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Celebrity Cocktails & Actors and Celebrities Who Were Bartenders
In Real Life & 25 Greatest Screen Bartenders
Celebrity Cocktail History
The first known book to list favorite celebrity cocktails is the 1928 book Cheerio. This cocktail book is interesting because it was published in America during Prohibition. Click on the book cover to flip through it.
Hollywood Cocktails was published in November 1933. It contains 300 drink recipes from restaurants and bars celebrities patronized. Click on the book cover to flip through it.
Books to follow include:
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1999 Hollywood Cocktails by Ben Reed
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2014 Celebrity Cocktails by Brian Van Flandern
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2014 Of All the Gin Joints: Stumbling Through Hollywood History by Mark Bailey
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2015 Gone with the Gin: Cocktails with a Hollywood Twist by Tim Federle
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2017 Cocktails in the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to Cinematic Mixology by Wil Francis and Stacey Marsh
Me, William T. Garver and Ted Haigh have collected drinks seen in films for many years. We even did a seminar together at Tales of the Cocktail. Garver first started writing an article for Modern Drunkard Magazine titled “Soused Cinema.” Then, in December 2006, Garver started his Booze Movies blog, which not only shows clips of drinks seen in film but also reviews the films. I also have a Facebook page, Cocktails in Media.
Actors & Celebrities Who Were Bartenders in Real Life
Before they were serving punchlines, hit songs, and Oscar-worthy performances, some celebrities were just trying to remember who ordered the vodka soda.
Amy Poehler — Worked as a bartender and waitress at an Irish pub called The Ale House in Chicago.
Amy Schumer — Worked as a bartender at The Stanton Social, a popular restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side, before her comedy career took off.
Bill Murray — Bartended at Chicago’s The Underground during his early comedy years. He even made a surprise appearance behind the bar at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in 2010.
Brandon Routh — Worked as a bartender at Lucky Strike Lanes, a bowling alley in Hollywood, before landing his breakthrough role in Superman Returns.
Brendan Wayne — Was bartending at The Lobster restaurant in Los Angeles when he received an opportunity to audition for The Mandalorian. He got the role.
Bruce Willis — Bartended at three New York City bars in the 1980s before his acting career took off: Kamikaze, a high-energy nightclub; Café Central, a major nightlife destination for celebrities, artists, and actors; and Chelsea Central, a gritty nightclub for creatives, poets, and writers at the iconic Hotel Chelsea.Fellow actor John Goodman met Willis at Café Central and later called him New York's best bartender. Willis was known for his charismatic style behind the bar and went by the nickname “Bruno.”
Chris Pratt — Worked as a bartender at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Maui before his acting career became established.
Cobie Smulders — Bartended at several places in Vancouver, British Columbia, including Earls Restaurants, Nevermind, and Urban Well, before her television and Marvel career took off
Colman Domingo — Bartended for approximately five years at New York’s 55 Bar jazz club while performing in theater and other shows.
Dave Grohl — Worked as a bartender in Virginia before becoming famous with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. He has not publicly named the specific bar or establishment.
Dave Matthews — Worked as a bartender at Miller’s Downtown, a historic pub and live music venue in Charlottesville, Virginia, before forming the Dave Matthews Band.
Debbie Harry — Worked as a waitress and bartender at Max’s Kansas City in New York before Blondie became famous. Max's was a legendary restaurant, bar, and nightclub and a famous gathering spot for pop artists, musicians, poets, writers, and filmmakers, with Andy Warhol and his "Superstars" frequenting the venue.
Ellen DeGeneres — Bartended in New Orleans but has not publicly named the specific establishment. New Orleans locals have said she worked at the location where Déjà Vu Restaurant & Bar now stands at 400 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter, when the space reportedly hosted comedy. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she also worked as a waitress at TGI Friday’s in Metairie.
Ellen Pompeo — Bartended at SoHo Bar & Grill in New York and was reportedly approached there by a casting director in 1996.
Gina Rodriguez — Worked as a bartender at a seafood restaurant in Marina del Rey, California, before her breakout role in Jane the Virgin. She has not publicly named the specific establishment.
James Gandolfini — Before The Sopranos, he bartended at the Raccoon Lodge in downtown New York City, a no-frills dive bar with walls featuring duck decoys and a mounted moose head wearing construction hard hats. Wall Street bankers, local writers, ironworkers, and neighborhood residents sat side-by-side.
After graduating from Rutgers University, he also worked as a nightclub manager and bouncer in Manhattan before beginning his acting career.
Jeremy Renner — Worked as a bartender in Los Angeles early in his acting career. He has not publicly named the specific establishment.
