# Actors Who Can Only Do Drama or Comedy But Not Both **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428 "2006-11-22T15:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/1 "2006-11-22T15:42:30Z")
Which dramatic actors cannot be cast in a comedy and vice versa? A lot of times (well at least once in a while) actors are praised for their diversity in being able to step into any type of role be it serious or whacky. Who can’t? \*\*Denzel Washington \*\* doesn’t strike me as one who could be cast in anything but a dramatic role. Incidentally this isn’t a criticism of these actors nor a suggestion that they should or why would you want to see Actor X in blah, blah, blah, it’s just an observation. Denzel finishes just ahead of \*\*Ralph Fiennes \*\* as someone who can’t hit both ways. On the other side (I didn’t devote much thought to this one but included it in anticipation of someone starting the mirror thread) I can’t see \*\*Jerry Seinfeld \*\* in anything but a comedic light. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Who else? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/2 "2006-11-22T15:49:35Z")
After seeing “King Kong” I’d say Jack Black has to stay away from anything serious. Even when he’s trying to be sincere, he comes off as sarcastic simply because he’s _Jack Black_. I don’t find Rob Schneider funny, but he’d be an even bigger disaster in a dramatic role. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/3 "2006-11-22T16:01:05Z")
**Nicole Kidman**. Quite good in drama, in my opinion; too arch and fey by half in comedy. **Norma Shearer**. See above. **Jean Harlow**. I love Jean, brilliant comic actress, but not so much in drama. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/4 "2006-11-22T16:23:18Z")
Has Billy Crystal ever done a serious drama? Has Clint Eastwood ever done a comedy? ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/5 "2006-11-22T16:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Has Billy Crystal ever done a serious drama? Has Clint Eastwood ever done a comedy? [/QUOTE] Billy Crystal’s semi-autobiographical labor of love that nobody really liked **Mr. Saturday Night** has a number of poignant spots that he delivers well. Clint’s done a number of comedies over the years ( **Any Which Way But Loose** and its equally wretched sequel **Any Which Way You Can** -or is it the other way around?, **Pink Cadillac** , etc.) but he’s still riffing on the same tough-guy character that he holds near and dear. He does have good comic chops and timing though which he demonstrates throughout his entire body of work. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/6 "2006-11-22T19:06:14Z")
I think **Robert De Niro** is very limited with regard to comic roles. He’s only effective when he plays the uptight and/or “straight” foil to the “funny” co-star. But goofy roles? Forgetaboutit! ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/7 "2006-11-22T19:18:38Z")
Clint Eastwood in a not-so-bad comedy: Paint your Wagon. Notable for Lee Marvin’s singing… ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/8 "2006-11-22T19:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] **Nicole Kidman**. Quite good in drama, in my opinion; too arch and fey by half in comedy. [/QUOTE] Unless it’s a black comedy. She was brilliant in **To Die For**. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/9 "2006-11-22T21:31:20Z")
Haven’t been on stage in years, but I was always told I was better at comedy than I am at drama. It’s a minor bummer, as I prefer drama. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/10 "2006-11-22T21:36:40Z")
**Julianne Moore**. Fantastic actress, but she can’t and shouldn’t do comedy. Her scenes were the weakest part of the _Big Lebowski_. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/11 "2006-11-22T22:13:37Z")
**Owen Wilson** can only barely do what would be considered comedy. His shot at drama was actually the funniest thing he’s ever done. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/12 "2006-11-22T23:17:16Z")
[QUOTE=h.sapiens] After seeing “King Kong” I’d say Jack Black has to stay away from anything serious. Even when he’s trying to be sincere, he comes off as sarcastic simply because he’s _Jack Black_. [/QUOTE] I actually like him better when there’s a serious component to his roles. Ignoring the overall quality of the movies, I liked him way better in High Fidelity, King Kong and even School of Rock than I do in things like Nacho Libre. He was great in High Fidelity. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/13 "2006-11-23T02:00:24Z")
I don’t think Leslie Nielsen could do drama anymore. He was a dramatic actor before Airplane, but since then his entire career has been based on playing a serious character who’s unaware he’s in a comedy. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/14 "2006-11-23T03:21:00Z")
[QUOTE=Burrido] **Owen Wilson** can only barely do what would be considered comedy. His shot at drama was actually the funniest thing he’s ever done. [/QUOTE] I dunno, I kinda liked him in **Behind Enemy Lines**. YMMV 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/15 "2006-11-23T03:49:31Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] I don’t think Leslie Nielsen could do drama anymore. He was a dramatic actor before Airplane, but since then his entire career has been based on playing a serious character who’s unaware he’s in a comedy. [/QUOTE] Leslie Nielsen played the captain in the Poseidon Adventure. If you go back and watch it now, his scenes come off just like Airplane on a boat. Hi-larious. Oh, **medstar** check out this [review](http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/r_behind.htm) of Behind Enemy Lines. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/16 "2006-11-23T03:53:23Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] I think **Robert De Niro** is very limited with regard to comic roles. He’s only effective when he plays the uptight and/or “straight” foil to the “funny” co-star. But goofy roles? Forgetaboutit! [/QUOTE] Dude, haven’t you seen _The King Of Comedy_? He was…okay, your point is well taken. DeNiro is just…disturbing when he does comedy. (Don’t even get me started on the _Meet the \_\_\_\_\_\__ movies. Disturbing doesn’t even begin to cover it.) How about actors who are extemely funny in dramatic roles? I’m thinking of Al Pacino (a great dramatic actor when he tones it down) in _Heat_: C’ause she’s got a GREAT ASS, and you’ve got your head all the way up it! Ferocious, ain’t I? When I think of asses, a woman’s ass, something comes out of me.That line, and his delivery of it, always cracks me up. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/17 "2006-11-23T04:21:34Z")
**Robin Williams** can’t do drama. In fact, nowadays he can’t even do comedy. He was only funny when he was snorting that white stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/18 "2006-11-23T08:46:57Z")
De Niro was funny enough in _Midnight Run_. 'I got two words for you; shut the fuck up." He tanked horribly during a cameo on _Saturday Night Live_, though. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/19 "2006-11-23T09:25:36Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] De Niro was funny enough in _Midnight Run_. 'I got two words for you; shut the fuck up." He tanked horribly during a cameo on _Saturday Night Live_, though. [/QUOTE] Which proves my point because De Niro in **Midnight Run** was the no-nonsense comic foil to Grodin’s character. I also thought De Niro was effective in **King of Comedy** since it was a dark comedy where the disturbing aspects of his character (Rupert Pupkin) were appropriate. What I have a problem with is when De Niro’s attempted to do something silly (e.g., **Rocky and Bullwinkle** ). The results are just painful to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428/20 "2006-11-23T09:49:46Z")
**Owen Wilson** was pretty good as a serial killer in **Minus Man**. True, he was an amiable serial killer, but he was scary when the script called for it, and believable nonetheless. [QUOTE=DataZak] **Robin Williams** can’t do drama. [/QUOTE] Wow. Says you. I guess those folks who gave him an Academy Award for a serious role thought differently. I tend to like him **better** in more serious roles. I thought he was very good in **The Fisher King, One Hour Photo, Insomnia, Good Will Hunting, Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, What Dreams May Come** and **The World According to Garp**. The movies themselves ranged in quality, but I thought he was good in them all. Some of those roles had comedic elements, but most showed his character as either scary or poignant. I haven’t seen **The Final Cut** or **The Night Listener** yet. I can’t think of an all-out comedy he did that I really liked. Of course, I haven’t seen most of them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-only-do-drama-or-comedy-but-not-both/381428.md?page=2)