33 Actors Who Were So Perfectly Cast In A TV Role That No One Else Could've Played It

    "The way Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero play Jake and Amy is so uniquely them that no other actors could even touch what they've created."

    Nora Dominick
    by Nora Dominick

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which actors are so iconic in a TV role that you can't imagine anyone else playing them. Here are some of our favorite responses:

    1. Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore on Gilmore Girls:

    Warner Bros.

    "She portrayed her in such an amazing way that I instantly fell in love with her from the start. I can't imagine anyone else being Lorelai."

    —moizsg

    2. Andre Braugher as Capt. Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine:

    NBC

    "There is no one else on this planet that could ever play a better Captain Raymond Holt. Andre's comedic delivery is what makes this character amazing, and no one else could've done it quite like him."

    —nfrq

    3. Andy Samberg and Melissa Fumero as Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago on Brooklyn Nine-Nine:

    NBC

    "OK, so these are two characters working together, but I definitely couldn’t imagine Jake and Amy being played by anyone other than Andy and Melissa. The way they play their characters is so uniquely them that no other actors could even touch what they have created."

    —Skeletor31

    4. Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones:

    HBO

    "Whether or not you accept how things on the show ended, Emilia pulled it off with her dedication to the character and her sheer talent. She gave such a moving, memorable, and personally important performance from start to finish."

    —xrachelsxx

    5. Steve Carell as Michael Scott on The Office:

    NBC

    "I don’t think anybody could have pulled off the role like he did. Michael was kind of an awful person, but Steve made him have a genuine heart underneath it all."

    —savannaey

    6. Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy:

    ABC

    "Sandra put so much into that character, and I really don't think anyone else could have done it even half as well as she did. Cristina would've been a completely different character without Sandra Oh."

    —triciap41e3a6415

    7. Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU:

    NBC

    "Let's be real: Mariska IS Olivia Benson. In real life, Mariska started the Joyful Heart Foundation and works to end the backlog of untested rape kits. The only way she could be more like Olivia is if she quit acting and became a detective."

    —k4c2fcce79

    8. Gina Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin:

    The CW

    "No one could have possibly played the role of Jane as excellently as Gina Rodriguez did. The way she put her all into that character really brought her to life and is the reason why I fell in love with the show."

    —erinc4a98b1309

    9. Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad:

    AMC

    "He was so perfect and genuine as Walter White in one second, and then so intense and terrifying as Heisenberg in the next. It was perfect casting."

    —paytonl2

    10. Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing on Friends:

    NBC

    "I literally could not imagine anyone else playing Chandler because Matthew and Chandler are literally one and the same."

    —alisiakrieg

    11. Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay on Friends:

    NBC

    "Phoebe was always my favorite character, but I don’t think she would have been nearly as hilarious or lovable if any other actor played her."

    —bonequiqui

    12. Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey:

    PBS

    "I don’t think anyone else could've made this character so lovable and funny. If anyone else played her, she might've just disappeared in the background and been just a grandmother."

    —valeries4807e3191

    13. Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson on Parks and Rec:

    NBC

    "So much of Nick's own spirit is in the character and those aspects made Ron so special. No other actor could duplicate this role."

    —stswinde

    14. Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate on Parks and Rec:

    NBC

    "I don’t think any other actor could've played April as well as Aubrey. Her facial expressions were perfect and she had such a unique style of comedy."

    —simonebaldwin171

    15. Viola Davis as Annalise Keating on How to Get Away With Murder:

    ABC

    "Viola gives me literal chills when she portrays Annalise Keating. I don't think anyone else could've brought so much heart and badass attitude like Viola did."

    —zippy135

    16. Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek:

    Pop / CBC

    "Catherine is absolutely perfect in this role. Moira Rose would not be the iconic character she is today without Catherine's portrayal of her, and that's a fact."

    —g41215b4f0

    17. Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars on Veronica Mars:

    Warner Bros.

    "Whenever I see Kristen in something else, I always think of Veronica's snarky attitude saying something snarky."

    —Maddyoc3

    18. D'Arcy Carden as Janet on The Good Place:

    NBC

    "I'm pretty sure only D'Arcy could've made Janet the lovable and hilarious character that she is. The casting is flawless."

