Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

More actors have starred opposite themselves than you first thought

From Michaels J. Fox and Keaton through to Johns Lithgow and Cleese

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 28 January 2016 06:59 EST
Comments
Hugo Weaving in 'The Matrix Reloaded'
Hugo Weaving in 'The Matrix Reloaded' (YouTube)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

If you're like us and seeing actors appear opposite each other in films never fails to make you marvel at the accomplishment of such a feat, then this video is for you.

YouTube channel Burger Fiction has compiled footage of these cinematic occurrences into one brilliant five-minute clip.

Whether they are alter egos (Michael Cera, Youth in Revolt), clones (Arnold Schwarzenegger, The 6th Day), doppelgängers (Jake Gyllenhaal, Enemy) or twins (Nicolas Cage, Adaptation), this mashup will succeed in alerting you to just how many times this trick has been pulled.

See for yourself below.

What is also surprising is that the trick was utilised in cinema as early as 1921, with Buster Keaton playing nine characters (the most out of anyone featured in the clip) in the short film The Playhouse.

Following up the silent film icon is Eddie Murphy who played seven characters in The Nutty Professor I and II.

With the promise of another video to come, the barrel is nowhere close to being scraped clean either.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in