Multiple Personalities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coming to America

"Coming to America" represents the first movie in which Eddie Murphy plays duplicate personalities - in fact, an impressive four roles: Prince Akeem of the fictitious nation Zamunda, Clarence the fast-talking barber, Randy Watson of the band Sexual Chocolate, and lastly, a funny old man named Saul who perpetually hangs out in the barber shop.

In the movie, Prince Akeem of the fictitious nation Zamunda bucks traditional lifestyles by ditching an arranged marriage, angering his father (played by James Earl Jones) in the process.

He then moves to New York, gets a job at McDowell's (an obvious knock-off of McDonald's), and follows his passions instead. In the course of pursuing his heart's desire he wins his dignity and the girl of his dreams.

Answer: Arsenio Hall

Comedian/actor Arsenio Hall is the mighty multiplying role master playing four parts in this funny movie: Semmi, the overseer of Prince Akeem (played by clone-master Eddie Murphy), Morris the seemingly perpetual barbershop prop, the fiery Reverend Brown, and lastly, that extremely ugly girl. Arsenio is well-known in America as a late-night talk show host.

Answer: Tootsie

In this 1982 culture classic, co-starring Jessica Lange, I think that Dustin Hoffman looked a little too cute for comfort, even with the effectively nose-shrinking, yet nerdy-looking glasses. However, he worked hard at it, and his duplication illusion apparently fooled many in real life.

It's rumored that transvestite actor Holly Woodlawn was employed by "Toostie" producers to coach Dustin on the proper techniques needed to become Dorothy. It is said that Hoffman was so convincing in the role, he was able to pass himself off as his daughter's "Aunt Dorothy" in front of a group of gullible and unsuspecting teachers.

It is also said that the crew of the movie would only give terrible news to Dustin's character in drag, as she was "nicer" and didn't roar as loudly as the male counterpart! Which brings me to this interesting side note: "I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. Know what I mean?" is a quote that was voted as the #61 of The 100 Greatest Movie Lines by "Premiere" in 2007.

Answer: Michael Keaton

In the film "Multiplicity" (1996), Michael Keaton's character Doug Kinney is a worn-out and over-worked yet responsibly determined construction worker and family man bent on cloning himself to spend quality time with his more sane and better half, Laura, played by Andie MacDowell ("Groundhog Day").

This movie takes duplication to a high level, as Michael Keaton splits and splices his genes with the assistance of clone-maker scientist Dr. Leeds, played by actor Harris Yulin. Unfortunately, each successive reproduction loses critical personal integrity, essentially dumbing his characters down, and creates a big ole mess to unravel for all involved. Interestingly, Michael's real last name is Douglas, but he changed his name to Keaton because of the already famous actor with that same name. Mr. Keaton is the fourth actor to claim the role of "Batman", and was director Tim Burton's number one choice to play the role in his 1989 film adaptation of the superhero.

Many fans of the comic book hero were not pleased with this choice, however, Burton defended his choice by stating that Michael Keaton was "the only actor who could believably portray someone who has the kind of darkly obsessive personality that the character has".

He's really into multiplicity and reprisals, playing Batman in 1989 and again in the 1992 "Batman Returns", and also as Ray Nicolette in "Jackie Brown" (1997) and "Out of Sight" (1998). Coincidentally, he starred in the latter film with caped crusader, George Clooney, also of "Batman" fame. Further, he was cast with another actor of DC comic book fame, Superman Christopher Reeve, in "Speechless" (1994).

Answer: Martin Lawrence

Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence's filmography includes three movies where his character Malcolm Turner transforms into an over-sized and fun-loving motherly character: "Big Momma's House", "Big Momma's House II", and "Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son". However, he also played the urban, if not urbane, and chic female character Sheneneh on his hit sit-com "Martin". I guess the man just likes to wear comfortable clothing while on the job.

