What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
04-06-12, 12:53 PM
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What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
I came across this list on Wikipedia of all the actors and films that have portrayed J. Edgar Hoover. It made me wonder: What real historical figure has been depicted by the most actors and what real historical figure has been depicted in the most films?
Broderick Crawford and James Wainwright portrayed Hoover in the Larry Cohen film The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Ernest Borgnine in both the television film Blood Feud (1983) and Hoover (2000).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Vincent Gardenia in the television film Kennedy (1983).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Jack Warden in the television film Hoover vs. The Kennedys (1987).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Treat Williams in the television film J. Edgar Hoover (1987).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Kevin Dunn in the film Chaplin (1992).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Pat Hingle in the television film Citizen Cohn (1992).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Richard Dysart, both in the television film Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993) and in the 1995 film Panther.
Hoover was portrayed by actor Bob Hoskins in the Oliver Stone drama Nixon (1995).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Larry Drake in the Robert Dyke film Timequest (2002).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Billy Crudup in the Michael Mann film Public Enemies (2009).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Enrico Colantoni in the television miniseries The Kennedys (2011).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the Clint Eastwood biopic J. Edgar (2011).
My guess would be that Lincoln, Nixon, and Hitler have been played by a lot of actors in a lot of movies. Especially when you take into account comic portrails. Lincoln was even on Star Trek!
Broderick Crawford and James Wainwright portrayed Hoover in the Larry Cohen film The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Ernest Borgnine in both the television film Blood Feud (1983) and Hoover (2000).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Vincent Gardenia in the television film Kennedy (1983).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Jack Warden in the television film Hoover vs. The Kennedys (1987).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Treat Williams in the television film J. Edgar Hoover (1987).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Kevin Dunn in the film Chaplin (1992).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Pat Hingle in the television film Citizen Cohn (1992).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Richard Dysart, both in the television film Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993) and in the 1995 film Panther.
Hoover was portrayed by actor Bob Hoskins in the Oliver Stone drama Nixon (1995).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Larry Drake in the Robert Dyke film Timequest (2002).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Billy Crudup in the Michael Mann film Public Enemies (2009).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Enrico Colantoni in the television miniseries The Kennedys (2011).
Hoover was portrayed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the Clint Eastwood biopic J. Edgar (2011).
My guess would be that Lincoln, Nixon, and Hitler have been played by a lot of actors in a lot of movies. Especially when you take into account comic portrails. Lincoln was even on Star Trek!
04-06-12, 01:02 PM
#2
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
IMDB has 342 listings for the character of Adolf Hitler, although that includes TV shows and shorts:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027857/
Lincoln has 300 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026778/
Nixon has 65 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027234/
Jesus has 354 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026778/
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027857/
Lincoln has 300 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026778/
Nixon has 65 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027234/
Jesus has 354 listings:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026778/
04-06-12, 02:37 PM
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
Didn't think about Jesus, yeah that would have to be number one.
Meanwhile I bet Muhammad is in last place. Not a lot of movies that depict him.
Meanwhile I bet Muhammad is in last place. Not a lot of movies that depict him.
04-06-12, 03:21 PM
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
most historical figure depicted in a film has to be Wong Fei Hung. Also the most by the same guy too. Fucker made over a 100 movies as WFH.
04-06-12, 04:30 PM
#7
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
I'll bet when you add things like commercials, Lincoln jumps to the top of the list. Not too many commercials featuring Jesus or Hitler...but I can think of a ton with Lincoln.
04-06-12, 05:12 PM
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000742/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Fei-hung_filmography
The actor Kwan Tak-hing portrayed Wong Fei Hung in at least 77 films, but not over 100. He was in over 100 movies total; he did play characters than Wong Fei Hung.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwan_Tak-hing
04-06-12, 06:23 PM
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04-06-12, 06:37 PM
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
JFK came to mind but IMDb's character function is kind of a PITA because of all the variations, and I don't care enough to figure it out
04-06-12, 07:26 PM
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04-06-12, 09:57 PM
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04-06-12, 11:57 PM
#15
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
Napoleon has 337: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027456/
04-07-12, 04:45 PM
#23
Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
I think I've seen more movies featuring Jesse James and Billy the Kid than with Lincoln, Hitler and J. Edgar Hoover.
04-07-12, 07:09 PM
#24
Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
I can only think of 2 guys who played Jesus: Caviezal and Dafoe. I can only think of 2 movies I saw Hitler in: Downfall and Inglorious Basterds.
J. Edgar Hoover? Even less than those.
J. Edgar Hoover? Even less than those.
04-07-12, 07:32 PM
#25
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Re: What real historical figure has been portrayed by the most actors
One of the first Jesus portrayals that came to mind for me was by John Hurt in History of the World, Part I. And of course there was also a Hitler - on ice! (but also a character as Hitler?)