Looking Back From ‘Little Buddha’: Dieties on the Screen

From the ancient Greeks (the gods speaking through oracles in Sophocles’ “Oedipus”) to modern day (hey, dude, Keanu Reeves is Buddha in “Little Buddha”), actors have been portraying God in one form or another for years. Here, a sampling of actors lording it over their colleagues and fans.

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“The Green Pastures” (1936):

God figure: Rex Ingram as “De Lawd.” First appears: At a catfish fry in Heaven. Persona: An African American Santa Claus--with a sense of vengeance. Best come-on: “Well, Adam, how they treating you? How’s things going?” Miracles: Creates Earth in six days, wipes Earth out in a flood, except for the family of Noah--Eddie (Rochester) Anderson. Think He’d say that?: “Let there be some firmament. And when I say let there be some firmament, I don’t mean no little bitty dab of firmament, ‘cause I’m getting sick and tired of running out of it when we need it. Let there be a whole mess of firmament.” His mission: “Doggone, mankind must be all right at the core--else why did I bother with them in the first place?”

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“The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965)

God figure: Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ. First appears: With John the Baptist (Charlton Heston) at the River Jordan. Persona: A perpetually lecturing college professor. Best come-on: “Would you give up all your money and follow me?” Miracles: Makes a cripple (Sal Mineo) walk again. Think He’d say that?: All dialogue guaranteed quoted verbatim. His mission: Peace on Earth, the redemption of mankind.

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“Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973)

God figure: Ted Neely as Jesus Christ. First appears: Walking through a crowd, smiling beatifically. Persona: Ted Nugent wannabe. Best come-on: “You’ll be sorry when I’m gone.” Miracles: Keeps a straight face while watching skinny Josh Mostel do a song and dance. Think He’d say that?: “I must be mad thinking I’ll be remembered. My name will mean nothing 10 minutes after I’m dead.” His mission: To redeem mankind--and the rock musical.

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“Oh, God!” (1977)

God figure: George Burns as God. First appears: As a voice on an intercom, then as a little old man in John Denver’s car. Persona: Retired garment wholesaler. Best come-on: “I gave you a world and everything in it. It’s all up to you.” Miracles: Makes it rain in John Denver’s car; makes himself disappear in a courtroom. Think He’d say that?: “You think only God can make a tree? Try coming up with a mackerel.” His mission: To remind people who’s in charge and that he’s still around.

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“The Last Temptation of Christ” (1988)

God figure: Willem Dafoe as Jesus Christ. First appears: Being berated by Judas for building crosses for the Romans. Persona: Tortured artist. Best come-on: “I believed in love. Now I believe in this.” (Brandishes ax.) “Who will follow me?” Miracles: Cures lepers and lunatics; raises the dead; pulls own heart out of chest; hair grows four inches in two hours. Think He’d say that?: “I’m a liar, a hypocrite. I don’t even tell the truth, because I don’t have the courage.” His mission: “I have to tear down everything around you and do you know what I’ll replace it with? God!”

“Little Buddha” (1994)

God figure: Keanu Reeves as Siddhartha First appears: Stripped to the waist, heavily into physical contact sports. Persona: A seeker in a sophomore philosophy seminar. Best come-on: “I’m doing this for everyone. I am looking for freedom.” Miracles: Speaks as a newborn baby; cobra becomes his umbrella; he makes a bowl float upstream. Think He’d say that?: “I must see the world with my own eyes.” His mission: “I must find an answer to suffering.”