Typecasting of Actors

Typecasting of Actors

In TV, Film and often Theatre Typecasting is the process in which an actor is recognised/identified as a certain character. Typecasting has become such a problem with some Actors that it has made it hard for them to find any jobs which strays away from their usual character in films. Characters occasionally reject certain film roles, just so they are not typecast with that particular actor; they also choose to play a role which goes against their usual character. Jim Carrey for example, often portrayed as funny/comedic in his films (e.g. Liar, Liar and Bruce Almighty), appeared in a film called The Number 23, in which his character becomes obsessed with a novel that he believes was written about him.

One of these particular actors is Jennifer Aniston, who often stars in Romantic Comedies. This is a Hybrid Genre and you can find out more about that on my blog. Jennifer Aniston has been acting for almost 20 years and people still don't know the full capabilities of her as an actress. This is of course down to the fact that she plays the same type of character in the majority of films she has been in.

She has appeared in films such as Just Go With It, The Break-Up, Love Happens, Rumour Has It and Along Came Polly, all of which she plays a character in which she..

• Needs to move on to another man
• Fight the one that she is already with

Admitted she has played other roles which stray away from her usual character, for example she plays a nymphomaniac in the film Horrible Bosses, but the above roles are the ones which Jennifer Aniston was and still is usually "typecast" as.

Perhaps the most typecast actor of all time is John Wayne. He is of course a legend in cinema, but he played the same roles in almost every film he did, The Cowboy Protagonist.  If there was ever a need for a heroic, stoic cowboy in a film, Wayne was the guy to go to during Hollywood's Golden Age

The first film he starred in, in which he played the Cowboy Protagonist was Stagecoach, following this film there were many others, including True Grit, They Were Expendable and Red River.

John Wayne also starred in WW2 Propaganda films, and the best part was that he barely changed his acting approach when going from 19th century cowboy to 20th century soldier. He was always the stereotypical macho leader who would fight against injustice and save anyone in need.

One aspect of typecasting which is also worth mentioning is that fact that it helps sell a film. In the case of Jennifer Aniston, I mentioned that she is known for her roles in various Romance Comedies, so having her typecasted in a Romantic Comedy will attract an audience because they like the characters she portrays in this particular genre of film. People are likely to go see a film if their favourite actor/actress is cast in it, so having them typecasted in the same roles ensure the same audience will keep coming back.