History Main / ActorRoleConfusion

* The basis of the plot of ''Film/ThreeAmigos'' when some poor and desperate Mexican villagers mistake three (down on their luck) movie stars for the heroes they play on-screen and hire them to protect their town from ''real'' bandits.

* When [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Michael Richards]] got in trouble for [[NWordPrivileges his racial outbursts]] at a comedy club in 2006, people would refer to him Kramer or gave nicknames like "[=KKKramer=]". It got to the point that Kenny Kramer, the Kramer character's namesake, issued a statement saying he himself wasn't racist.

** That might be an homage to an episode of ''{{Hawaii Five-O}}'' where a mentally ill boy kills men who resemble characters menacing the female protagonist of his favorite comic strip.

* When [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Michael Richards]] got in trouble for [[NWordPrivileges his racial outbursts]] at a comedy club in 2006, people would refer to him Kramer or gave nicknames like "[=KKKramer=]". It got to the point that Kenny Kramer, the Kramer character's namesake/inspiration, issued a statement saying he himself wasn't racist.

A [[LoonyFan reality-impaired fan]] confuses the actor with the character.

* Inverted in one episode of ''TheSimpsons'': Patty and Selma kidnap Richard Dean Anderson due to their obsession with ''{{MacGyver}}''. After he [=MacGyvers=] an escape from the room they've locked him in, he gets such a kick that [[StockholmSyndrome he stays with them in spite of the kidnapping]], eventually calling himself [=MacGyver=] and trying to imitate his fictional persona. He ends up becoming so annoying that they drive him off with boring vacation slides.

* In an episode of ''FamilyGuy'', Peter writes to Richard Dean Anderson, thinking he is {{MacGyver}}, asking him to save his dog from the pound with a rubber band, paper clip, and straw. He puts his eye out.
* In a ''RobotChicken'' sketch, HarrisonFord is chosen along with Aerosmith to stop a meteor from crashing into Earth.
-->''Harrison Ford: "Listen. I'm 62 years old, and I'm just an actor. You people are all insane."''
-->''SW fan: "Go get'em, Han Solo!"''
** Of course when MarkHamill reminds everyone that ''he'' blew up the Death Star with his eyes closed, he's told "That was just a movie, Mr. Hamill" by the exact same Star Wars fanboy.

* Sir IanMcKellen has stated that, outside of his native British Isles, most fans recognize him as characters such as [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]]. In fact, when he came to New York to lend support post-911, a policeman actually smiled at him and said, "Thanks for helping out, [[Film/{{XMen}} Magneto]]." Rather than be upset by it, he finds it an honor to be associated with such iconic characters.

* In the 1970's sitcom ''{{Alice}}'', when GeorgeBurns happens to drop by the diner, ditzy waitress Vera thinks he's {{God}} (from his film ''OhGod'') paying a visit.

** Burt Ward was similarly not allowed to take any other roles while he was playing [[{{Batman}} Robin]], so as not to "dilute Robin's image", or something. He describes in his autobiography how he was approached for a role he desperately wanted but couldn't take due to this restriction. Every time he's seen the guy since then, the guy's said, "Burt, I wanted you for that role." You're not alone, buddy.

* In ''GalaxyQuest'', the actors in a science fiction TV show are believed to be real heroes by fans from outer space. Of course, they eventually [[BecomingTheMask rise to the challenge]].

* ''ABugsLife:'' The circus troupe's acting is mistaken for real heroics.

* Voice actor CrispinFreeman once [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvGRIV-N86Q recalled getting an email from someone asking for incestuous dating advice]] on the basis that, [[AngelSanctuary because he once voiced a character]] [[BrotherSisterIncest that was in love with his sister]], he must have a good deal of experience in screwing his sister in real life.

* In the ''{{NCIS}}'' episode "Cover Story", a LoonyFan of [=McGee's=] books thinks that they're true stories, and goes on a rampage killing the people that [=McGee=] based his villains on. He eventually tries to kill Abby because "Amy" broke up with "[=McGregor=]," but is stopped (and then arrested) when [=McGee=] tells him that "Amy" and "[=McGregor=]" are getting married.

* ''{{Extras}}'' plays with this, in that an AdamWesting Shaun Williamson is so [[IAmNotSpock typecast]] as Barry (a character he played for ten years on British soap ''{{Eastenders}}'') that even the ''credits'' identify him as "Barry".

* The basis of the plot of ''ThreeAmigos'' when some poor and desperate Mexican villagers mistake three (down on their luck) movie stars for the heroes they play on-screen and hire them to protect their town from ''real'' bandits.

* When he appeared on ''ILoveLucy'', George Reeves was only referred to as "Superman"; this was done so as not to break the illusion of younger viewers. Basically, to Enforce this trope.
** Burt Ward was similarly not allowed to take any other roles while he was playing [[{{Batman}} Robin]], so as not to "dilute Robin's image", or something. In his autobiography he describes how he was approached for a role he desperately wanted, but couldn't due to this restriction. Every time he's seen the guy since then, the guy's said, "Burt, I wanted you for that role." You're not alone, buddy.

* In a ''[[{{ptitleolsdue4jfzga}} 30 Rock]]'' episode, the mother of Jack's Puerto Rican girlfriend hates him because he looks exactly like the villain of a Mexican [[SoapOpera telenovela]] she watches. (Both are [[IdenticalStranger played by Alec Baldwin]], of course.)

** JohnBarrowman has recounted being accosted on the street by fans who insist that he ''is'' [[{{Torchwood}} Captain Jack]]. One time on the Paul O'Grady show, he told of an occasion in which he'd played along, telling a little boy he'd been sent by the Doctor to find a Cyberman...

'''Nesmith:''' "It's all real."
'''Brandon:''' "Oh my God, I knew it. I knew it! I knew it!"

** In "Mr Plow", Barney goes one step further and confuses the actor with the ''wrong'' role as he bids a cheerful farewell to "Superman" and promises to protect his secret identity...to an AdamWesting [[{{Batman}} Adam West]].

* John Hinckley Jr, LoonyFan and probably the greatest example of a MisaimedFandom in history, thought assassinating RonaldReagan would impress 12-year-old child prostitute JodieFoster, through some sort of confused combination of the plot elements of ''TaxiDriver''.

* The movie ''{{Bolt}}'' is about a canine television star who mistakes ''himself'' for the superhero he plays on TV. Not that [[TrumanShowPlot he was ever given reason to believe otherwise]].

** Even the revelation that he's doing the films for [[MoneyDearBoy money, dear ladies,]] and thinks StephenieMeyer is ''literally insane'' hasn't changed things.
*** Nor has the fact that he often goes days without bathing in a desperate attempt to be less attractive.

** ...so ''that's'' why he never does the multi-Doctor episodes?