    —tvaradarajan

    19. Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries:

    The CW

    "Ian made you simultaneously love and hate Damon, all while providing comedic relief on the show. Plus, I don't think anyone could've nailed the Damon Salvatore smolder like him."

    —yourgirlkath

    20. Jharrel Jerome as Korey Wise on When They See Us:

    Netflix

    "He earned a 2019 Emmy Award for his role, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving. His acting throughout the show, but especially in Part 4 of the limited series, was impeccable. Only a special talent could portray Korey at every age, and Jharrel did just that."

    —ariellej4

    21. Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak on Arrow:

    The CW

    "Emily arrived on Arrow playing a character that was only supposed to be an IT employee in one episode, and she ended up changing the course of the show. Also, Felicity and Oliver's relationship wouldn't have existed without Emily and Stephen Amell's chemistry. I can't think of a TV role more brilliantly cast."

    —Arianna Hawthorne, Facebook

    22. Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki as Dean and Sam on Supernatural:

    The CW

    "I’m not sure if they became more like Sam and Dean or if Sam and Dean became more like the actors over time, but they fit their characters so perfectly. I can't imagine anyone else filling those roles better."

    —dawnc11

    23. Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis on One Tree Hill:

    The CW

    "Sophia took Brooke Davis from a stereotypical high school mean girl to a genuine character you wanted to root for. Only Sophia could've pulled off this character arc. She's the one and only 'girl behind the red door.'"

    —n4ffe8455c

    24. Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully on The X-Files:

    Fox

    "No one could have pulled off Scully's skepticism or dedication quite like Gillian. She was so great for the role that she inspired the 'Scully Effect,' which was an increase in women pursuing STEM careers."

    —k4c2fcce79

    25. Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich on Shameless:

    Showtime

    "Noel made Mickey the most beloved character on the show. The character development from a closeted thug to a proud member of the LGBTQ community wouldn't have been as convincing without Noel's ability to convey so much emotion with just a smirk and the raise of an eyebrow."

    —j_tells

    26. Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester on Glee:

    Fox

    "Jane always gave such incredible performances in every episode, and honestly, if the casting directors had picked any other actor for Sue Sylvester, Glee would've been a completely different show."

    —Haylimarie1229

    27. Danny Pudi as Abed Nadir on Community:

    NBC

    "Danny is so unlike Abed in real life, but he manages to capture Abed's quirky personality perfectly. He made the character what it was."

    —CoralineLondon

    28. Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar on Lucifer:

    Netflix

    "No one else could have made the devil as charming and human. Tom is so good in this role."

    —alyssat43f157eec

    29. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

    Warner Bros.

    "She portrayed a fun, outgoing high school girl who had to deal with the burden and responsibility of protecting the world. There was a lot of depth to the role, especially as the show progressed. Sarah did a great job capturing all of the pain and loss Buffy had to deal with, while maintaining her strength and sass."

    —kkcloud

    30. Jodie Comer as Villanelle on Killing Eve:

    BBC America

    "Jodie possesses an amazing acting range, which she proves over and over again through her portrayal of Villanelle. She is funny in one second and murderous in the next. I can't help but fall in love with Villanelle, and I really can't imagine anyone else portraying her as convincingly as Jodie does."

    —pollyw430ed7679

    31. Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones on Jessica Jones:

    Netflix

    "I didn't know the character before the Netflix show, but now I cannot imagine anyone else in that role. Krysten was a complete badass from beginning to end."

    —mishaleister

    32. Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White/Mary Margaret on Once Upon a Time:

    ABC

    "Ginnifer managed to portray Snow’s elegance, vulnerability, and empathetic nature, all while being a total badass. I also think her chemistry with Josh Dallas and Jennifer Morrison was so rare and really brought all of Snow’s complicated relationships to life. I can't imagine anyone else playing this iconic Disney character."

    —gabis45f1c319e

    33. Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead:

    AMC

    "At first I was surprised to see the guy from Love Actually cast in such a dark TV show, but he brought an enormous range of humanity and depth to Rick Grimes. I could never imagine anyone else playing Rick now."

    —allisonm4b6ee492a

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    Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.