4 Report

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Don't Look
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, to be fair, it was pointed out that Chandler is actually Matthew Perry.

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#27

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group I hate to say it but Jack Nicholson hit a certain age where he said 'f**k it I'm done acting'.

Notable films include 'Jack Nicholson in clown makeup', 'Jack Nicholson is a werewolf' and the Boston classic 'Jack Nicholson is a gangster'.

JavierLoustaunau , Georges Biard Report

#28

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Stephen Tobolowsky

You might not know his name, but you definitely know his face. He's in everything, and the characters he plays are almost always uptight and disapproving.

Louise Palanker , Louise Palanker Report

#29

Seann William Scott is usually an idiotic clown of sorts.

KyleRichXV Report

#30

30 Actors Who've Made A Career Off Of Playing The Same Person Over And Over, As Pointed Out By Folks In This Online Group Jon Bernthal. Always the tough guy. Although he does do it well. Liked him a lot in Fury.

louisbo12 , DoD News Report

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