Line #157 Main/CharactersAndCasting


1	''Ways in which roles are impacted by being played by human actors.'' See UsefulNotes/{{Colorism}} to see an historical explainer on how skintone has affected casting.
2	----
3	!!Tropes
4	[[index]]
5	[floatboxright:
6	Categories:
7	+ AlwaysFemale
8	+ AlwaysMale
9	+ BadActingTropes
10	+ TropesOnABus
11	+ VoiceActingTropes
12	+ VoiceAndVocalTropes
13	]
14	* AbilityOverAppearance: When making a LiveActionAdaptation, actors are cast based on how well they play the role rather than how closely they resemble the character as depicted in the source material.
15	* ActingForTwo: Multiple characters played by the same actor.
16	* ActorAllusion: The work references another work that the character's actor was involved with.
17	* ActorExistenceLimbo: A character in an animated work is reduced to non-speaking cameos when their voice actor becomes unavailable.
18	* ActorLeavesCharacterDies: A character is killed off after circumstances prevent the actor playing the character from returning.
19	* ActorInspiredElement: A character's trait is inspired and/or [[ThrowItIn improvised]] by their actor.
20	* ActorRoleConfusion: The actor gets confused for the fictional character they play.
21	* ActorSwap: A character is played by different actors.
22	* AdaptationalProtagonist: A minor or major character becomes TheProtagonist in an adaptation or ContinuityReboot.
23	* AdaptationalSexuality: The adaptation changes a character's sexual orientation.
24	* AdvertisedExtra: A character is prominently featured in advertising and the title sequence when their role in the actual work is minor.
25	* AffirmativeActionGirl: A female character is added to a team for the sake of diversity.
26	* AgeLift: The adaptation changes a character's age.
27	* AllStarCast: A work has a cast of big-name actors.
28	* AllStereotypeCast: All of the characters in the story fit into some sort of social stereotype.
29	* AmateurCast: A work has a cast of untrained or untried actors.
30	* AndYouWereThere: Like a MirrorUniverse, but with a fun-house mirror (think ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'').
31	* TheArtifact: A story element or character that is no longer important to the plot, but it's still there.
32	* AscendedExtra: Giving a minor character a more important role.
33	* AscendedFancast: An actor fans wanted for a role gets cast in it.
34	* AsHimself: The actor plays themselves.
35	* AutobiographicalRole: When someone plays himself in a {{Docudrama}}, {{Biopic}}, or other {{dramatization}} [[BasedOnATrueStory of a true story]].
36	* AwardCategoryFraud: Someone is nominated for (or wins) in what is clearly the wrong category.
37	* AwesomeDearBoy: The actor agreed to play the part because they find their role to be cool.
38	* BackupTwin: A character who has been killed off is replaced by revealing them to have a surviving twin.
39	* BillingDisplacement: Top billing is given to the most recognizable actors even though their characters are not the stars.
40	* BitCharacter: A character whose role consists merely of a few lines, but is more specific than a generic extra.
41	* BreakoutCharacter: A minor character who is so popular that s/he becomes a major character.
42	* BritishNazis: Nazis played by UK actors.
43	* ButIPlayOneOnTV: Actors referred to by the names of characters the they played.
44	* ButNotTooWhite: A white character has tanned skin.
45	* ButYouWereThereAndYouAndYou: A character tells a story, and the characters are depicted as people the storyteller knows.
46	* TheCameo: A famous person or fictional character makes a brief appearance.
47	* CameoCluster: A high number of cameos in a segment or episode of a work.
48	* CantUnHearIt: A specific actor's performance of a specific character becomes how people tend to hear the character's voice when reading written dialogue spoken by the character.
49	* CastAsAMask: A character and their disguised self are played by separate actors.
50	* CastFullOfWriters: A show or movie where the main cast also serve as the writers of the piece.
51	* CastIncest: Family members are played by actors who are in a relationship in real life.
52	* CastOfSnowflakes: The work has a great deal of variety when it comes to character designs.
53	* TheCastShowoff: An actor's talents other than acting are worked into the plot.
54	* CastSpeciation: Two characters who serve a similar role in the story are differentiated by their contrasting personalities.
55	* CastTheExpert: Hiring a professional to act in a work about said profession.
