Why do people confuse celebrities with characters?

[DTF955]

A few times, I've seen people on boards ask questions about a celebrity using the character's name, or vice versa. Or, they'll atrribute a character's personality to that of his or her performer.

Now, this may not be a *totally* new phenomenon, I'm sure; I recall an ad fromt he late '70s, I forget for what, starring Tony Randall in which he starts saying, "People often confuse me with the roles I play. For instance, i'm not a 'neat freak....'" Then, with the obvious "Odd Couple" reference to make people remember the ad (if not the product :-) he says "Of course, I'm not a slob, either, like...er..." And, there was the Barney Miller episode with the woman who came into the precinct asking them to arrest a character on a soap opera. But, at least she knew the difference between character and performer, even if she didn't know the difference between fantasy and reality. (Even as wild as I got over Charlie Brown and friends as a kid, I knew they were *imaginary* friends.)

Is it not really a problem and I've just noticed a few weird, isolated instances? Has this problem always existed? Is it a lack of thinking? A combination of these? Or what?

[Ireneparalegal]

There are those who do confuse the celebs with the roles they play. I have read or seen interviews where celebs, mostly soap stars, are approached by fans on the street or wherever, and the fans will start getting mad at them (if they played a villian). I remember Larry Hagman from DALLAS saying how so many people would rag on him for being so cruel to his tv wife, Sue Ellen, how mean and dirty he was, what a ruthless, cunning snake he was.

I can't speak for those who post on boards using the name of a tv character, but I suppose it is easier for them to make their post (and their point) by using the name that is more familiar to everyone rather than the person's real name.

[Mikado]

There's many examples of this phenomenon, Larry Linville for instance was said to be one of the nicest, most generous people in Hollywood, but, got tons of hate mail because he played Frank Burns on M*A*S*H. (Something that really bothered him, apparently)
Susan Lucci is reviled by soap fans everywhere , but, she's NOT really Erica Kane, the Superb*tch from All my Children!
Then you can take the cases of both Jack Webb and Abe Vigoda; both of whom were often taken for real criminals, back when they played bit gangster parts, in "B" movies, but later became beloved TV cops as Joe Friday (Dragnet) and Sargeant Phil Fish!(Barney Miller)

[bingbangbaby]

Well and there's always the infamous example of the producers of the Mary Tyler Moore show not wanting to make Mary Richards divorced because they feared the audience would think she was divorced from Rob Petrie. Not an example of confusing character and actor, but still an example of people taking a character and running in all directions with it.

[comedyfreak]

Margaret Hamilton who played the wicked witch of the west, had a person push her before. They say if you hate the person who plays a villain, then they did a good job. People take it too extreme though.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

Margaret Hamilton who played the wicked witch of the west, had a person push her before. They say if you hate the person who plays a villain, then they did a good job. People take it too extreme though.

It is ironic that her performance as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (1939) was so scary to children, because her first job was as a kindergarten teacher. She loved and doted upon children all her life.

Until the day she died she had children recognizing her and coming up to her to ask why she was so mean to Dorothy. She became very concerned about the role's effect on children, and finally guested on "MisteRogers' Neighborhood" (1968) to explain that the Witch was just a character in the film, and not herself.

She was the kindergarten teacher of five-year-old William Windom, until she threw him out for rambunctious behavior. Another of her students was Jim Backus.

Gave her most noted recollection of her role in The Wizard of Oz (1939) by writing the Preface to the book "The Making of The Wizard of Oz" by Aljean Harmetz.

Nearly quit The Wizard of Oz (1939) after a December 1938 accident in which she was severely burned during the appearing/disappearing scene in Munchkinland. She was off the film for more than a month.

Welcomed pen-pal fans to visit her at her New York City apartment in later years.

Her legendary role as the Wicked Witch of the West was ranked #4 on the American Film Institute's villains list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.


And Your Little Dog, Too: Miss Hamilton was a strong promoter of animal rights and the welfare of companion animals. She often appeared in TV public service announcements with her cat, pleading that everyone spay and neuter their pets to help cut down on the number of unwanted, homeless animals. She also had a dachshund named Otto.

For many years, she appeared in Maxwell House coffee commercials as the feisty storekeeper who declares, "It's the only brand I sell!"

[treky]

I remember seeing an episode of SNL in the 70s; where Rob Reiner was the host and he was saying that "some people think I'm really married to Sally Struthers".
I know that; for years people used to think that Jack Benny was cheap; and single; like he was on his radio and TV shows.

[Zoneboy]

Certainly not a reliable source but several years ago I read in one of the tabloids that Actor Timothy Busfield was spotted in grocery store by a woman who couldn't stand his character Elliot Weston from Thirtysomething and walked up to him and slapped him across the face.

[treky]

in the 40s; some kids thought that Curly from THE 3 STOOGES was really like he appeared on camera. (for all the non-stooges fans, he was the fat one with the shaved head)

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

For many years, she appeared in Maxwell House coffee commercials as the feisty storekeeper who declares, "It's the only brand I sell!"

I vividly remember those Maxwell House commercials with her, she was getting up ther in age at that time. Very interesting info on her, thanks for posting.

[OH Nuts!]

Another example of an actor being the opposite of the character they played was Carrol O'Connor, who played bigoted Archie Bunker in All In The Family. In real life Carrol was urbane and learned, behaved kindly to others, and who, at one time, taught English.

[Tubehead]

I remeber watching Alice on ion couple months ago. they had geroge burns in alice. he was in the movie oh god. one of Alice friends thought that he was really god. he just played god in the movie. it was good epsidoes.

[ekkostar]

I admit to getting into my favorite actors' characters so much that when I do see them on a talk show, I'm shocked with how sweet and kind they are in real life!

[mrs.gingerhinkley]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

She was the kindergarten teacher of five-year-old William Windom, until she threw him out for rambunctious behavior. Another of her students was Jim Backus.

Groovy piece of information!!

Since Jim Backus is related to Gilligan's Island...
Tina Louise always got ticked with always being known as 'Ginger'. Infact, it's rumoured that when someone would come up and say "Aren't you Ginger?", she would reply point blank, "No, I'm Tina." (and then of course you have the complete opposite, Alan Hale Jr., who 'was' the Skipper everywhere he went)

But, I agree, I think it's an unfair justification that the actors and the characters are the same person, because they just aren't!

[Mikado]

Much as it embarrasses me to admit it, I can't STAND John Larroquette in anything, and it all has to do with the fact that he played a total jerk on Night Court...it doesnt matter what role he plays, all i see is "Dan Feilding" and I will change the channel, as soon as I see him! (So i guess I'm not immune to this phenomenon)