13 Actors Notable for Their Comedy Roles Who Later Turned Out to Dramatic Characters

It can be difficult for actors to turn away from being remembered for their most prominent role and play another character. This transition is complex, especially for comedy stars and stars. Audiences are unlikely to expect the witty Danny DeVito to suddenly be reincarnated as a villain, and the eternally youthful and laid-back Zac Efron to participate in a tense thriller.

we, from awesome.club, we list some actors remembered for their participation in comedies. However, some of them also managed to excel in other genres and win the approval of viewers and critics.

Steve Martin is best known for his roles in comedies such as Father of the Bride (1991) and The Pink Panther (2006). However, he sometimes steps out of his comfort zone and appears in dramatic works.

In Hustle (1997), Steve played a villain. The screenwriter created a character specifically for the actor and invited him to the film, as he believes that comedians can handle dramatic roles.

We’ve seen Vince Vaughn in a lot of comedy movies, and you can’t say he handles these roles poorly. For his work in Penetras Bons de Bico (2005), he was nominated for an MTV Movie Award in the Best Comedy Actor category.

However, Vince proved to be always ready to make an image of a funny guy. In Showdown in Pavilion 99 (2017), he played a man with a dark past. For this work, he was nominated for the Saturn Awards (award for films in the genres: science fiction, fantasy and horror).

Anna Kendrick starred in many comedies, with performances of various relevance. She was a supporting actor in Scott Pilgrim Against the World (2010), then played leading roles in other comedic films.

One of the atypical productions for Anna was Accidental Passenger (2021). Her role, a member of the crew of a spaceship, faced a moral dilemma. As noted in the reviews, the actress managed to show an ambiguous character on the big screen.

Danny DeVito became famous as a comedian. One of his most popular films is Twin Brothers (1988), in which he plays the rogue Vincent Benedict. In recent years, he starred in the comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005 -…).

Given the actor’s prominence, it’s easy to forget he appeared on the big screen as a villain. In Batman Returns (1992), DeVito played Gotham’s Penguin. For this work, he was nominated for the Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actor.

Aubrey Plaza is best remembered for her comedic characters, including the apathetic intern in Parks & Recreation: Leslie’s Confusion (2009–2015). However, in the Criminal Minds series (2005–2020), Aubrey played a villain who challenged the protagonists more than once. Audiences liked this change and praised her for her multidimensional interpretation.

Jim Parsons has also acted in a comedy series for several years. He is best known for playing the character Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory (2007 – 2019).

In Stars Beyond Time (2016), Jim again played a scientist. There was nothing funny about the role, being someone who despised his colleague, the protagonist of the film. Critics noted that the actor did a good job in this production.

Zac Efron starred in comedies from a very young age. Among them, 17 Again (2009), in which he played a younger version of Matthew Perry’s character. Now, the actor has matured and is not afraid to take on roles that would be a challenge for many performers.

His character in Gold (2022) traveled through a hostile desert where there was no room for jokes. The film received mixed reviews, but critics highlighted that Zac saved the production.

Renee Zellweger is a comedy star. Her resume has not only the film Bridget Jones Diary (2001) and its sequel, but also Newcomer (2009). In it, Renée plays a career woman who has to move from a sunny state to a snowy city.

The actress proved ready to take on serious roles. In 2020, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Judy: Over the Rainbow, playing American film legend Judy Garland. One of her most recent works is the series The Thing About Pam (2022), based on real events. According to the plot, Renée’s character turns out to be somehow connected to the crime of which someone else is accused.

Judy Greer is known for her supporting roles in films and comedy series. Fans of romantic comedies will surely remember the protagonist’s friend, the once-popular schoolgirl in De Repente 30 (2004).

In The Thing About Pam (2022), Judy played a prosecutor who handled a very complicated case.

Luke Wilson has appeared in many comedies. In Legally Blonde (2001), his character, Emmett, was a lawyer and helped the protagonist.

After a series of other comedy roles, Luke began working on new genres. In the series Stargirl (2020 -…), he played the stepfather of a girl who gains superpowers. This work earned him a Saturn Awards nomination.

Lizzy Caplan was remembered by many, at a young age, for her performance as the unpopular student Janis in Mean Girls (2004). Afterwards, she starred in several other comedies, but worked in other genres as well.

In the second season of Castle Rock (2018–2019), she played the young version of Annie Wilkes. Yes, the same Annie, whose guest was unlucky enough to be the protagonist of the book Crazy Obsession and its eponymous film adaptation. Audiences felt that Lizzy did an excellent job in this role and brought something new to the image of a well-known character.

Certainly, most people, upon hearing the name Matthew Perry, immediately think of the eternal Chandler, from the series Friends (1994-2004). In his filmography, the actor has not only participated in other comedies, but also in dramas.

In The Ron Clark Story (2006), inspired by a true story, Matthew played a wise teacher who taught a class of troubled teenagers. The role earned the actor Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Jason Segel played Marshall, one of the leads in the comedy series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014). The end of the series didn’t become a reason for Jason to put his career on hold or look for another comedy project.

Instead, he starred in the biography O Fim da Tourê (2015), in which he played the author of the novel Infinite Jest. For this role, he was nominated for several awards and recognized as the best actor according to Film Club’s The Lost Weekend.

Which actor or actress, who excelled in comedies, did you not expect to see in a dramatic role? Tell us in the comments!