Hardest Character Actors Trivia Quiz | Matching Character and Actor

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. You may like to read this question in a whisper: Which actor from a thespian family played characters that included Billy Aldrich, Joshua Rush, Hal Wexler and Jack Donaghy?

Answer: Alec Baldwin

Baldwin played Billy Aldrich in "The Doctors" from 1980 to 1982 and was Joshua Rush in "Knots Landing in 1984 and 1985. In 1983, he played Dr. Hal Wexler in "Cutter To Houston", while his famous whispering role was as Jack Donaghy in "30 Rock" (2006-2012).

Alec was the oldest of the four acting Baldwin brothers, the others being Daniel, Billy and Stephen.

Trivia note: Baldwin was at times to be found in the news pages as well as the entertainment pages of the newspapers, including the occasion he was escorted off an airliner for refusing to put his mobile phone away.

2. "Oh what happened to you; whatever happened to me": which 'likely lad' played Terry Collier, Jack Ford, Trevor Chaplin and Jack Halford?

Answer: James Bolam

James Bolam was Terry Collier in "The Likely Lads" (1964-66) and "Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?"(1973-74); Trevor Chaplin in "The Beiderbecke Affair", "The Beiderbecke Tapes" and "The Beiderbecke Connection", 1985, 1987 and 1988; Jack Ford in "When The Boat Comes In" (1976-81), and Jack Halford in "New Tricks" (2003-2012).

The quote is from the theme song to "Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads". Rodney Bewes, one of the wrong answers, was the other 'likely lad'.

Although a highly popular show in its day, it entered TV controversy because Bolam consistently refused to consent to any repeats being broadcast.

'The Independent' newspaper reported in 2010: "Rodney Bewes, who played Bob Ferris in the series, has accused his former co-star James Bolam of condemning fellow cast members to poverty through his refusal to grant permission for the series to be repeated on network television."

3. "You think, probie?": Which actor had starring roles as Dr. Robert Caldwell, Detective Dicky Cobb, Dr. Jack McNeil, and Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs?

Answer: Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon was Dr Caldwell in "St Elsewhere" (1983 to 1986); Dicky Cody in "Reasonable Doubts" (1991-1993), Dr McNeill in "Chicago Hope" (1996 to 2000) and Gibbs in "NCIS" (starting in 2003).

Of course you will have spotted that the three wrong answers also played doctors at various times: Chamberlain in "Doctor Kildare", Clooney in "E.R." and Begley in "St Elsewhere".

Trivia note: We often saw Gibbs building a wooden boat in "NCIS", which Mark Harmon could probably have done; he was a carpenter before turning to acting.

4. "Where everybody knows your name": Which actor had a lengthy career that included playing characters such as D. B. Russell, Lemuel Gulliver, Arthur Frobisher and Sam Malone?

Answer: Ted Danson

Danson played D.B. Russell in "CSI" (first appeared in 2011); Lemuel Gulliver in "Gulliver's Travels" (1996); Arthur Frobisher in "Damages" (2007-2010), and of course Sam Malone in "Cheers" (1982-1993).

Trivia note: Danson was only third choice to play Sam Malone, his big break. Initially the producers preferred William Devane and Fred Dryer.

"Where everybody knows your name" is taken from the 'Cheers" theme song.

5. "Granville f-f-f-fetch a cloth": One of Britain's best-loved comedy actors sometimes enjoyed his porridge even when 'open all hours'. Who was it played characters such as Clarence Sale, Norman Stanley Fletcher, Albert Arkwright and Lord Rustless?

Answer: Ronnie Barker

Ronnie Barker was Arkwright in "Open All Hours" (1976-1985); Fletcher in "Porridge" (1974-1977); Sale in "Clarence" (1988), and Rustless in "His Lordship Entertains" (1972).

Yes, I too was surprised to learn that Arkwright had a first name: I do not recall ever hearing it mentioned during the 25 episodes of "Open All Hours".
The character was a noted stutterer, and the quote in the question is a typical one.

