Broadly speaking, most fictional stories that we enjoy as audiences can be broken down into two categories: comedy and tragedy. There are undoubtedly works that walk the line between these two extremes or adopt some conventions from each to form what we call a dramedy. But most of the time, film and television are broken up into the two categories mentioned.
RELATED:10 Dramatic Actors Who Were Awesome in Comedic Roles
Similarly, actors and actresses can find themselves typecast into starring in one of these two categories. People who are exceptional dramatic performers tend to stick with that. In contrast, others more known for their comedic timing are usually constrained to trying to make people laugh - except in the case of these performers, who managed to break their typecasting and deliver more serious fare.
Adam Sandler — ‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)
An actor whose upcoming projects usually elicit a collective groan from critics,Adam Sandleris an undeniable Hollywood success story despite his relatively low-brow appeal. Coming from a stand-up background and cutting his teeth as so many comedic performers do onSaturday Night Live,his comedy films were big hits in the late 90s and early 2000s, and he became a big box-office draw.
Part of what makes Sandler frustrating to watch is that he’s shown himself to be capable of so much more than the lazy “comedies” he usually makes. We’d seen glimpses of it in everything fromPunch Drunk Loveto the underratedMeyerowitz Stories, but this 2019 film by theSafdie brothersshowed the best of Sandler as a dramatic performer. As a hustling jewelry store owner and massive gambling addict, the film is a breathless attempt by Sandler’s character tostay three moves ahead of everybody— and even generated some Oscar buzz at the time.
Jennifer Aniston — ‘Cake’ (2014)
For better or worse,Jennifer Anistonwill always be associatedwith her breakout role as Rachel Greenon the seminal NBC sitcomFriends. However, unlike some of her fellow castmates who found it challenging to navigate Hollywood after that initial success, Aniston has built on the momentum to become a comedy star, featuring in everything fromHorrible BossestoWe’re the Millers.
We rarely see Aniston step up to a more dramatic role, which is a shame, as when she does, she is pretty spectacular in that arena. A case in point is her work in this little-seen film from 2014, where she plays an attorney who lost her son in a car accident, which leads her to a deep-seated sense of anger and bitterness. Suffering injuries in the same accident, she also becomes addicted to painkillers. Claire is the polar opposite of the bubbly, comedic personality Aniston is known for and is a brilliant example of her acting chops playing against type.
Bill Murray — ‘Lost in Translation’ (2003)
In terms of comedy in the 1980s, one name stood out from the pack and dominated the box office with his consistent, movie-stealing performances. From demented groundskeepers to reluctant army recruits and, of course, the suavest of all the Ghostbusters,Bill Murraycemented his place as a comedic force and, for a long time, was many people’s choice for the funniest man on the planet.
RELATED:‘What About Bob?’: What About Bill Murray’s Most Underrated Gem?
However, as he matured, so too did his hunger for roles with more range. While he had played some serious roles before thisSofia Coppolafilm, Bob Harris is a role that feels custom-fit to Murray’s later stage career shift. Playing a faded star who agrees to a short, lucrative advertising campaign in Japan, he feels incredibly isolated and lonely — until he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), and they strike up an unlikely friendship. This role isn’t a massive tonal shift for Murray and still relies a lot on comedic charm, but it is the first step towards becoming the more serious performer he’s known as today.
Whoopi Goldberg — ‘The Color Purple’ (1985)
Having made a name for herself as a stand-up comic,Whoopi Goldbergbecame a big comedic star during the 1980s and 1990s. A string of critically and commercially strong films hit cinemas, perhaps most famously her hilarious turn as a nightclub singer forced her to hide out from the mob in a convent in 1992’sSister Act.
After seeing her one-woman Broadway show,Steven Spielbergdecided to cast Goldberg as Celie Johnson. One of the few times she has played a part completely seriously, she was terrific inthe film, and among the 11 Oscar nominations it garnered in award season, one of them was for Goldberg as Best Actress.
Will Ferrell — ‘Stranger than Fiction’ (2006)
Another Saturday Night Live alum,Will Ferrell,made a name for himself starring inseveral successful sketches on that show, such as the Spartan Cheerleaders and the infamous cowbell sketch withChristopher Walken. He went on to star in several films where he played different versions of a buffonish man-child, which was a formula early-2000s audiences apparently couldn’t get enough of.
This film stands out from the pack as it shows Ferrell in a more dramatic light. He plays a dull tax assessor who, after a life of button-down drudgery, meets a woman who brings him out of it — only to tragically die before their relationship can be fully realized. Or at least, that’s what the author has in store for Ferrell as he hears her voice in his head. It turns out he is the protagonist in a book that is being written, and while he initially thinks he’s losing his mind, he discovers that he is, in fact, a fictional creation come to life. It’s a weird concept, but Ferrell pulls it off with aplomb.
Melissa McCarthy — ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ (2018)
In a film full of powerhouse performances,Melissa McCarthystands out and ultimately nearly walks away with the movie in 2011’sBridesmaids. She has gone on to become one of the most successful female comedic actors working today, with a string of commercial hits on her resume.
RELATED:Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd on ‘The Starling’ and What It Was Like Working With Kevin Kline
While on paper McCarthy may have seemed an odd choice forLee Israel, she plays the role of the struggling author turned forger of letters from deceased literary figures in such a way as you’d think she was a dramatic actress by trade. What Israel did is despicable and pretty unforgivable, but with McCarthy playing the role, she manages to engender sympathy from the audience even as she commits these terrible acts.
Eddie Murphy — ‘Dreamgirls’ (2006)
The most successful stand-up comic of the eighties,Eddie Murphy,compounded his massive on-stage presence with a four-year stint on Saturday Night Live. With this career launchpad, he was poised to reach the stratosphere — and so he did, featuring in some of the biggest comedies of the 80s and 90s, likeBeverly Hills CopandComing to America.
Murphy hadn’t done much in the dramatic sphere beforeDreamgirls, but his turn as James “Thunder” Early earned massive critical praise. The film itself is inspired by the early days of Motown, and Murphy’s character is something of an amalgam of famous singers from that time. The performance was so good it generated considerable Oscar buzz and is considered by many to be one of the significant snubs by the Academy.
Robin Williams — ‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997)
Robin Williamswas one of the most energetic performers ever to grace a stand-up stage. His routines became the stuff of legend — kind of like snowflakes, no two are quite the same, but each one is something to behold. After a start on TV as alien Mork inMork & Mindy, Williams went on to enjoy a successful and varied career as a comedic performer, starring in all sorts of iconic films.
He had already played some more serious roles before this film, but it is here we see his full range as a dramatic actor. The councilor toMatt Damon’stitular, jaded youth genius, he helps Will to see his own worth, and the way they work together is beautiful. He was also very good at playing the “bad guy,” as could be seen a few years later inChristopher Nolan’sexcellentInsomnia.
KEEP READING:Tom Hanks' Best Comedic Movie Roles From Before He Became a Dramatic Actor
