Russell or Swayze?

If you read up on your Tango & Cash trivia, you may discover that Kurt Russell landed the celebrated role of "Cash" after Patrick Swayze dropped out.

Which makes one wonder: Would it have made much of a difference had Swayze played Cash? My guess? "No." The two actors are basically interchangable - particularly in the early 90s, when casting calls for mulleted everymen always caused both Swayze and Russell to surface to the top.

So here's a chance to test your knowledge of Swayzo-Russellean film. You could check the source code or just go to IMDB, but since there's no final tally, it's rather fruitless. Besides, I'm convinced that the two really are the same actor: note that you never see them both onscreen.

  1. Red Dawn, 1984
    Stars as Jed Eckart, high school student, in freaky cold war movie.
    Russell    Swayze  
  2. 3000 Miles to Graceland, 2001
    Bizarre Elvis homage, where our hero is paired off with none other than Kevin Costner.
    Russell    Swayze  
  3. Road House, 1989
    "Dalton's the best bouncer in the business. His nights are filled with fast action, hot music and beautiful women. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it."
    Russell    Swayze  
  4. Point Break, 1991
    He plays a surfing bank robber. Co-stars Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey as FBI agents. Roger Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars.
    Russell    Swayze  
  5. Captain Ron, 1992
    Nautical buddy comedy with Martin Short (who was in his awkward post-Three Amigos, pre-fantasy-mini-series period - see Three Fugitives, Clifford, Jungle 2 Jungle)
    Russell    Swayze  
  6. Breakdown, 1997
    One of the iMDB posters calls it a cross between Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. All's I know is that it's got trucks and truck drivin'.
    Russell    Swayze  
  7. Unlawful Entry, 1992
    Part of the early 90s Fatal Attraction trend that included Single White Female, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Pacific Heights, and Opportunity Knocks. Well, maybe not Opportunity Knocks.
    Russell    Swayze  
  8. Father Hood, 1993
    "He's America's most wanted...Dad!"
    Russell    Swayze  
  9. Vanilla Sky, 2001
    Virtually a cameo role as a psychologist in the Tom Cruise/Cameron Crowe remake.
    Russell    Swayze  
  10. Black Dog, 1998
    The Man's Man's Movie (that is, it was probably on TNN 20 hours out of the day.) Co-stars Randy Travis, Meat Loaf, and more trucks.
    Russell    Swayze  
07:38 PM 09 Jun 2004

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Comments

Hey, don't forget _Donny Darko_, wherein Patrick Swayze plays a motivational speaker/closet pedophile!

- maggie 05:18 PM 14 Jun 2004

And of course, when reminded of this, Swayze shouted out, "Aw man, they were filming that?!" (drum fill)

- Brian 05:32 PM 16 Jun 2004

LOL.... I've always thought the are the SAME man!

- georgec 08:48 PM 18 Jun 2004

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