56	* CastingGag: An actor appears to be deliberately cast as a character similar to another character they have played.
57	* CelebrityCameo: A famous person who isn't part of the main cast makes an appearance in a work.
58	* CelebrityParadox: The people behind the work may not exist in the work's universe.
59	* CelebrityStar: An episode of a show makes the best possible use of its celebrity guest star.
60	* CelebrityToons: Cartoons starring animated versions of real people.
61	* CharacterAgedWithTheActor: Rather than replace the actor when they become "too old" to play their character, they simply develop the series to accommodate the actor's aging so they can still play the role indefinitely.
62	* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: A character is killed off after the actor who played them dies.
63	* CharacterMagneticTeam: A group of magnetic heroes that attracts fringe characters and party replacements.
64	* CharacterOutlivesActor: A character remains alive even though the original actor passed away.
65	* ChewingTheScenery: A character displays exaggerated and over-the-top behavior.
66	* ChildrenVoicingChildren: A character is played by an age-appropriate actor.
67	* ChromosomeCasting: The characters are either all male or all female.
68	* ChronicallyKilledActor: An actor tends to play characters who get killed.
69	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: A character disappears from the series without explanation and is never mentioned again.
70	* ClassicallyTrainedExtra: A talented actor is severely underutilized.
71	* ColorblindCasting: Characters are cast without regard to race, gender, or age.
72	* CompositeCharacter: The adaptation merges two or more characters into one character.
73	* ContinuityCameo: A character appears as part of either a ContinuityNod or a MythologyGag.
74	* ContrastingReplacementCharacter: A character replaces another character and has opposite or contrasting attributes.
75	* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: An antagonist who is very different from the antagonist in the previous installment.
76	* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: In the sequel, the protagonist has a personality that contrasts with the protagonist of the original.
77	* ConvenientReplacementCharacter: A new character conveniently arriving in time to replace an outgoing one.
78	* CoupleBomb: A work is either made by or is built around a RealLife couple, but is considered a failure.
79	* CousinOliver: Including a younger character to try and keep the rest of the cast from looking old.
80	* CreatorCameo: A character is played by or represents the work's creator.
81	* CreatorChosenCasting: The cast is chosen by the creator of the work.
82	* CrossDressingVoices: Cartoon characters whose voice actors are different genders than they are.
83	* CrosscastRole: A role that is played by an actor of the opposite gender.
84	* CrossoverCameo: A character from an otherwise separate franchise makes a cameo in a work.
85	* TheDanza: The character shares their name with the actor.
86	* DarkhorseCasting: Obscure or little-known actors are cast in movies.
87	* DawsonCasting: Adults playing teenagers.
88	* DeathByCameo: An actor has a cameo where they're killed or seen as a corpse.
89	* DecompositeCharacter: The adaptation splits one character into two or more characters.
90	* DeletedRole: An actor was involved with the work, but had all of their scenes cut from the final product.
91	* DemotedToExtra: Reducing an important character to a minor role.
92	* DescendedCreator: A character in the work is played by the creator.
93	* {{Deuteragonist}}: The second-most important character in the story.
94	* DisabledCharacterDisabledActor: A disabled character is played by an actor who has the disability for real.
95	* DroppedAfterThePilot: A character featured in the pilot episode who is absent for the remainder of the series.
96	* DyeingForYourArt: Actor dyes or shaves their hair in order to play the role.
97	* EconomyCast: Using about one actor to fill a role that would usually be used by several in order to save money.
98	* EnsembleDarkhorse: A minor character who is popular with the audiences.
99	* FakeGuestStar: A regularly appearing actor is credited as a guest star.
100	* FakeNationality: An actor plays a character of a different nationality.
101	** FakeAmerican: An American character played by an actor who isn't really American.
102	** FakeAustralian: An Australian character played by an actor who isn't really Australian.
103	** FakeBrit: A British character played by an actor who isn't really British.
104	** FakeIrish: An Irish character played by an actor who isn't really Irish.
105	** FakeMixedRace: A mixed-race character played by an actor who isn't really mixed-race.
106	** FakeRussian: A Russian character played by an actor who isn't really Russian.
107	** FakeScot: A Scottish character played by an actor who isn't really Scottish.
