From some stuff I read recently, the guy who played Joey on “Friends” (Matt LeBlanc) as well as the guy who played Tony on “Taxi” (Tony Danza) are not really so dumb. But they did such a good job of playing bozos that I am embarassed to say I was a little surprised.
Yes, I know it’s called ‘acting’; but have any of you ever been thus surprised by the difference between an actor’s on-screen and off-screen personas?
An example of the (sort of) opposite. I’ve seen a few interviews with Gillian Anderson (Scully from the X-files) over the years and am always taken aback on how ditzy she seems compared to her most famous character. Which I guess makes her a pretty good actress.
Of course, demeanour isn’t everything, and for all I know she publishes astrophysics papers in her spare-time. But she certainly came across as a bubble-head.
Dolph Lundgren made a career out of playing lunkheads and tough guys. He holds a Masters in chemical engineering, and would have gone to MIT on a Fulbright scholarship if his career had not taken off.
Joey Lawrence graduated high school and attended college, unlike his Blossom character.
OTOH, I’ve met Kelsey Grammar, and he is dumber than a box of rocks. Really.
I came away from Boogie Nights with the impression that Mark Wahlberg was essentially playing himself and was something of a dimwit in real life. When I heard him interviewed on Fresh Air I was surprised that he came across as a fairly thoughtful guy (notwithstanding whatever attitude/conduct problems he may have; I seem to keep hearing that he’s kind of a dick, but I no longer think he’s an idiot).
Rowan Atkinson has a Masters in electrical engineering from Oxford.
Nolan Gould’s character on Modern Family is usually played as kind of a lunkhead, though the writiers occasionally subvert this. In real life he has skipped six grades, earned a high school equivalency, and took college courses at age 13.
Mike Mazurki was a college graduate. What do I win?
Jayne Mansfield spoke five languages and had a reported IQ in the 160 range. But, as she put it, those weren’t the numbers anyone was interested in.
Jayne Mansfield had a public persona as a ditzy blond, but she was quite astute and knew exactly what she was doing with her career.
The same could be said for Loni Anderson, who played Jayne in a biopic.
Jill St. John allegedly had brains she never showed, too.
Jim Nabors is a little smarter than Gomer Pyle.
Dick Smothers is just as smart and articulate as his brother Tom.
I don’t think he’s particularly famous for playing dumb, though.
He’s most known for Blackadder and Mr Bean - of the 6 characters he’s done in there (Mr Bean, 5 Blackadders) - only 1 (Mr Bean) has been actually dumb - Blackadder I was ineffectual, but about average in the brains department, Blackadders II-IV are quite clever, but suffer bad luck, the ‘aid’ of idiots, overestimating their own intelligence, and occasionally being too clever for their own good. The Blackadder from the Christmas special is quite bright, always seeing how people are using him, just being too good natured to do anything about it (until the end, when he chooses the wrong time to go bad).
His stuff outside of that is more likely to be in the Blackadder mode than the Mr Bean, IME - even when he does physical comedy, it’s not that likely to be as an idiot getting himself into trouble.
And the other way around.
Groucho Marx used to say that they decided Harpo’s character should be mute because when he spoke he sounded too intelligent.
Sylvester Stallone earned BA from the University of Miami. Not only was he the lead actor in Rocky, but wrote it. He has written 25 movies.
Gracie Allen, for sure.
Lisa Kudrow (mostly know as ditzy blonde Phoebe from Friends) has a degree in biology from Vassar and worked in research for a while before she started acting.
Walter Matthau was a total dick the one time I met him in real life.
Which fails to explain why their Mom always liked Tom best.