Bartenders in movies: How many actors have played them?

There are many great bartenders in movies. A few years ago, the bartending career was somewhat looked down upon. However, today, working as a bartender is something common and, in addition, generates a good income.

Over a dozen well-known actors have played bartenders in movies and they all bring something unique to the table. We are going to explore the roles they had and the movies that showcase the performances.

However, it is important to point out that the world of bartending has not only become an excellent profession. But, it is also quite popular. It has become so popular that it is even very common to see movies where the central theme is bartending. Which means that of course, this includes bartenders in movies.

One of these movies is Cocktail, which today is one of the most popular bartending movies to date. However, this is not the only movie based on the subject of bartending. There are others where the main character or one of the main characters is a bartender.

In this article, we don’t necessarily want to talk about the art of bartending. Rather we want to talk about the actors who have played bartenders in movies.

Bartenders in movies

The film industry has always produced films and series that may be of interest to the audience. For this reason, Hollywood has set its sights on bartenders and has produced several films related to this topic. In addition, actors such as Tom Cruise and Ted Danson have played the role of bartenders in movies and television. This has made them much more popular.

These actors have played unforgettable characters, no matter if we sympathize with them or not. Bartenders have always been those people in real life and in movies with whom people will open up and talk about their feelings. The bartenders are almost psychologists who serve drinks to their “patients” and listen to them for free.

Next, we are going to talk about the actors who have played bartenders in movies. Above all, those that have become more popular by fans and directors who have interpreted them.

Tom Cruise in Cocktail is the ultimate bartenders in movies example

Tom Cruise is one of the most sought-after and active actors in Hollywood today. However, his beginnings in the cinema were what marked his career. He has participated in many popular films, but one of the most iconic is “Cocktail”. A great example of bartenders in movies.

The film tells the story of Brian Flanagan, who is a talented but ambitious bartender. He decides to pursue bartending after leaving the US Army. Flanagan’s dream in the film is to make it in the business world.

Flanagan learns the art of bartending thanks to his boss, and for that, he becomes one of the best. Also, Flanagan finds the love of his life while working at that bar in Jamaica.

In addition, to Cruise’s performance as one of the best bartenders in movies. One of the things that really stood out in the film was the song Kokomo, performed by The Beach Boys. Although the film was not very successful among critics, today it is consider a cult film.

Brian Brown in Cocktail

We already mentioned earlier the main actor of the movie Cocktail, Tom Cruise; however, there is another bartender who is integral to the story. We are talking of course about the character of Doug Coughlin.

He is certainly not only the best cocktail maker, but also Cruise character’s mentor and best friend throughout the movie.

In the movie, he applies “Coughlin’s law” and passes it on to Cruise, making him an excellent bartender. As an interesting side note about the film, it is said that Cruise and Brown spent quite a bit of time practicing bottle juggling. And learning how to bartend in order to be more convincing during the filming of the movie.

Joe Turkel in the Shining

The Shining is a movie based on a book by Stephen King. It is consider one of the best horror movies in history. Although it is true that the main actor is Jack Nicholson, other actors and characters have attracted attention.

One of them is Joe Turkel, the actor who plays the role of Lloyd, the bartender at the Overlook Hotel. In this case, the character Lloyd died while working at the hotel, under unknown circumstances.

However, his ghost remained in the Hotel, tending the bar and serving drinks to the non-existent guests. Although Turkel’s role is not very important, at the time he appears in the film, his character is relevant. This is another example of great characters playing bartenders in movies.

His conversations with Jack Torrance while serving him drinks at the bar are hands down some of the best scenes.

Piper Perabo in Coyote Ugly

Piper Perabo plays Violet Sanford, a 22-year-old girl who arrives in New York City to become a singer. However, as happens with many who come to New York, her dream does not come true. A great bartenders in movies example.

This forces Sanford (Perabo) to look for a job in order to support herself in a city like New York. It is at this time that she finds a job as a bartender at the Coyote Ugly Bar. The bar is one of the most famous in the city.

The owner of the bar has only women as bartenders, which is why she gives Violet the opportunity to work there. The women bartenders not only serve drinks but also dance on the bar to entertain customers, who are mostly young men.

The film focuses on the main character, her life in the city, her new boyfriend and her job. Perabo’s performance is well receive and proves that female actors can also give great performances as bartenders in movies.

And although the film was not very successful with critics either, it was a big hit among those who watched it.

Karen Allen in Riders of the Lost Ark

The Indiana Jones movies are the favorite of many people around the world. Although Ford is the one who gets the applause for his performance, there are other noteworthy performances in these films.

One of them is Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen. The first time we saw her was in Raiders of the Lost Ark and then in The Crystal Skull. In the role of Marion, Allen portrays a strong outspoken woman, a hero, and the owner of “The Raven” Bar.

