Has there ever been an actor more adept at shape-shifting than Christian Bale?
Vincent D’Onofrio.
The man didn’t come by the nickname “The Human Chameleon” by accident, after all.
He still holds the record for most weight gained by an actor for a role, having packed over 70 pounds onto his trim, 6′3″ frame to play Pvt. Pyle in 1987’s Full Metal Jacket, bringing his weight up to 280 pounds. The extra weight caused a knee injury which required surgery.
He then lost all the weight in 9 months, and looked like a different person opposite Lili Taylor in 1988’s Mystic Pizza.
He again packed on weight, this time 45 pounds, for 2002’s The Salton Sea.
A few more of his characterizations over the years:
Unfortunate screenwriter David Kahane in The Player (1992):
Edgar in Men in Black (1997):
Det. Goren in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (2001–2011):
And Wilson Fisk in “Daredevil” (2015–2018):