108	* FakeShemp: Actor not available? Use archived footage, archived audio, and/or obscured body doubles to simulate their presence!
109	* FinalSeasonCasting: A show experiences unusual and significant cast changes for its final season.
110	* FlashbackWithTheOtherDarrin: A flashback sequence taking place before the character got recast uses the new actor.
111	* TheFriendsWhoNeverHang: Two people within a large close-knit group who aren't especially close to one another.
112	* FullCirclePortraying: Two or more characters have both been portrayed by the same two actors.
113	* FunnyCharacterBoringActor: An actor who is hilarious on screen, but serious or dry in real life.
114	* GenderIsNoObject: Many jobs in fiction are equal-opportunity, even if they weren't in real life.
115	* GibberingGenius: An intelligent character who is sometimes hard to understand.
116	* GiveGeeksAChance: Nerds are given a chance at love.
117	* GodCreatedCanonForeigner: The adaptation features a new character created by the original work's creator.
118	* GushingAboutGuestStars
119	* HamToHamCombat: Two or more [[LargeHam Large Hams]] try to see who can [[ChewingTheScenery eat more scenery]].
120	* TheHeavy: The antagonist that does the most work in driving the plot forward.
121	* HeroAntagonist: The good guy who is also the antagonist, that gets in odds with the protagonists, driving the plot forward.
122	* HistoryWithCelebrity: A character's backstory involves a celebrity, which can be used to bring said celebrity into the work.
123	* HollywoodBeautyStandards: Fiction makes people more good-looking than in real life.
124	* HollywoodGenetics: Biologically related characters look way different.
125	* HollywoodHomely: What would be plain or normal in RealLife presented as hideous InUniverse.
126	* HollywoodOld: A young and attractive actress plays the role of an elderly woman without alterations to her appearance.
127	* HypotheticalCasting: Someone involved in a fictional project makes a list of actors who would best represent a cast of fictional characters.
128	* IAmNotLeonardNimoy: Viewers see the character as their actor.
129	* IAmNotSpock: Actor tries to distance themselves from their most famous role.
130	* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: A guest appearance by an actor who previously worked with a regular cast member.
131	* IconicSequelCharacter: A character who is strongly associated with the franchise even though they were not present in the first installment.
132	* IdenticalGrandson: A character has an ancestor or descendant who looks just like them, which is often done so that the actor can play their character's ancestor or descendant.
133	* IncestuousCasting: A couple is played by actors who are related in real life.
134	* InsertCameo: Directors or other creators using their appendages for an insert shot.
135	* IntellectualAnimal: Animals that are smart enough to do things normal animals can't do.
136	* IronyAsSheIsCast: An actor plays a character who does not share the same skills as them.
137	* JewsPlayingNazis: A Nazi or anti-Semitic character is portrayed by a Jewish actor.
138	* LadyMondegreen: Fans refer to a character by the name they misheard.
139	* LastEpisodeNewCharacter: A new character is introduced in the series' final installment.
140	* LenoDevice: An event is only significant once late-night comics start making fun of it.
141	* LongBusTrip: A character is written out of the show and the series keeps going without the character ever coming back.
142	* LongRunnerCastTurnover: If a series lasts long enough, it will be unavoidable to recast, replace or remove a bunch of characters.
143	* MajorCharacterMainstreamAccent: The main character inevitably speaks in a neutral modern accent.
144	* MakingUseOfTheTwin: When an actor who has a twin is hired, it's made so that the twin also gets to play a role in the work.
145	* MandatoryLine: Strange or quirky piece of dialog probably added for contractual reasons.
146	* MeanCharacterNiceActor: A mean character is played by an actor who is nicer in real life.
147	* MetaCasting: An actor portrays a character that utilizes the actor's history.
148	* MinimalistCast: A cast made up of a handful of main characters and ''rarely'' anyone else.
149	* MoneyDearBoy: The only reason they agreed to be involved with the work at all was so they'd get paid for it.
150	* MonochromeCasting: A work that has every character played by actors of the same race.
151	* MustHaveLotsOfFreeTime: A character spends a lot of time with protagonists outside their own age or social group.
152	* MyGrandsonMyself: A character covers their own immortality by posing as their own son, then grandson, etc.
153	* NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognize: The culprit of a mystery story is solved because the role is played by a big-name actor.
