Actors change for a role. Whether a part demands it or they are exercising their creative freedom, actors are not afraid to become someone or something else. Some lose a ridiculous amount of weight,like Joaquin Phoenix did forJoker. Others will use method acting, studying their subject closely. Robert De Niro, for example, interviewed a patient with encephalitis lethargica, or sleeping sickness, for his character inAwakenings.
When it’s necessary, actors sometimes go so far as to change their entire appearance — Charlize Theron was unrecognizable when sheplayed serial killer Aileen Wuornos inMonster. On the other hand, sometimes an actor will find it impossible to escape from the role they became famous for — Daniel Radcliffe is Harry Potter forever in the eyes and minds of audiences. Then there are modest transformations, noticeable but nothing too extreme, like a beard. Actors either grow or don fake facial hair to appear older, grizzled, or just plain weird.
10The Caveman’s Valentine (2001) — Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson is the cave-dwelling man, Romulus Ledbetter, inThe Caveman’s Valentine. Based on the 1994 novel by George Dawes Green, the film follows Romulus living out of Inwood Park, New York. He was a family man and pianist, studying at Julliard before suffering from schizophrenia. He has grand delusions, including the Chrysler Building having rays that control the world, conducted by a man named Cornelius Gould Stuyvesant with seraphs fluttering in his mind.
Romulus’s life changes when he stumbles upon the frozen body of Scotty Gates outside his cave. The death is considered an accident, but Romulus receives a lead from a homeless man who knew Scotty. He is told that photographer David Leppenraub was the killer. Wanting to make good on his talent and return to his family, Romulus gets hired to perform for David and discover the truth behind Scotty’s death.
Why the Beard is Weird
Samuel L. Jackson pulls off abrasive and bold characters. Romulus hits differently though. His down-and-out situation — a promising career in music being wasted — would make any musician depressed. Being a disappointment to his family only makes Romulus feel unlovable and unwanted. The beard does make Jackson look weird and estranged, as much as a bearded man can be.
9Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (2009) - Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek plays a bearded lady inCirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. She is a fellow member of a freak show troupe. One performer is Larten Crepsley, a vampire who is over a hundred years old. Two mortals, Darren Shan and Steve Leonard, get a taste of the supernatural when they steal her pet spider, Madam Octa. A venomous bite from the arachnid kills Steve and Darren returns promising to become a half-vampire assistant to Crepsley. Steve is brought back to life but as a full-on, blood-lusting vampire instead. The circus clash between friends turned foes complicates the freak show.
Given that the Salma Hayek everyone recognizes is beardless, it doesn’t take much to explain why her character having a beard here stands out among the rest of her filmography. Moreover, given that this character’s profession is to be part of a show, the beard she sports is extra ostentatious. The gender-fluid character arouses and confounds with an equally strange beard.
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8The Fugitive (1993) — Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is Dr. Richard Kimble, a surgeon wrongfully accused of his wife’s murder in the action thrillerThe Fugitive. He faces a death sentence but escapes custody. Pursued by the police and U.S. Marshals, Kimble hunts for the real killer to clear his name. During transport to death row, the bus Kimble rides crashes after prisoners try to break free. The bus falls into a ravine and onto a railroad track where Kimble avoids a collision with a train. He gets to a hospital, saves a patient’s life disguised as a janitor, and uses an ambulance as a getaway vehicle. One narrow escape after the next leaves a trail of evidence behind the doctor on the lam.
Harrison Ford is known as Indiana Jones, the archaeologist of lost treasures and civilizations. His perpetual five o’clock shadow was the most audiences have seen of Ford with a beard. Yes, he’s a doctor who still saves lives even when he’s wanted by the authorities. Die-hard fans can’t help but notice the man missing behind the beard though.
7The Hunger Games (2012) — Wes Bentley
Wes Bentley is Seneca Crane, the Head Gamemaker inThe Hunger Games. He is one of the judges evaluating the tributes that will participate in the annual event. WhenKatniss Everdeen of District 12is tested before Seneca, he and the judges are unimpressed by her marksmanship. After Katniss eyes a golden pig with an apple in its mouth, she takes aim, and pierces the fruit. Only then does she get Seneca’s attention, proving to him that she is a threat and worthy of tribute.
In the dystopian future, hygiene and fashion sense are combined into what can only be described as hyperbolic chic. Their hair is as loud as their business attire. Seneca is dressed like the devil’s advocate, wearing black and red. To complete the sinister look is his tantalizing, curved facial hair that Snidely Whiplash would be jealous of.