John Goodman — Bartended and waited tables at numerous places in New York while pursuing theater and commercial work. He has not publicly named the specific establishments.
Jon Hamm — Bartended at Cardwell’s in his hometown of St. Louis, where he served members of the St. Louis Blues hockey team, including Chris Pronger. After moving to Hollywood, he also tended bar at private parties hosted by Kelly Lynch and her producer husband, Mitch Glazer.
Jon Stewart — Bartended at City Gardens, the legendary punk club in Trenton, New Jersey, before becoming a nationally known comedian and television host.
Kelis — Bartended in the late 1990s while attending performing-arts school and developing her music career. She later trained professionally as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu. She has not publicly named the specific bar.
Kiefer Sutherland — Bartended during the 1980s at Tom Bergin’s, the legendary Irish tavern on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, before his acting career accelerated. He and his then-fiancée Julia Roberts famously had their names placed on the pub’s iconic ceiling shamrocks.
Lucy Liu — Worked as a bartender and restaurant hostess in New York City during the 1980s and early 1990s while attending New York University and pursuing acting. She has not publicly named the specific bar.
Margot Robbie — Bartended on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. She has said she began working in hospitality at age 10, first polishing cutlery and washing dishes before eventually moving behind the bar at age 14. She has not publicly named the rural restaurant.
Maria Bello — Bartended at Sing, a karaoke bar in New York’s West Village, while struggling to establish her acting career before ER and Coyote Ugly.
Mark Cuban — Bartended at Elan nightclub located on Greenville Avenue in Dallas after moving to the city from Indiana in 1982 to pay rent. He shared a three-bedroom apartment at $600 a month with five roommates: Greg Schipper, Mark Wisely (who shared the living room floor with Cuban in sleeping bags), Dave O'Brien, Mike Sterry, and Dave Carr.
This, of course, was before Cuban became an entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks owner, Shark Tank investor, and billionaire.
Mark Ruffalo — Bartended at Olive, Sean MacPherson's Small Bar, and Good Luck Bar in Los Angeles in the 1990s.
Meg White — Worked as a bartender at Memphis Smoke, a Detroit barbecue restaurant, before the success of The White Stripes.
Michael Fassbender — Bartended at the West End House, his family’s restaurant in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. He later worked as a bartender and bar manager at various London bars and nightclubs while trying to establish his acting career. He has not publicly named the specific bars or nightclubs.
Michael Graziadei — Bartended at Saddle Ranch on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles before landing The Young and the Restless.
Mila Kunis — Guest-bartended for fun at Bar None in New York’s East Village before becoming a major film star.
Pauley Perrette — Bartended in New York City’s club scene during the 1990s while studying at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has described tending bar wearing combat boots, a bra, and a white Mohawk. He has not publicly named the specific establishment.
Rachel McAdams — Bartended at Real Sports Bar & Grill in Toronto before her The Notebook acting career took off.
Ronda Rousey — Worked as a bartender at the Redwood Bar & Grill in downtown Los Angeles after competing in the 2008 Olympic Games and before becoming a prominent mixed-martial-arts star and television personality.
Russell Crowe — Bartended in Australia before his international acting career took off. He has not publicly named the specific establishment.
Sandra Bullock — Worked as a bartender, waitress, and hostess at Canastel’s, a popular restaurant at 19th Street and Park Avenue South in Manhattan, while studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse Theatre. During the late 1980s, she worked there alongside future star Jennifer Coolidge, who was a cocktail waitress.
Sarah Colonna — Bartended at Mirabelle on Sunset in Hollywood, a fine dining restaurant and celebrity hotspot before launching her full-time career in comedy and acting.
Stanley Tucci — Bartended at Alfredo’s, the Original of Rome, in Midtown Manhattan during the summer after his sophomore year of college, around 1980–81. His uncle, Oscar Tucci, had designed the restaurant’s interior, which helped him land the job.
Celebrity Cocktails - What The Stars Drink
Alan Jackson: Bushwhackers on his private yacht. I didn't witness this, but he told me while I was at his house in Jupiter, Florida.
Alfred Hitchcock: Mimosa.
Amy Schumer: She drinks wine and is known for tipping bartenders $1,000.
Andy Dick: Vodka with anything.
Andy Garcia: Negroni and Grey Goose Martini.
Andy McDowell: Midori Sour.
Andy Warhol: Dom Pérignon.
Alan Cumming: Martini.
Ava Gardner: Beefeater gin, Bloody Mary, Whiskey & Coke, Martini, and Mai Tai
Barbra Streisand: Champagne Cocktail at the Playboy Mansion in the 1960s.
