When an actor nabs a career-defining job that he or she will be forever be synonymous with, it can, just occasionally, be a weighty millstone around their neck. But some have enough of a sense of humour to actually send up their most famous role. Here are nine actors who did just that...
1. Robert Patrick, T-1000 – Wayne's World 2
Robert Patrick's shapeshifting, John Connor-hunting next-generation Terminator was the standout character from 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day. So he was still fresh in the minds of cinemagoers when, 18 months later, he popped up in Wayne's World 2, flagging down Wayne's Mirthmobile to ask, "Have you seen this boy?"
2. George Lazenby, James Bond – The Return of the Man from UNCLE
Poor George Lazenby has spent much of the past five decades kicking himself for jumping ship from the most successful movie series of all time (he figured – wrongly obviously – that the franchise was on its last legs). Still, he did get to reprise the role of 007, sorta, in the reunion movie of the cult 1960s spy caper The Man from UNCLE (co-created, fact fans, by Ian Fleming).
In this copyright-dodging sequence, Robert Vaughn's Napoleon Solo and Gayle Hunnicutt's Andrea Markovich are aided in their escape by an Aston Martin-driving, white-tux-rocking Lazenby with a number plate that simply reads "JB". "Oh, it's just like On Her Majesty's Secret Service," squeals Hunnicutt. Yeah, we get it.
3. John Hurt, Kane – Spaceballs
Though Star Wars is the main target of Mel Brooks' affectionate sci-fi parody, a few other SF faves come into his firing line. And this moment, where the late John Hurt spoofs his most famous moment from Alien is up there with the movie's funniest scenes.
You've got to admire Hurt's dedication here – despite sitting alongside John Candy dressed as a giant dog he puts as much whack into his performance as he does in Alien.
4. Danny Glover, Roger Murtaugh – Maverick
Richard Donner took a break from directing Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon series to, well, direct Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in a Maverick movie in 1994.
There are a lot of wink-wink moments in this comic updating of the old '60s Western telly series, not least when Gibson's Lethal Weapon sparring partner turns up, even getting to utter his famous line of "I'm getting too old for this shit."
5. Martin Sheen, Captain Benjamin L. Willard – Hot Shots Part Deux
Though this gag-packed sequel to Top Gun spoof Hot Shots mainly had the Rambo movies in its satirical sights, it still found time for a neat nod to Apocalypse, Now when Charlie Sheen's Topper Harley spots Martin Sheen passing by on a river patrol boat – just like in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam classic.
6. Linda Blair, Regan MacNeil – Repossessed
Okay, so it's not exactly Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist here, but it sorta, kinda is, as it's Linda Blair playing a woman – Nancy Aglet – who gets possessed by the Devil and spews pea soup all over the priest (Leslie Nielsen) chosen to exorcise her.
7. Bruce Willis, John McClane – Loaded Weapon 1
Some might say Bruce Willis started dumping on his most famous character with the '00s Die Hard sequels, but no, it all started here, with this misjudged cameo as John McClane in this laugh-lite Lethal Weapon spoof. Fair play though, the vest makes a reappearance, which is more than it ever did in the last two films.
8. Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker – Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
The are Star Wars references splattered all over Kevin Smith's View Askew-niverse megamix, from the Episode V-riffing title to Carrie Fisher's cameo as a kind-hearted nun. But when Mark Hamill turns up, playing himself acting in the role of a sci-fi movie baddie named Cock-knocker, he actually gets to wield a lightsaber on screen for the first time since 1983. As Chris Rock, playing the movie's director says, "I think George Lucas gonna sue somebody!" (Note: he didn't.)
9. Robert De Niro, Travis Bickle – The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
We can only imagine the times Robert De Niro has been pestered by an overkeen fan to repeat his most famous line – "You talkin' to me?" – from Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver.
What possessed him to say it, in character as the evil Fearless Leader, in this dispiriting live-action version of the 1960s cartoon series, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, is quite beyond us. File this one next to Dirty Grandpa in the "What were you thinking?" folder.