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6Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) — Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu stars as Master Pai Mei inKill Bill: Vol. 2. He trains Beatrix Kiddo in the years prior to her revenge against the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Pai Mei is at first her tormentor rather than her mentor, but she earns his good graces. His training helps her escape being buried alive in the future. Beatrix’s ex-husband Bill, alsoa fellow assassin, trained under Pai Mei. When she confronts Bill, Beatrix strikes him with a death blow known as the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique.
Related:10 Movie Characters With Distracting Hair & Makeup Styles
Gordon Liu’s performance as Pai Mei is over-the-top stern and measured. The beard, of course, is fake and represents the archetype of the old martial arts master. At some level, his appearance is satirical, just like his lethal fighting style. On another level, it makes him look like he’s ready for Halloween.
5Nighthawks (1981) — Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone plays Sergeant Deke DaSilva inNighthawks. He serves the New York City Police Department as part of the Street Crime Unit. One night, after thwarting attackers and drug dealers, he and his squad must deal with a new threat, international terrorist Heymar Reinhardt alias Wulfgar. He is ostracized by his terrorist organization for killing children in a London bombing. He decides to assassinate foreign leaders while carrying out his own political agenda in New York. DaSilva and his anti-terrorist group scour the city to stop Wulfgar’s violent streak.
13 of the Silliest Looking Hair Styles in Movies
There have been countless times that a hairstyle in a movie has stood out just as much as the actor with it. Here are a few of the silliest.
Sylvester Stallone had a beard before inRocky IV, but he was in Russia in the dead of winter. A beard was a necessity. Here, his beard has a weird life of its own. Hair was big and a statement of personality in the eighties. Stallone’s statement seems to say, “This is a real beard that just looks fake.”
4Serpico (1973) — Al Pacino
Al Pacino is Frank Serpico inSerpico. The biographical drama follows the titular NYPD police officer as he learns about the corrupt inner workings of his police department. It is only after he decides to dress like a civilian and almost gets shot by his boys in blue that his definition of justice changes. Serpico attempts to report the shady dealings of officers to his supervisors, but they ignore his intel.
Uncertain of whom to trust and serve, Serpico takes matters into his own hands. He enacts police brutality on his corrupt unit and informs third parties about their corruption. During a raid, his squad holds back their defense, causing Serpico to be shot in the face. Serpico survives and brings the NYPD corruption to an end with his testimony.
Al Pacino is best known as Michael Corleone, the son of crime boss, Vito Corleone, inThe Godfather. The young, impressionable crime family member has got a taste for corruption. Being on the inside, and on the other side, where justice should be pure, makes Serpico a tortured moral compass. The beard comes with the territory, but it certainly corrupts the clean-shaven Pacino audiences are used to seeing.
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3Superman II (1980) — Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp plays General Zod inSuperman II. A prisoner of the Phantom Zone, Zod escapes confinement and arrives on Earth with his minions. He fought the leaders of Krypton, the home planet of Superman, to assume control over the Kryptonians. Zod was also responsible for the death of Krypton and Superman’s birth parents. Now he seeks to kill the last son of Krypton.
Terence Stamp gained fame for his role as the dictatorial General Zod. The distant and ruthless character is as pointed and fierce as his beard. The dark beard is Zod’s most famous feature, popularized by Stamp in pop culture. Zod was originally bald and clean-shaven, which wouldn’t have been a problem for Stamp. Despite his signature appearance, Stamp’s beard is still alien.
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2Tropic Thunder (2008) — Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is Les GrossmaninTropic Thunder. The studio executive producing the film within a film is a bully behind the scenes. Grossman is a loudmouthed, swearing boss overseeing the Vietnam War memoir adaptation. He drops F-bombs like the crew drops bombs on location. Grossman even threatens the kidnapper of one of his actors, tempting them to kill him off so that he can make money off of his death.
Like his namesake, Grossman’s beard is not just weird, but gross. Someone who always gets his way can afford to let himself go too. The same goes for his facial hair. Grossman and his beard are both unruly and full of themselves.
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1Zoolander (2001) — Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell plays Jacobim MugatuinZoolander. The fashion industry leader will make clothes to turn a profit at any cost. When Mugatu learns that his child labor in Malaysia will be removed, he “hires” male model Derek Zoolander. He plans to brainwash Zoolander into assassinating the Prime Minister of Malaysia to keep control over his fashion line.
Mugatu is a flamboyant fashionista. His flippant way of barking orders for the sake of what’s in and what’s out is insane. The only thing more radical is the froufrou goatee that he has underneath his chin. It looks like he shaved his poodle and glued the dog’s hair to his face.
