Sometimes while watching movies and series, particular characters just leave with an unforgettable obsession. Just thinking about replacing these actors with another is unsatisfying. It either takes rare coincidence or exceptional efforts on the actors’ side to perfectly fit the characters. Rare the cases might be but these few characters are immortal and the actors irreplaceable. To acknowledge and appreciate these few roles, here is the list of 11 characters played so well that they are irreplaceable.

11 Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

Stewart broke up with Hopkins due to his Hannibal Lecter role.

Anthony Hopkins delivered a chilling performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. His portrayal was so compelling that even Martha Stewart ended her relationship with Hopkins because she couldn’t separate him from his character. Hopkins’ interpretation of the brilliant but terrifying cannibal has become iconic, making him irreplaceable in this role.

10 Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean

Johnny Depp best played the iconic and legendary character of Captain Jack Sparrow. His eccentric style of dealing with problems is phenomenal. He rarely chooses force instead of negotiation and wit to make things happen his way. There is no doubt that a considerable amount of fans watched the movie only because of Johnny Depp’s role.

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio wrote the dynamics of Depp’s character, also the protagonist. The original idea of the character was inspired by a relatively weird combination. It was The Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards and Looney Tunes’ Pepe Le Pew.

Perfect costumes were one thing, Depp’s unique approach towards the character really made it remarkable. The catchphrases he uses out of the blue undeniably impress the viewers.

The set and the story were incredible, but the movie series wouldn’t have got recognition this huge without Depp. All eyes are on him when he enters the frame.

The upcoming sixth movie has removed Depp from Sparrow’s character. Nonetheless, his irreplaceability has been witnessed in fans’ frustration when the big news was announced.  (1, 2)

9 J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in The Amazing Spider-Man

Simmons was always perfect for the role of the loud and short-tempered publisher at The Daily Bugle. Resurfaced Spider-Man test footages are available on Twitter that is enough to assert Simmons’s credibility for the role.

Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko are the developers of the character. Stan Lee describes Jameson as a grumpy version of himself at his worst.

In the role, Simmons basically keeps ranting the Spiderman for one or the other reasons. He also often calls him “menace,” but after all, every time he ends up being on Parker’s side.

The screen test clip starts with the very first lines coming out of Jamesons’ lips.

If you’ll notice a little carefully, there’s something odd in the screen test. Simmons is bald, which just doesn’t go along with the details of Jameson. However, there is no scope for that complaint in the actual movie.

Simmons played Jameson perfectly; though his experience in playing similar and award-winning roles enabled him to pull this off. He had played in Whiplash, in DC Justice League, and also the Commissioner Gordon. (1, 2, 3)

8 Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean in Mr. Bean

Not knowing Mr. Bean is like being highly unaware of reality. There are no questions about the uniqueness of Mr. Bean’s role. Atkinson didn’t play the role, he created it. To keep entertaining the audience continually, single-handed in a comedy-drama is not at all a trivial achievement.

The British comedian, Atkinson belonged to a well-off family of Durham farmers. He got his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and master’s from the University of Oxford. Finding himself on stages satisfied Atkinson’s inner urge.

The wicked, eccentric, and manic qualities of comedy in him were extremely rare. God only knows how many laughs he brought on thousands of faces. 

Talking about Mr. Bean, he is always in his brown tweed jacket. He is physical, though not mentally grown up. He is an immature, self-absorbed, abnormal unmindful loner who mumbles every time he speaks. 

Thinking from Mr. Bean’s position, it is highly awkward and uncomfortable to behave as he does. But acting it out smoothly and with ease is what makes him extraordinarily funny.

Regardless of his off-the-charts fame, he admitted that he is not as funny as it appears in reality. In his private life, he says he is a quiet and dull person.

For his contribution to drama and charity, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2013. (1, 2)

7 Christopher Lloyd as Emmett Brown in Back to the Future

There was a long list of rejections before Lloyd was selected to play Doc Brown in Back to the Future. Some of the actors in the list include Gene Heckman, John Cleese, and Jeff Goldblum. Only Lloyd could pick up the freakishness of the scientist who invents the time machine out of a DeLorean sports car.

The director of the trilogy, Robert Zemeckis, says Doc Brown is almost like a magician. Even the producer, Neil Canton already had faith in Lloyd; he knew that he had what it takes to bring enough lunacy to the character.

Lloyd’s history of working in several motion pictures, television, and theatrical shows suited him well for the job. 

Lloyd said even if he managed to capture the quirkiness of the Doc, it was still fairly difficult for him sometimes. The broader obstacles were all the technical and mechanical stuff.

Born at Stanford, Lloyd started his acting career when he was 14. At 16 he was apprenticing in summer stock and at 19 he moved to New York. Then he first started acting classes and lived his long acting career. (1, 2)

6 Ronald Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket

Ermey was best for Hartman in the Vietnam epic, Full Metal Jacket since he had a military background. He fought in Vietnam for 11 years and retired as a drill sergeant. He used his knowledge and recalled memories from his military service to polish the role. While casting, most of Hartman’s lines weren’t written, Ermey improvised most of them.

The story of Ermey’s life forged a strong military character into him. In his teenage years, he was arrested twice for criminal mischief. At one point he had to choose between prison and the military. He chose the latter and served in US Marine Corps for 11 years in Vietnam.

After retirement, Ermey took some acting classes and decided to go to Hollywood.

He once related in an interview about his plan to break into Hollywood. He was going to use his knowledge to technically direct some films. After that, he’d show the filmmakers that he should star in their movies.

His plan proved successful and he worked in three movies namely, The Boys in Company C, Apocalypse Now, and Full Metal Jacket.

Ermey’s loud and furious performance as Hartman was his big break to the rest of his career. (Source)