Amusing casting in films.

[Boris Bajic]

The actor Richard Todd plays Major Howard in the film The Longest Day.

At one point in the film, Major Howard (played by Todd) is approached by a Captain Richard Todd (played by another actor) with news that the reinforcements have arrived.

So the actor Richard Todd, pretending to be John Howard, received a report from another actor, pretending to be him. It's like one of those time-machine larks when a character sees himself or herself in another time.

It's a tiny and missable moment in a very hit-and-miss film, but it makes me chuckle that he plays someone else in a scene in which he (played by another) appears.

Any other instances like this?

 

[Grant Fondo]

The actor Richard Todd plays Major Howard in the film The Longest Day.

At one point in the film, Major Howard (played by Todd) is approached by a Captain Richard Todd (played by another actor) with news that the reinforcements have arrived.

So the actor Richard Todd, pretending to be John Howard, received a report from another actor, pretending to be him. It's like one of those time-machine larks when a character sees himself or herself in another time.

It's a tiny and missable moment in a very hit-and-miss film, but it makes me chuckle that he plays someone else in a scene in which he (played by another) appears.

Any other instances like this?

Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich,

 

[Cheddar George]

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher ........... apologies, you said amusing not ridiculous.

 

[swee'pea99]

The actor Richard Todd plays Major Howard in the film The Longest Day.

At one point in the film, Major Howard (played by Todd) is approached by a Captain Richard Todd (played by another actor) with news that the reinforcements have arrived.

So the actor Richard Todd, pretending to be John Howard, received a report from another actor, pretending to be him. It's like one of those time-machine larks when a character sees himself or herself in another time.

It's a tiny and missable moment in a very hit-and-miss film, but it makes me chuckle that he plays someone else in a scene in which he (played by another) appears.

Any other instances like this?

Thanks for sharing with us. I think I'm going to go and have a bit of a lie down now...

 

[Dayvo]

Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher ........... apologies, you said amusing not ridiculous.

Have to agree with you.

I've read most of the (Jack Reacher) books, but will not see the film(s) as long as that dwarf plays the giant.

 

[Dayvo]

I was surprised, then amused, to see Richard Branson have a small role in Casino Royale.

 

[surfdude]

Arnold Schwarzenegger in most of the films he has been in .

 

[ASC1951]

I admit that I always stay in the cinema to watch the credits through to the very end. How could I risk missing eg:-

Second second assistant assistant Director ..............
Rabbit wrangler ...........................................................
Extra hair .....................................................................

 

[Boris Bajic]

Look, you are simply not playing by the rules, you lot!

What I seek is very simple: Examples of a paratrooper-turned-actor who played during the filming of a box-office blockbuster the officer to whom he himself had reported during the century-defining action depicted in the film and then had the pleasure of seeing another actor playing himself as he played another real character. To allow more wrigle room, I am prepared to accept soldiers from parachute units but who were landed by glider on the occasion in question. Also, the action depicted has to have taken place between March 4th 1712 and August 12th 1944. On a Tuesday.

Surely that's a broad enough set of criteria for some of you film buffs to find other examples rather than bleating about hugely succesful but diminutive scientologists forever haunted by rumours that their succession of screen-goddess wives were nothing but beards.

Please... You need to try harder!

 

[morrisman]

I was in The Man Who Knew Too Little somewhat typecast as a morris dancer

 

[captain nemo1701]

Any other instances like this?
Yes, I like movies and TV shows that twist things around like that and have 'homages' to people in real life or other shows/movies.

A few instances I know of:
There is a scene in the 1992 Doors movie where Jim Morrison marries a woman who is a Wiccan priestess. The actress who officiates the marriage ceremony in the film is the real-life priestess who married Morrison in the 60's.

I was surprised, then amused, to see Richard Branson have a small role in Casino Royale.

He also cameos as the shuttle pilot in the film Superman Returns (it's pants)

On TV last night I re-watched a fun episode of Stargate Atlantis on Sky2. In the episode 'McKay and Mrs. Miller', Rodney McKay's (David Hewlett) sister is played by his real-life sister.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the late Majel Barret Roddenberry (nurse Chapel in the 1960's show), provided the voice of the Enterprise computer and also played Deanna Troi's overbearing mother. There is one funny scene in an episode where she asks the computer a question and starts arguing with it, essentially arguing with herself.
Still on Trek, in the 2009 reboot, Wil Wheaton, Wesley Crusher from ST-TNG, provides digitally altered voices of the Romulans. He does get to say 'That' ll ignite the red matter' in his own voice.