Playing the Same Role Trivia Quiz

Answer: Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore was the powerful, yet gentle head of Hogwarts, a school for young wizards and witches. He also served as a mentor for his most famous student, young Harry Potter, guiding him through the development of his own impressive talents while he struggled to find his place in the world of magic. Richard Harris only took on the role of Albus Dumbledore at the insistence of his granddaughter, who was 11 at the time.

He played the part for the first two films in the series, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (or "Sorcerer's Stone" as it is also known) and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Michael Gambon donned the robes and the persona, starting with the third movie in the franchise, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

Answer: Lex Luthor

The brilliant criminal Lex Luthor caused a great deal of trouble for Superman in three different movies. Interested in acquiring real estate cheap and selling it at a huge profit, Luthor's scheme often involved the destruction of parts of the world to make his once worthless land invaluable.
By the way, Gene Hackman did wear a skull cap in the 1978 movie "Superman". Although Hackman was credited with reprising the role in 1980's "Superman II", he did not return to film any new footage. Shots from the filming of the first film were used, and any additional shots were filmed with a look-alike actor and dubbed by an impersonator.
Kevin Spacey was brilliant as Luthor in 2006's "Superman Returns", and while I don't have any evidence to back it up, I'm prepared to believe that Spacey's head was actually shaved for the role.

Answer: God

The character of God has been portrayed many times throughout the years, with everything from sincere reverence to cheeky irreverence. Graham Chapman's portrayal of God in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975) was always admonishing everyone to "stop groveling", while Alanis Morisette's version did somersaults on the lawn in "Dogma" (1999). George Burn's characterization of the character used an assistant grocery manager as his modern-day prophet in "Oh God" (1977). Morgan Freeman's portrayal got tired of listening to Bruce's (Jim Carrey) complaints about how he (God) was always messing things up, so he let Bruce try to handle things for a few days in "Bruce Almighty" (2003).

Answer: Willy Wonka

Willy Wonka was a brilliant candy maker, who had been content to make his masterpieces while shut away from the world, with only his beloved Oompa Loompas for company. Intimations of his own mortality caused him to seek an heir, and he opened up his factory to five children who were being tested for their suitability to inherit.
Gene Wilder gave us a happy but eccentric Wonka in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (1971), whereas Depp's portrayal was a little more withdrawn and socially awkward, in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005).

Answer: Charlie Croker

Although there were a fair number of differences between the plots of the two versions of "The Italian Job", the basic premises were pretty close. Charlie Croker led a group of thieves trying to steal an enormous amount of money on the run. They did this by creating a massive traffic jam and using Mini Coopers to weave in and out of tight spots. Michael Caine played the role in the 1969 version, and Mark Wahlberg played the 2003 character, who had better technology to use to make his plan work.

Answer: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ewan McGregor took the character of Obi-Wan from being Qui-Gonn Jinn's young apprentice in "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" (1999), through the responsibility of training the young Anakin Skywalker in "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" (2002), to the loss of young Anakin to the Dark Side in "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" (2005). In "Star Wars" (1977), the film that followed chronologically even though it was released almost 30 years earlier, Alec Guinness took on the role of Obi-Wan in his reclusive years, when he was watching over the young Luke Skywalker. Darth Vader killed Obi-Wan in this film, but he still managed to communicate with Luke from beyond the grave in "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" (1983).

Answer: Ann Darrow

As Ann Darrow, the woman who captured the heart of the massive gorilla known as King Kong, Fay Wray and Naomi Watts got to be carried to the top of the Empire State Building. Both versions of the movie were entitled simply "King Kong", as was the 1976 version, which starred Jessica Lange in the role of the beautiful actress. Unfortunately her character's name was changed to Dwan, so this version could not be included in the question.

Answer: Robin Hood

While King Richard was off fighting the Crusades, his country was led by his less scrupulous brother, and the people were being taxed to death. The legendary Robin Hood became a serious thorn in the side of the Sheriff of Nottingham, as he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Errol Flynn was at his swash-buckling best in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938). Kevin Costner gave us a very wooden accent in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), and Cary Elwes looked great in the very tongue-in-cheek "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" (1993).

The Disney version, with a fox in the starring role, was entitled simply "Robin Hood" in 1973.

Answer: The Phantom

In both versions of "The Phantom of the Opera", the elusive Phantom hid in the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House, relentlessly driven by his obsession for a young opera singer named Christine. Unfortunately for him, he was not Christine's only suitor.

Answer: Captain Hook

Tortured by the crocodile that ate his hand, Captain Hook spent his days in the magical place known as Neverland, plotting on how to obtain victory over his arch enemy, Peter Pan.
Hans Conried provided the voice of Hook in "Peter Pan" (1953), Walt Disney's animated version. Dustin Hoffman was barely recognizable when he played the hateful, hated pirate, opposite Robin Williams' grown-up Peter in "Hook" (1991). Jason Isaacs
faced the traditionally younger Pan, played by Jeremy Sumpter, when he reprised the role of Hook in "Peter Pan" (2003).