This list explores comedic actors, who I feel, have made a successful dramatic turn. The two criteria for the list are: the actor had to first come to public recognition as a comedic performer before taking on a dramatic role and that they made at least one successful dramatic turn. To be clear, this is not a ranking. I have simply chosen 12 comedic actors who I believe excelled in their dramatic turns. I should also say that this ranking is only for films. I will not be counting actors whose dramatic turns were primarily on TV. Sorry, Bryan Cranston.
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The Blues Brothers (1980)
“Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues. Two men with a mission and only eleven days,” declares the raspy-voiced narrator in theContinue readingThe Blues Brothers (1980)
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Comedy to Drama – Robin Williams
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. ROBIN WILLIAMS Films: Various I’ve driven home the point that this list is notContinue readingComedy to Drama – Robin Williams
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Comedy to Drama – Steve Carell
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. STEVE CARELL Film: Foxcatcher As we approach the last two entries on my list,Continue readingComedy to Drama – Steve Carell
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Comedy to Drama – Adam Sandler
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. ADAM SANDLER Films: Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems, Hustle Adam Sandler, in a lot ofContinue readingComedy to Drama – Adam Sandler
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Comedy to Drama – Jim Carrey
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. JIM CARREY Films: The Truman Show, Man on the Moon, Eternal Sunshine of theContinue readingComedy to Drama – Jim Carrey
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Comedy to Drama – Jonah Hill
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. JONAH HILL Film: Moneyball I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how toContinue readingComedy to Drama – Jonah Hill
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Comedy to Drama – Eddie Murphy
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. EDDIE MURPHY Film: Dreamgirls Eddie Murphy, to me, will always be Donkey. To someContinue readingComedy to Drama – Eddie Murphy
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Comedy to Drama – Michael Keaton
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. MICHAEL KEATON Films: Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Spotlight I’ll be honest,Continue readingComedy to Drama – Michael Keaton
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Comedy to Drama – Sacha Baron Cohen
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. SACHA BARON COHEN Film: The Trial of the Chicago 7 This entry begs meContinue readingComedy to Drama – Sacha Baron Cohen
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Comedy to Drama – Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. BILL HADER & KRISTEN WIIG Film: The Skeleton Twins Okay. I know what you’reContinue readingComedy to Drama – Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig
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Comedy to Drama – Melissa McCarthy
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. MELISSA MCCARTHY Film: Can You Ever Forgive Me? I need to start this entryContinue readingComedy to Drama – Melissa McCarthy
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Comedy to Drama – Albert Brooks
Potential spoilers ahead. You’ve been warned. ALBERT BROOKS Film: Drive I’m not even sure where to start with Albert Brooks.Continue readingComedy to Drama – Albert Brooks