Trivia note: Ronnie Barker was part of a double act on TV with Ronnie Corbett and wrote many of their sketches. Some sketches had the duo dressed as women, but Barker hated acting in drag.

6. Hold the scalpel carefully and carve a 'y': Which actor had roles that included Dr Alexx Woods, Catherine Duke, Jackie Robbins and LaDonna Batiste-Williams?

Answer: Khandi Alexander

Khandi Alexander played the pathologist Alexx Woods in "CSI: Miami" in Seasons one to eight (from 2002); she was Catherine Duke in "NewsRadio" in seasons one to five (from 1995); she had a recurring role as Jackie Robbins in "ER" (1994-2009), and was LaDonna Batiste-Williams in "Treme", first aired 2010.

Pathologists uses a 'y' shaped navel to neck cuts on bodies when performing post-mortem examinations ("autopsies", as they are known in the USA).

7. "Lovely jubbly": He played characters that included Peter Barnes, Derek Trotter, Jack Frost and Pop Larkin; which British actor was equally comfortable with comedic and serious roles?

Answer: David Jason

David Jason is probably best known as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in "Only Fools and Horses" (1981 -2003). He was Detective Inspector Jack Frost in "A Touch of Frost" (1992-2010) and Pop Larkin in "The Darling Buds of May" (1991-1993). Peter Barnes was his character in "A Sharp Intake of Breath" (1971-1981).

"Lovely jubbly" was a catchphrase of Del Boy Trotter. "Only Fools and Horses" went on to become one of the biggest ratings winners in British television, despite poor ratings for the first seasons and was almost dropped by the BBC after season two.

8. I may have to bill you $200 just for reading this question: Which actor played roles that included Father Todd Williams, Henry Spencer, Arnie Becker, and Henry 'Bull' Eckert?

Answer: Corbin Bernsen

Corbin Bernsen was Fr Todd Williams in 12 episodes of "The Young and the Restless" between 2004 and 2012; Henry Spencer in "Psych" (from 2006); Arnie Becker in 171 episodes of "L.A. Law" (1986-1994), and Eckert in "The Cape" (1996-1997).

Trivia note: The opening sequences to "L.A. Law" featured the boot/trunk of a car being slammed shut. Initially the car used was a Jaguar, but this changed to a Bentley R in later seasons when Arnie Becker was considering getting a Bentley.

9. "Psst, want to buy a slightly shop-soiled palace? There's one in London going for a song...". It's a bit of a hustle I know, but which British actor from a thespian family played Nicholas Blake, Ian Anderson, Ash Morgan and Terry Reid?

Answer: Robert Glenister

Robert Glenister played Nicholas Blake in "Spooks" from 2006 to 2010. He was Detective Sergeant Terry Reid in "A Touch Of Frost" (2001-2003), Ash Morgan in "Hustle" (2004-2012) and Colour Sergeant Ian Anderson in Season One of "Soldier, Soldier" (1991).

Glenister's brother, Philip, was also an actor and their father, John, was a director.

His longest spell was in "Hustle", a show about a gang of confidence tricksters who only really targeted bad people.

10. She may not have found a body buried under the patio but her time by the Liverpool tide was an equally traumatic one: which actor played Heather Haversham, Dr Beth Glover, Sam Ryan and Commander Clare Blake?

Answer: Amanda Burton

Amanda Burton was Heather Haversham in "Brookside" (1982-86); Beth Glover in "Peak Practice" (1993-1995); Sam Ryan in "Silent Witness" (1996-2004), and Clare Blake in "The Commander" (2003-08).

"Brookside", the Liverpool-based soap opera, was Burton's big break and the body under the patio was one of its most notorious storylines.

Source: Author darksplash

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor guitargoddess before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Character Actors Trivia Quiz

The curse of the actor is to be typecast - associated with one character all their career. Here are 10 actors who had multiple different starring roles. Identify them from their characters.

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