Beyoncé: Red Wine.
Bill Maher: Vodka & Tonic, with the lime on the side on a napkin, preferably placed with tongs because he is a germaphobe.
Bing Crosby: Bourbon and Herradura Tequila.
Blake Lively: Aviation American Gin.
Britt Leach: Scotch on the rocks.
Bob Saget: Margarita in Los Angeles and he is a great tipper.
Buddy Hackett: Gin Ricky.
Cal Ripkin: Rum Runners served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Carson Daly: Bloody Mary with pickle juice and beef jerky and Ketel One vodka, POM, and Fresca.
CeeLo Green: Long Island Iced Tea.
Charles Bronson: Corona.
Charlize Theron: Pomegranate Blossom at Social in Hollywood (closed in 2010)
Chevy Chase: Piña Colada served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Clint Eastwood: Cabernet.
Conan O'Brien: Appletinis? On August 9, 2011, he said, “After yesterday’s six-hundred-point drop, the stock market fell and then got back up again six times today. So basically, the stock market is acting like me after three Appletinis.”
David Bowie: Bombay Sapphire Martini.
David Krumholtz (TV show Numbers): Patron Margarita.
David Lee Roth: Jack Daniel’s straight from the bottle at every concert in the 1970s-1980s.
Dean Martin: Pinch Scotch & Soda, Dewar’s Scotch & Soda, and ginger ale on the rocks with a little Scotch on the rim so that it looked and smelled like a drink at the Playboy Mansion.
Don Rickles: Gin and Vodka Martinis.
Ed Koch: Coconut Daiquiri.
Eddie Money: Tequila Sunrise.
Elizabeth Hurley: Stinger.
Elizabeth Montgomery: Sidecar, Sazerac, White Wine, Smirnoff Bloody Mary, and Smirnoff Screwdriver at the Playboy Mansion.
Elizabeth Taylor: Scotch, vodka, Bloody Marys, and Chocolate Martinis.
Ellen DeGeneres: Tequila and Gin & Tonic.
Elvira (Cassandra Peterson): Vodka Cranberry.
Eminem: Vodka at the Lollapalooza arena.
Ernest Hemingway: Papa Noble, Dry Martini, Bloody Mary, Hemingway Daiquiris, Absinthe Drip, Mojito, Death in the Afternoon, and Planter’s Punches.
Eva Mendes: Pink Elephant at the Pink Elephant in New York City.
Frank Sinatra: Bourbon & Water, Scotch & Water, and Jack Daniel’s.
Freddy Mercury: Vodka, wine, and beer.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: Gin Rickey.
George Chakiris (1961 Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner, West Side Story): Keoke Coffee.
George Clooney: Casamigos Tequila and Raspberry Cheesecake at the Cherry Nightclub in Las Vegas.
George Lucas: Bourbon Old-Fashioneds.
Gerard Depardieu: Wine.
Gisele Bündchen: Peach Passion in Miami.
Hal Nederham: Absolut Citron on the rocks with a lemon twist.
Hulk Hogan: Piña Coladas served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Humphrey Bogart: Scotch, Martinis, and Black Velvet cocktail. On his deathbed, he supposedly said, "I should never have switched from scotch to Martinis."
Hunter S. Thompson: Chartreuse on the rocks.
Jack Benny: Gin Martini.
Jane Birkin: Appletini at the Fubar in Paris.
Janis Joplin: Southern Comfort, Rose’s Lime, and soda water.
Jayma Mays: Gin & Tonic with honey.
Jay-Z: Armand de Brignac Champagne.
Jeff Gordon: White Wine Spritzer.
Jennifer Aniston: Margaritas.
Jennifer Lawrence: Piña Colada and wine.
Jerry O’Connell: Cosmopolitan in Australia.
Jessica Biel: Angry Dragon Martini at the Grand Hotel in New York City.
Jessica Simpson: Grey Goose & Soda and champagne.
Jim Belushi: Rémy Martin XO.
JK Rowling: Gin & Tonic.
Joan Crawford: Whisky Sour made with Scotch at the American Bar at the Savoy in London.
Jock Mahoney: Bourbon & Water.
Joe Namath (football quarterback): Absolut on the rocks.
Joe Pesci: Gin Martini.
John Ashton: Dewar’s & Water.
Johnny Depp: Blueberry & Ginger Bourbon Sour at the Buddha Bar in Paris.
Johnny Halliday: Woodford Reserve Old-Fashioned.
John Travolta: Bombay Sapphire Martini.
Jon Bon Jovi: Chartreuse on the rocks.
