# Actors who only acted dumb **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799 "2013-01-10T21:26:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/81 "2013-01-12T22:42:36Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > A little off-topic but Kevin James, who plays Doug Heffernan on “King of Queens” is actually very disciplined, incredibly physically fit and has some advanced martial arts training. > > Occasionally it comes through. There is an episode where his wife takes up pole-dancing and can’t really get the hang of it so he jumps on the pole to show her how it’s done – It’s an amazing few minutes. Discerning viewers may also be able to detect it in _Here Comes the Boom_, where he plays a martial artist. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/82 "2013-01-13T22:58:57Z")
One of the Funk brothers, either Dory Jr or Terry, teaches ESL in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/83 "2013-01-14T04:20:55Z")
I read _Hedy’s Folly_ by Richard Rhodes not too long ago. It’s about the lives of both Lamarr and Antheil with particular attention on how they stumbled upon their invention. Lamarr came up with the idea of frequency hopping, while Antheil figured out a way to design machinery to do it. The worst I can say about Lamarr is that someone else would have eventually discovered frequency hopping. It’s not an idea that’s wildly beyond what already existed. It’s just the notion that a good way to make a signal hard to jam and hard to even get noticed by an enemy is to send the signal on many channels, jumping around from channel to channel. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/84 "2013-01-14T10:34:53Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > 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. I don’t remember if it was she or Dolly Parton or someone completely different (Monroe?) who once said “I don’t mind being called a dumb blonde because I know I’m neither”. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/85 "2013-01-14T11:17:10Z")
Ardal O’Hanlon, whose picture surely appears next to the dictionary definition of “gormless” for his portrayal of Father Dougal in _Father Ted_, is actually a fairly intelligent and astute individual and has hosted shows on sports and Irish politics as well as writing a novel. I mean, he didn’t invent anything or earn an advanced degree in physics, but he certainly ain’t Dougal. For extra smarts in the Irish comedian population, see Dara O’Briain. Not only hilariously funny but he’s got a degree in mathematics and theoretical physics and has won debating competitions. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/86 "2013-01-14T11:49:00Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > For extra smarts in the Irish comedian population, see Dara O’Briain. Not only hilariously funny but he’s got a degree in mathematics and theoretical physics and has won debating competitions. Neat to know – the other night Fridgemagnet had on the show Dara did with Brian Cox; I did wonder if D. O. was just hosting and acting as a straight man, or actively engaging in the subject, but didn’t see enough of the program to go beyond an idle wonder. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/87 "2013-01-14T12:19:23Z")
FWIW: Remember hearing that Dean Martin almost never drank, and was a homebody, scratch golfer and avid reader (despite never having graduated from high school). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/88 "2013-01-14T13:26:55Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Elizabeth Berkeley I don’t know how dumb/not dumb the Showgirls girl was, but Berkeley’s other famous role was as high school genius Jessie Spano. Honestly, the string of trailer trash twits she’s played since has really surprised me. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/89 "2013-01-14T15:42:07Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > 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). It’s funny because I had the opposite impression of Wahlberg. Every interview I’ve ever seen him in he comes across as a simpleton. His best movies seem to be where he plays himself: Boogie Nights, The Perfect Storm, The Fighter. They’re all basically the same character. When he tries to play a different character, like in Shooter, you get a disaster. Whenever there was supposed to be dramatic acting on his part in that movie the camera had to cut away or pan way back into a helicopter shot. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/90 "2013-01-14T15:46:53Z")
> [@Dan\_Norder](#): > > Does anyone other than Ashton Kutcher himself actually report this? I’ve read him featured or interviewed in both Wired and Fast Company. He’s a savvy businessman. He’s started tech companies and is involved with venture capital funding for many companies. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/91 "2013-01-14T16:10:23Z")
> [@Dan\_Norder](#): > > Does anyone other than Ashton Kutcher himself actually report this? I know a couple of people who run companies he’s invested in and they all report that he regularly comes to them with useful & insightful product feedback. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/92 "2013-01-14T16:26:50Z")
Fran Drescher is supposedly quite the savvy businesswoman, having parlayed The Nanny (co-created with her then husband) into an multinational success – nine different international versions seen in over 90 countries – and wisely invested her returns into a very tidy sum. Her post-Nanny acting career hasn’t done much but she won’t be hurting for money based on her financial decisions. Her previous work (The Nanny, Spinal Tap, Beautician and the Beast, etc) didn’t exactly have her playing nuclear scientists. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/93 "2013-01-19T17:16:03Z")
> [@gms453](#): > > FWIW: Remember hearing that Dean Martin almost never drank I went through jr. high and high school, and all the while I believed that it was just a put on. Then, around the last few years of his life, I started hearing how all of his years of boozing were really starting to take a toll on him, but he seemed to double up on the stuff. Point being, WTF to believe in re: his boozing? ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/94 "2013-01-19T17:44:29Z")
Eve Arden’s career making role on the radio/TV show was as a very sharp, witty teacher named Connie Brooks. In real life, people who knew her found her a little on the dim side. She was a good actress, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/95 "2013-01-19T18:02:47Z")
Brian Baumgartner is nothing like his character Kevin Malone on _The Office_. ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/96 "2013-01-19T23:21:58Z")
> [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](#): > > Eve Arden’s career making role on the radio/TV show was as a very sharp, witty teacher named Connie Brooks. In real life, people who knew her found her a little on the dim side. She was a good actress, I guess. Whoops, accidentally left out “Our Miss Brooks”, the name of the show I was talking about… ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/97 "2013-01-19T23:35:52Z")
George W. Bush attended the Harvard Business School, where he earned a Master of Business Administration. He is the only U.S. President to have earned an M.B.A. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/98 "2013-01-19T23:52:23Z")
Judy Holliday generally played ditzy blondes. She reportedly had an IQ of 172. Apparently she got called to testify before HUAC and managed to avoid providing anything useful by acting scatterbrained until the committee gave up. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/99 "2013-01-19T23:52:50Z")
W. is an actor? Color me not surprised; he certainly has duped a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/100 "2013-01-20T00:10:30Z")
An I.Q. of 172 would be the sort that only one person in 294,048 could have: [http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/iqtable.aspx](http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/iqtable.aspx) Forgive me if I doubt that Judy Holliday had such an I.Q. Let’s say that she was measured at such an I.Q. in 1938, when she graduated from high school. The population of the U.S. at that time was 129,824,939, so she would be among the 442 smartest people in the U.S.: [http://www.demographia.com/db-uspop1900.htm](http://www.demographia.com/db-uspop1900.htm) In general, be very wary of statements about I.Q. unless you have seen the results from a reliable test. In general, the best that a reliable test can indicate these days is that someone has an I.Q. of 160 or better. This might have been a test that used the older quotient definition of I.Q. instead of the modern standard deviation definition. Such older results are very hard to translate into modern I.Q. scores. Incidentally, this is the source that the Wikipedia entry used for the claim of a 172 I.Q.: [http://www.biography.com/people/judy-holliday-9542418](http://www.biography.com/people/judy-holliday-9542418) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799.md?page=6)