154	* NewscasterCameo: A work features a cameo by a real-life newscaster.
155	* NiceCharacterMeanActor: A mean actor plays a character who is nicer than they actually are.
156	* NonActorVehicle: A celebrity not famous for acting plays the main character in a production.
157	* NonSingingVoice: A character has separate actors for talking and singing.
158	* NotAllowedToGrowUp: This character will remain the same age regardless of how long the series lasts.
159	* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: An actor plays a character of a specific nationality, but doesn't even try speaking their lines with the proper accent.
160	* NotQuiteStarring: A work is billed as starring a celebrity when in truth the celebrity is played by an impersonator.
161	* NotSoSmallRole: A big-name actor plays a minor character, who turns out to be crucial to the plot.
162	* TheNthDoctor: When a character gets recast, an in-universe reason is given for why the character now looks and/or sounds different.
163	* ObviousStuntDouble: The stunt double chosen to replace the actor for more dangerous scenes hardly looks anything like the actor they're standing in for.
164	* OneSceneWonder: A character only has one brief scene, but becomes one of the most memorable aspects of the work.
165	* OneShotCharacter: A character who appears in only one episode of a series and is never seen again.
166	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: The actor accidentally slips into speaking with their natural accent when the character they play does not have the accent.
167	* TheOriginalDarrin: A character gets recast for a while, but eventually the original actor comes back to reprise their role.
168	* TheOtherDarrin: A character ends up being played by a different actor.
169	* TheOtherMarty: A character gets recast in the middle of production, with the new actor re-shooting the original actor's scenes (or dubbing over the original actor's lines if it's an animated work).
170	* ThePeteBest: A replacement becomes famous rather than the original.
171	* PlayingAgainstType: An actor plays a character who is noticeably different from the kinds of characters the actor usually plays.
172	* PlayingTheirOwnTwin: If a character has a twin, the actor will play both characters.
173	* PlayingWithCharacterType: The character does match the kind of roles the actor usually plays, but still has something different from the way the actor usually plays the role.
174	* PlaysGreatEthnics: An actor is able to play a character of any nationality.
175	* PoliticianGuestStar: A real-life politician appears in a work.
176	* PollyWantsAMicrophone: A parrot is able to speak on its own instead of just mimicking what other people say in front of it.
177	* ProductionPosse: A work shares actors, writers, etc. who were involved with another work.
178	* PromotionToOpeningTitles: A recurring character is added to the show's TitleSequence.
179	* PoorMansSubstitute: An actor who can impersonate a specific celebrity if hiring the real deal is too expensive.
180	* QueerCharacterQueerActor: A gay character is played by a gay actor.
181	* QuestionableCasting: Audiences feel that they cast the wrong actor to play the part.
182	* RaceLift: The adaptation changes a character's ethnicity.
183	* RealLifeRelative: Related characters are played by actors who actually are related in real life.
184	* RealLifeWritesTheHairstyle: A character's hairstyle is affected by real-life circumstances.
185	* RealPersonCameo: A work with a character based on a real person who has a cameo by that person.
186	* RecastAsARegular: An actor who plays a minor role gets a major role later on.
187	* RecurringCharacter ({{Recurrer}}): A character that appears prominently in multiple episodes.
188	* RedHerringShirt: A character who seems disposable and insignificant ends up playing a larger role in the story.
189	* RegularCharacter: A character that appears in every episode.
190	* RemakeCameo: A remake or reboot of the original work features a cameo by an actor who had a role in the original version.
191	** PredecessorCastingGag: When an actor who played a certain character is cast as that character's InUniverse forebearer, usually a parent or mentor.
192	* RememberTheNewGuy: A new character appears out of nowhere and is treated as if they were already around from the start.
193	* RequiredSpinoffCrossover: If a work of fiction has a spinoff, it's mandatory for the spinoff and the original work to do a crossover at least once.
194	* RetroactiveRecognition: Actors featured in work before they were popular.
195	* RevolvingDoorCasting: A show which suffers an excessive regular turnover in the main cast.
196	* RoleReprise: An actor returns to play a role they originally played in the new continuity or a long time after they last played the role.
197	* SameCharacterButDifferent: A character is drastically changed between installments, yet still expects the audience to accept that this is the same person from the last installment.