Julia Roberts: Her favorite drink in Portugal is a Scorpino (vodka, Cointreau, cream, and lemon sorbet blended).
Karen Carpenter: Scotch on the rocks.
Kate Hudson: Passionate Saketini at Doku 15 in Toronto.
Kate Moss: Kate told Playboy that she orders “French 76” at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz in Paris.
Kelly Ripa: Jell-O shots.
Kiefer Sutherland: Jade Mistress at the Red Pearl Kitchen in Hollywood (closed in 2013).
Kim Kardashian: White Russians and Midori Sours.
Kylie Minogue: Lychee Martinis at the Opium in Belfast.
Lance Bass: Appletini in Los Angeles and Mississippi Mule (moonshine & ginger beer) at his wedding. Moscow Mule served by me at the Bourbon O Bar in New Orleans.
Laura Prepon: Hurricane at Two Urban Licks in Atlanta, Georgia
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Linda Hamilton: Long Island Iced Tea served by me at the Bourbon O Bar in New Orleans.
Lindsay Lohan: Vodka, Vodka Redbulls, Jager Bombs, and Jack & Cokes.
Liv Tyler: Strawberry Daiquiri served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Lou Ferrigno: Strawberry Daiquiri and Kir.
Madonna: Cosmopolitan in Miami and NYC Pomegranate Martini at the Prime Grill in Los Angeles.
Mark Consuelos: Heineken.
Marc McGrath: Vodka Cranberry.
Marilyn Monroe: Champagne.
Mario Lopez: Margarita.
Martha Stewart: Mimosa made with blood orange juice.
Martin Landau: Vodka Martini.
Melanie Griffith: Frozen Margarita served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Mick Jagger: Tequila Sunrise, Jack and Coke, Mimosas, Cognac...probably everything.
Mick Jones (Foreigner): Stoli on the rocks.
Mike Ditka: Cape Cod.
Mila Kunis: Smoky Scotch.
Oprah Winfrey: Vodka and Tequila cocktails. On May 12, 2006, Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray made Lemondrop Martinis on the Oprah Show. In November of the same year, they made Pomegranate Martinis.
Oh, I remember. I remember the flood of orders at the bar. 98% of American bars did not have fresh lemon juice or pomegranate juice.
Paris Hilton: Belvedere Vodka, GT Vodka, and Armand de Brignac Champagne.
President Andrew Jackson: Whiskey.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Martinis, Manhattans, and Bermuda Rum Swizzles.
President George H. W. Bush: Vodka Martinis.
President George Washington: Applejack and Madeira.
President Gerald Ford: Gin & Tonic and Martinis.
President Harry Truman: Old Fashioneds.
President Herbert Hoover: Dry Gin Martini.
President John F. Kennedy: Daiquiris and Bloody Mary.
President Lyndon B. Johnson: Scotch.
President Martin Van Buren: Whiskey.
President Richard Nixon: Rum & Coke.
President Theodore Roosevelt: Mint Juleps.
President Warren G. Harding: Whiskey.
President Woodrow Wilson: Scotch.
Princess Stephanie of Monaco: Vodka and Pink Lemonade served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Queen Elizabeth II: Gordon’s Gin & Tonic with three slices of lemon while visiting Australia. And yellow Chartreuse after a fish and chip lunch at Claridge's.
Rachel Maddow: This political broadcast host has had a longtime interest in cocktails. She has been on many talk shows making and talking about cocktails.
Raquel Welch: Champagne Cocktail.
Reba McEntire: Anything made with American whiskey.
Rebecca Romijn: Red Pearl at the Red Pearl Kitchen in Hollywood.
Renée Zellweger: a cocktail named Cosmic Messenger.
Richard Burton: Whiskey & Soda, Vodka Martinis, Vodka & Tonic, and Jack & Soda.
Richard Chamberlain: Ketel One Martini with a side shot of cold olive brine.
Richard Mulligan (TV show Soap): Opal Nera Black Sambuca.
Robert De Niro: Hendrick’s Cucumber Martini on the Graham Norton Show.
Robert Stack: Early Times & Water.
Rock Hudson: Bloody Marys and Chocolate Martinis.
Ryan Gosling: Scotch.
Ryan Reynolds: Aviation American Gin.
Sally Field: Grasshoppers made with vanilla ice cream.
Sammy Hagar: Cabo Wabo Margarita.
Shane West: Jack & Coke.
Shirley Jones: Bombay Sapphire Martini.
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran): Caipiroska.
Skeet Ulrich: Anything with tequila and he’s a great tipper.
Slash: Jack Daniel’s on the rocks.