The Raven is a very popular bar in Nepal that Marion runs and manages, but she is also the local bartender. Without a doubt, the Marion Ravenwood character is one of the most beloved in the Indiana Jones saga. The role of Karen Allen as Marion was one performance that achieved tremendous success among the fans of these films.

Ted Danson in Cheers

In 1982 Ted Danson was cast as a former Boston Red Socks pitcher and bartender Malone on the sitcom Cheers. As owner and Bartender of the local bar Cheers in Boston, Sam listened to his customers and employees. Also, helped them through their problems.

Cheers was one of the top ten shows on television for a long time. The show ran for 11 seasons and spawned a popular spin-off, called Frasier, which ran for 11 seasons too. To this day Cheers, a show about a bartender, is still considered one of the greatest shows of all time.

Moe Szyslak in the Simpsons 

Although Moe isn’t an actor, he is a cartoon and the Simpsons is a Show, we have to mention him. In addition, it is important to remember that The Simpsons have also released movies, which have been successful.

Moe is one of the most iconic characters in the famous series but he is also one of the original characters. Not only is he a great bartender, but also successfully manages his own place Moe’s Bar.

Many of the stories take place in Moe’s bar and it is one of the places most visited by Homer. Therefore, doesn’t matter if Moe keeps pointing guns at his customers or if he seems to have a bad temper. Moe, the famous bartender from The Simpsons, will always be one of the most beloved characters of the show.

Paul Dillon in Fight Club

When we think of the movie Fight Club, its two main actors, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, come to mind. However, there are some other actors whose characters are also remembered by fans of this movie.

Fight Club has become a cult movie with a huge following. It is about a group of men who meet in a clandestine place to fight. This is the way how they release the stress and tensions they may have. A great bartenders in movies example for sure.

Many scenes in the film take place in a club or bar where they meet before fighting. Although the owner of the bar is Lou, his bartender Irvin who really rules the place. Thanks to him, Tyler and the others are able to use the basement of the bar for their underground fights.

Irvin even imposes a rule on the fight club. The rule is that none of them can tell their bosses that he allows them to fight in the basement. This makes this bartender a fundamental piece within the fight club.

Peter Siragusa in the Big Lebowski

Starring Jeff Bridges, The Big Lebowski is an excellent movie and one that has many fans around the world. Moreover, while it is clear that Bridges is the star throughout the film, some characters steal the show.

One of those characters is Gary the bartender. Although we do not see him on screen more than a few seconds, he provides Lebowski with everything he needs. From letting him make calls to serving drinks, Gary is the quintessential bartender and that makes him relevant to the plot.

Leonid Kinskey in Casablanca

This classic of cinema, interpreted by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, is without a doubt one of the best films ever. That’s why, as in any good movie, even classics, a bartender always appears as part of the plot or story.

In this case, we refer to Sascha, played by Leonid Kinskey. He is obsessed with his boss’s girlfriend, but he also admires him for many reasons.

Although in this film perhaps, the bartender does not play a very important role, but a necessary role. Since the start of moving pictures, bartenders have been an important part of the scenes. Even classic movies like Casablanca.

Tom Hardy in the Drop a great bartenders in movies example

Hardy is one of the hottest actors going right now, and has made countless blockbuster movies. However, one of his best movies and performances is without a doubt Bob in The Drop.

Hardy’s character in the film is Bob Saginowski, a bartender working in a Brooklyn bar owned by actor James Gandolfini. Nevertheless, at the end, things go wrong when he finds himself involved in a police investigation. This happens after the bar where he works suffers a robbery.

The problem is that the mafia is the one that owns the bar and this brings countless problems to Hardy. Especially since the bar is a meeting and delivery point for illegal expropriations.

The film received very good reviews, especially for the performance of Hardy and Gandolfini.

Armie Hammer in Wounds for bartenders in movies

This is a horror movie in which its main actor is Armie Hammer, with the role of Will. Will is a bartender who lives and works in the city of New Orleans. The Dive bar where he works is filthy and full of cockroaches.

The film is a psychological thriller, but it is also a horror film. After a fight occurs in the bar, one of those involved forgets his. Will finds it and keeps it.

However, keeping that phone is a very bad idea, as many strange things start to happen to him and his girlfriend. This leads the protagonist to an unexpected and terrible end.

Questions and answers on bartenders in movies

Final thoughts on bartenders in movies

These are some of the best movies based on characters whose profession is being a bartender. And, the amazing actors who played bartenders in movies. In addition, there are many TV series where their main characters are bartenders.

The truth is that cinema today, whether in Hollywood or elsewhere, continues to produce movies focused on bartending. In addition to turning actors and their characters into icons and role models as they play these iconic bartenders in movies. They become an inspiration for all those who want to dedicate themselves to the exciting world of bartending.

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