Answer: Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Although each of the movies listed do star Peter Sellers, the 1964 British dark comedy "Dr. Strangelove" features the actors George C. Scott of "Patton" fame as the bull-nosed and jingoistic General Turgidson, and youngish-looking James Earl Jones, well-known as Darth Vader's breathy voice, playing the part of Lieutenant Lothar Zogg, the B-52's bombardier. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite movies, and I am not able to peel my eyes away from Peter Sellers' multiple eye-dazzling performances.

He serves up several excellently played performances in the movie, including Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British RAF exchange officer, the American President and Commander-in-Chief Merkin Muffley, and the eccentric, conspicuously-gloved, and wheelchair-bound Nazi nuclear war expert, Dr. Strangelove.

Answer: Adam Sandler

"Jack and Jill" was not a critically-acclaimed success, however, it features surreal performances by Adam Sandler, and showcases his ability to both act and write (he co-wrote the screenplay), and to identify with aspects of his female persona in a comedic way.

Interestingly, though he has proved himself as a box office success, grossing over $2 billion, sadly, he has also won multiple Golden Raspberry Awards. However, his multiple talents as actor/comedian hold him in high esteem, and he won the 2014 People's Choice Awards for Favorite Comedic Movie Actor, beating out heavies like Chris Rock and Zach Galifianakis.

His animated film credits have also showcased his talents at dual performances, and in "Eight Crazy Nights", his first animated movie, he played the voice of four main characters.

However, his lesser-known talent as a singer has gone largely unnoticed, including a touching performance at 12 years of age when he sang the song "You're Sixteen" at his sister's wedding.

Answer: Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage has played multiple roles in a couple of movies, including "Adaptation" and "Face-off" (co-starring John Travolta of "Saturday Night Fever" fame). In the movie "Adaptation", Cage's character Charlie Kaufman has taken on a new assignment as screenwriter of writer Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief".

However, his darker and more cynical nature struggles in the face of his more personable and likable twin. Cage is equally known for less duplicating roles in movies such as "Honeymoon in Vegas" and "Leaving Las Vegas".

Answer: Buster Keaton

All of these men are silent film actors, and interestingly, Hungarian-American actor Bela Lugosi of "Dracula" fame even plays a dual role in "The Human Monster" (1939). However, Buster Keaton, born Joseph Francis Keaton, wrote, directed, and starred in the 22-minute movie "The Play House", and plays every role in the opening scenes of the movie.

His vaudeville career began with his parents, Joe and Myra Keaton, as "The Three Keatons" when he was only four years of age in 1898. After moving to California in 1917, he starred in 15 two-reelers for Comique Film Corporation with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, including his first film "The Butcher Boy" (1917). Though his success continued in the following years, including entertaining troops in France as a member of the army in 1918 and being offered his own production company with Metro Pictures in 1919, alcoholism and marital problems plagued his career by 1929-31, during the transition from silent films to talkies.

In those years, he was uncredited as a gag writer for the Marx brothers in 1945 and Red Skelton in the 1940s, yet by 1949 starred in his own Television series "The Buster Keaton Comedy Show".

In 1951, his career received a needed boost by appearing with silent film genius Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin's "Limelight". In fact, Keaton was known to appreciate magic and geometry, and it is said that the magician Houdini gave him the nickname "Buster" when Keaton, as a child, fell from a flight of stairs and rebounded quickly as if nothing had happened. Reportedly, Houdini exclaimed, "That's a real buster!" To further prove his toughness, during the filming of "Sherlock Jr.", he broke his neck when falling on the train tracks, only to discover the fact years later during a routine doctor's examination. The venerable actor died of lung cancer in Woodland Hills, California, on February 1, 1966.

Answer: Bette Davis

Bette Davis is probably best known for her stark and stunning performance with Joan Crawford in the emotionally-disturbing movie "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" However, in the film "A Stolen Life" with Glenn Ford, she plays both twin sisters, Kate and Pat.

The former, a manipulator of men is mistaken for the other who tragically drowns. If you are hungry for more of her extreme acting talents, catch her in one of my favorite black and white classics, "All About Eve" (1950). You won't be disappointed.