Sophomore Acting Roles Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tom Hanks

Hanks Played Allen Bauer, who is twice rescued from drowning by the same mermaid at the same location, but many years apart. Madison, the mermaid, is played by Daryl Hannah. She decides to track Allen down on land, but must keep her legs dry, or her secret will be out. "Splash" was nominated for one Oscar and one Golden Globe. Hanks won Best Actor Oscars for "Forrest Gump" and "Philadelphia" and Golden Globes for the same as well as "Cast Away" and "Big".

Answer: Eddie Murphy

Murphy plays Billy Ray Valentine, a street hustler who has his place "traded" with Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Akroyd), a high level employee of Duke and Duke, commodities traders. The Duke brothers want to see how these men would react if their roles were reversed. "Trading Places" was nominated for one Oscar, two Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs, winning two BAFTAs. Murphy starred in many comedies including "Beverly Hills Cop", "Coming to America" and "The Nutty Professor".

He voiced Donkey in the "Shrek" animated movies.

He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "Dreamgirls".

Answer: Anthony Hopkins

Hopkins was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA playing Richard the Lionheart, son of Henry II. This is a work of fiction, based on historical characters. The plot is centered on who is to succeed Henry II, and all the politics needed for different outcomes.

This film won three Oscars including Best Actress for Katharine Hepburn. It also won two Golden Globes and one BAFTA. Hopkins had memorable roles in "The Elephant Man", "A Bridge Too Far", and as Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence of the Lambs", "Hannibal", and "Red Dragon".

He won the Best Actor Oscar for "The Silence of the Lambs".

Answer: Matthew Broderick

Broderick plays David Lightman, a young computer hacker who gets into a U.S. military super computer. While Lightman tries to run a nuclear war scenario, the computer treats the scenario as reality, and prepares to launch nuclear weapons. "WarGames" won a BAFTA for Best Sound and was nominated for three Oscars and two other BAFTAs.

Some of Broderick's more memorable roles were in the films "Glory" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".

Answer: Robin Williams

Robin played the title role opposite Shelly Duvall as Olive Oyl. A mediocre movie at best, it had most of the characters from the comic strip and cartoons. It was nominated for six "The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards", winning three. Williams was in this film during his "Mork & Mindy" days.

He won a Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar for "Good Will Hunting". Other movies of note starring Williams include "The Birdcage", "One Hour Photo", "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Awakenings". Though he started with comedy, he played a wide variety of roles.

Answer: Christian Bale

Twelve year old Bale plays Jim, an upper middle class spoiled child living with his parents in Shanghai, China. As WWII erupts around them, the family is to be sent to internment camps by the occupying Japanese military. The story is about his separation from his parents, his survival, and his relationships with other prisoners and captors. "Empire" got six Oscar nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and six BAFTA nominations, winning three for Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Score. Bale went on to great fame, most notably playing Batman in "The Dark Knight Trilogy", released from 2005-2012.

Answer: Denzel Washington

Denzel plays Private First Class Peterson, a soldier in an all black unit in 1944 Louisiana. Captain Richard Davenport, Judge Advocate General, is sent to investigate the murder of a black sergeant who was returning to base after a night out at the bars. Davenport is the first black officer many of the soldiers and civilians have seen.

He has his hands full investigating the crime. This film was nominated for three Oscars and three Golden Globes. Though Washington played a small role, he moved on to much success.

He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for "Glory". He won a Best Actor Oscar for "Training Day". He won the Best Actor Golden Globe for "The Hurricane".

Answer: Patrick Swayze

Swayze plays Darrel "Darry" Curtis, one of the "Greasers", a working class gang. Their rivals are the "Socs", pronounced like the first syllable of social. An altercation over girls escalates into a stabbing death, which may have been justified. This film had many up-and-coming stars, such as C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane. Swayze was nominated for three Best Actor Golden Globes for his work in "Dirty Dancing", "Ghost", and "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar".

Answer: Mel Gibson

Mel plays Main Force Patrol policeman Max Rockatansky. An outlaw motorcycle gang named the Acolytes eventually kill Max's wife and infant son to avenge the death of their leader, the Nightrider. No longer a lawman, Max hunts them down until he gets to the last one, Johnny.

He is found pillaging the wreckage of a pickup. Max cuffs Johnny's ankle to the undercarriage of the pickup, which has a leak from its fuel line. A strategically placed lighter will act as a timer as the gas leaks toward the flame. Mel had other roles with "Gallipoli", the "Mad Max" sequels, "Braveheart" and "We Were Soldiers".

He has also produced many films, the most noteworthy being "The Passion of the Christ".

Answer: Jeff Daniels

Jeff plays Flap Horton, opposite Debra Winger. The story centers on the mother/daughter relationship between Winger's character and her mother, played by Shirley MacLaine. "Terms" won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Jeff Daniels has played a wide variety of roles since then, one of his most memorable being Harry Dunne in "Dumb & Dumber". I personally enjoyed his military roles as George Washington in "The Crossing" and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals".