When John Cullum was performing on TV's "Northern Exposure" and "ER," he got to know both these actors, who have gone on to play roles in many other shows.
Em wonders what makes them different.
George after "ER." no matter what role he played, is always George Clooney. Anthony Edwards played the "Boy in the Bubble" in "Northern Exposure," and the lead doctor, Dr. Green, in "ER." ( John C. played Dr. Green's father.)
Why has George C become a major star, while Tony E -- he hasn't disappeared, but he is no longer the celebrity h
e was in his "ER" days?Actor John Cullum deliberately does not keep track of anyone's celebrity status, but Emily does. She thinks it's because George is himself, and Tony becomes another person, with each role.
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12 comments:
Hi Emily,
I think the difference might be that some character actors are not as popular as leading actors because of the fact that they do not have the same audience for each role they play, as well as the reasons you and John have stated here. Anthony Edwards is very much, to my thinking, a character actor.
Jan
I always thought Anthony Edwards would go far. But his roles were unconventional and nary a leading love role in my memory. George is just George! Both fine actors, but George is just quite a reminder of Cary Grant. He has that old Hollywood appeal.
Good Sunday Morning EM & John: Be it actors & available roles or people in daily living ~ every journey is unique.
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Actually the very first thing I thought of was an 'old Hollywood' thingy, how the 'persona' of John Wayne the actor in every role he played (cowboy, soldier) always came across to me as the 'sameness' of John Wayne. Of course there was a 'sameness' of voice, physical looks, but there was that other 'sameness' that I don't know the correct word for about John Wayne.
I'm @grammakaye on twitter.
WONDERFUL post, thank you so much!!! You've hit the crux of the craft that is the acting profession---recognize the performer (Clooney) but become another charcter (Edwards). And I've always been fascinated by the Scyllia and Charybdis of "why doesn't he/she try something different---why doesn't he/she stick with what he/she knows?" Isn't part of performing to learn and grow?
Great video today with alot if insight into actors and acting. I like both George and Tony as great performers and remember when they were on TV shows. I like your concepts of their acting and personalities and how they have both accomplished so much. But, neither hold a candle next to John Cullum-he is the best! kam Kathleen Ann McGee
I loved both shows and both actors (and the actor John Cullum of course). I can see the difference you describe between them. I look forward to finding out what Anthony Edwards' next project is.
Clooney is a super star who happens to also be a very fine actor. Edwards is a very fine actor...but not a super star. I like them both, but frankly Edwards kind of fades into the character and never makes a mark as an audience pleaser...he lacks that certain special something that Clooney has, though both are equally fine actors.
I don't agree about John being an Edwards...I can understand...but John Cullum is far more memorable when you see him in ANYTHING....
Sometimes in delivering that sameness creates that star quality that people want/want to see. Its sort of like watching your favorite comedian walk on stage, sometimes you laugh even before they utter a word. There's an expectation that its going to be funny, even if it's not the best performance from them that you see as the time passes. George Clooney has a kind of cool that people are likely drawn to and I think another hit it on the head. They remember George and want to see him again and come to care for him as a person, rather than as the character he played.
Hmmm--I have nothing insightful to add, but do want to say that I think the concept of an actor being seen on screen as who they actually are, sometimes more so than the character they are playing, is interesting. That might not be exactly what grammakaye was referring to regarding John Wayne, but I think it is what you were mentioning, Em, regarding Clooney. I must say, any time I see Clooney acting any sort of part--and heaven knows, he has played many, many types--I am always aware it's George Clooney, but NOT in a distracting way; as far as I'm concerned, he give me the character. However, where it does bother me is in Tom Cruise movies: for me, he never, ever, ever really *becomes* the character, he is always just Tom Cruise.... And for that reason, I long ago stopped watching him in anything.
P.S.--Truth be told, I didn't remember either Clooney OR Edwards being on "Northern Exposure"; John's mention of the bubble-boy did stir a slight memory, but I never would've found it on my own! John, however, I remember so very fondly from that show!! He was great!
I think it is closely connected with charachteristics of the female audience that love Clooney.
When I like someone I do not tell it everybody and frequently do not care or remeber the name)
The camera loves Clooney. Love to see both do stage work.
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