This week’s Loaded Question is inspired by my Daily Stream post last week recommending the movie The Skeleton Twins, which features a stunningly powerful serious performance from previously exclusively comic actor Bill Hader.
What great comic actors have turned out to be even better dramatic actors?
Pictured is, of course, perhaps one of the best-known examples: Tom Hanks, who was very funny early in his career in the sitcom Bosom Buddies (above right) and in movies such as Splash, and has gone to even bigger success and even more potent creative power as an actor in serious films such as Saving Private Ryan and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (above left).
Who are your favorite comics turned serious actors? Who has most memorably made such a transition?
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Molly Shannon. I was going to say more, but if you’ve seen her in a dramatic role, then saying Molly Shannon pretty much sums it up.
Bob Odenkirk leaps to mind. Along with Michael McKean.
Of course there’s Michael J. Fox, although his dramatic turns have been fairly light. But first I thought of Martin Short, who has been very solid in drama. Long ago he was in a TV miniseries of Merlin (the one with Sam Neill) playing a jester/slave/sidekick, and I still believe he should have gotten an Emmy for it.
As problematic as he is these days: Will Smith.
If “dramatic” includes “badass action,” then Keanu Reeves. Who’da thunk the lovable idiot from the Bill and Ted films would go on to become Neo and John Wick?
And the first person that came to mind was Robin Williams, but it’s interesting that he never STOPPED being funny even in his serious roles. His humor just seemed to acquire more depth and pain.
I was also thinking of the opposite scenario: dramatic actors who have turned out to be good at being hilarious. Andre Braugher ranks high on that list for me.
The first two that spring to mind are Hugh Laurie, going from goofy Wooster and the Prince Regent to the famously surly House, M.D., and Olivia Colman, going from sketch comedy on Mitchell and Webb to, well, *everything*.
Bob Odenkirk is a great pick too, although I can’t say I ever got into his comedy.
I’d say Robin Williams.
This might be embarrassing to say, and no one will agree with me, but I saw Adam Sandler in a movie called Reign on me or something, and I was blown away by his performance
I mostly cannot abide Sander, but he’s very good in Funny People (which is not a comedy).