198	* SameLanguageDub: A live-action work has separate actors for speaking the character's dialogue and physically portraying the character.
199	* SecondEpisodeIntroduction: An important character in the series who doesn't make their first appearance until the second episode or installment.
200	* SecondEpisodeSubstitute: A character featured in the pilot is replaced by a similar character for the rest of the series run.
201	* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Actors who are not related, but look like they can be.
202	* SerkisFolk: Animating characters by filming computer-animated models controlled by actors in suits.
203	* SesameStreetCred: Well-known actors and bands appear on a children's program.
204	* ShooOutTheNewGuy: A new character is quickly written out of the series after they prove to be unpopular.
205	* SignificantDoubleCasting: There's a good reason why those two characters are played by the same actor.
206	* SlidingScaleOfAnimalCast
207	* SmallRoleBigImpact: A minor character who completely changes the trajectory of a story.
208	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: The sole female character in a group otherwise consisting of males.
209	** StarringSmurfette: The main character is a different gender from the supporting characters.
210	* SoMyKidsCanWatch: An actor agrees to play a role because they want a work that their children can watch.
211	* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: A character becomes older between appearances without explanation.
212	* SpecialGuest: A star brought onto a series to play himself or a character very similar to the one he's famous for playing.
213	* SpinoffSendoff: A character in the original show who is to star in the spinoff gets one last time to shine before the spinoff starts.
214	* SpoiledByTheCastList: An actor's presence in a cast list spoils a surprise character appearance.
215	* StageNames: An alias used by actors when they're performing.
216	* StarDerailingRole: The role that led to an actor's career going down the drain.
217	* StarMakingRole: The role that led to an actor having a long and memorable career.
218	* StarringAStarAsAStar: A famous actor is cast to play the part of a fictional similarly famous actor.
219	* StarringSpecialEffects: Animated or puppet character is one of the stars of the movie.
220	* StuntCasting: Casting a famous actor in hopes of cashing in on their popularity.
221	* SuddenlyEthnicity: A character is revealed to be an ethnicity that neither the other characters or audience knew anything about.
222	* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: A replacement character that is almost exactly like their predecessor.
223	* TemporarySubstitute: A character is replaced when their actor is unavailable at the moment.
224	* ThoseTwoActors: Two actors who are frequently cast together in movies.
225	* ThreeMonthOldNewborn: A newborn baby is played by a baby who's a bit older than that.
226	* TimeShiftedActor: A character is played by a different actor for scenes taking place when they were younger or older.
227	* TransCharacterCisActor: A transgender or non-binary character being played by a cisgender performer.
228	* {{Transplant}}: A character reused from another work taking place in the same continuity.
229	** LateSpinOffTransplant: A character isn't reused in a spinoff until after some time has passed.
230	* TVTeen: The media depiction of adolescence.
231	* TwoGirlsToATeam: The two female members of a group otherwise consisting of male characters.
232	* {{Typecasting}}: When an actor keeps playing the same kind of role in most of their works.
233	* UglyGuyHotWife: A married couple consisting of an ugly husband and an attractive wife.
234	* UnbuiltCastingType
235	* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Family members look more like each other than logic would permit.
236	* UnderageCasting: A character is played by an actor who is younger than the character's intended age.
237	* UnexpectedCharacter: A character that few considered likely to appear in a work makes an appearance.
238	* UniversalAdaptorCast: The series tends to do stories with the same characters playing different roles.
239	* UnreplacedDeparted: A character leaves and no one fills their slot.
240	* VacationDearBoy: A work is produced in an exotic location simply as an excuse for the actor/producer/director to spend a holiday at said exotic location.
241	* VocalEvolution: A character's voice changes in spite of still being voiced by the same actor.
242	* WrittenInInfirmity: An actor gets injured during filming and the creators simply change it so that the actor's character suffers the injury as well in order to prevent production from being delayed by waiting for the actor to recover.
243	* YouLookFamiliar: One actor plays two unrelated characters, within the same series, but (usually) different episodes.
244	* YouMightRememberMeFrom: An actor with a popular role in the past has a resurgence doing something else.
245	* YoungerAndHipper: A work's characters are retooled to be younger.
246	[[/index]]

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