Snoop Dog: Gin & Juice, Landy Egg Nog, and Vodka Cranberry.
Spike Lee: Absolut Brooklyn.
Steven Tyler: Piña Colada served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World. I also served his grown daughters.
Tallulah Bankhead: Mint Julep, Gin Martini, French 75, frozen Daiquiri, and Manhattan.
Taylor Swift: Whiskey Sour.
Teri Garr: Mai Tai served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Tony Curtis: 100-proof Smirnoff on the rocks with a twist.
Tyne Daly: Greyhound.
Umberto of Italy (ex-king): Manhattan with two cherries at the American Bar at the Savoy in London.
Valerie Bertinelli: Cosmopolitan on the rocks, Vodka Cranberry, and Dirty Martini.
Vanessa Paradis: Strawberry Mojito at the Buddha Bar in Paris.
Vanessa Williams: Virgin Piña Colada served by me at the Grand Floridian Beach Resort in Walt Disney World.
Vince Vaughn: Vodka, Vodka Red Bull at the Reserve in Chicago, and Seabreezes.
Whitney Houston: Belvedere Martini.
Woody Allen: White Wine.
Flickr Film Star Vintage
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In the 2007 book Rock Hudson: His Story, Elizabeth and Rock were filming Giant and on a Saturday night in 1955, they invented the Chocolate Martini. They put vodka, chocolate syrup, and chocolate liqueur in a Vodka Martini and thought it tasted terrific. Rock said, “We were really just kids, we could eat and drink anything, and we never needed sleep.” He also said one Sunday it hailed and they ran out with a bucket to gather hailstones to use as ice for Bloody Marys.
Jennifer Aniston has mentioned in interviews that she loves Patron and Don Julio tequilas. “I love Patrón. I also love Don Julio 1942. Justin actually makes the perfect Margarita because there’s no agave, no sugar, no mix. It’s pure tequila, lime juice, and a squinch of Cointreau. It’s delicious.”
Madonna: Cosmopolitan made by Patrick “Patty” Mitten at the Life Cafe in New York City, Cosmopolitan made by Melissa Huffsmith at The Odeon in New York City, Cosmopolitan made by Cheryl Cook at The Strand in Miami Beach, Cosmopolitan made by Toby Cecchini at The Odeon in New York City, and Cosmopolitan made by Dale “King Cocktail” DeGroff at the Rainbow Room in New York City.
On February 9, 2011, Kim told Bazaar, “I don’t drink. I just started at thirty. A White Russian. I hate the taste of alcohol. White Russians or Midori Sours—that’s it.”
Photo of Ryan Reynolds from Aviationgin.com.
The Greatest Screen Bartenders
Some served drinks. Some served advice. Some juggled bottles, some tended bar in outer space, and one may not have existed at all. From Isaac Washington and Sam Malone to Brian Flanagan and Lloyd at the Overlook Hotel, these are the bartenders who made us want to pull up a stool—even when ordering another round was probably a terrible idea.
Good to know: If your bartender pours Jack Daniel's in an empty hotel and tells you your money is no good there, perhaps call it a night.
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Armin Shimerman — Quark, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
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Bryan Brown — Doug Coughlin, Cocktail.
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Cheech Marin — Short Bartender, Desperado.
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Danny Trejo — Razor Charlie, From Dusk Till Dawn.
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Frank Santorelli — Georgie, The Sopranos.
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Glenn Howerton — Dennis Reynolds, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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Hank Azaria — Moe Szyslak, The Simpsons.
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Ian McShane — Al Swearengen, Deadwood.
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Jake Johnson — Nick Miller, New Girl.
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Jeff Bridges — Bad Blake, Crazy Heart.
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Joe Nieves — Carl, How I Met Your Mother.
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Joe Turkel — Lloyd, The Shining.
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Michael Sheen — Arthur, Passengers.
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Nicholas Colasanto — Coach Pantusso, Cheers.
• Piper Perabo, Maria Bello, Tyra Banks, Bridget Moynahan & Izabella Miko —
Violet Sanford, Lil Lovell, Zoe, Rachel and Cammie, Coyote Ugly.
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Sam Trammell — Sam Merlotte, True Blood.
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Sheldon Leonard — Nick, It’s a Wonderful Life.
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Ted Danson — Sam Malone, Cheers.
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Ted Lange — Isaac Washington, The Love Boat.
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Tom Cruise — Brian Flanagan, Cocktail.
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Tom Holland — Nathan Drake, Uncharted.
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Whoopi Goldberg — Guinan, Star Trek: The Next Generation.
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Woody Harrelson — Woody Boyd, Cheers.