# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/101 "2013-01-20T00:15:29Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > 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. Kutcher did major in engineering (bio-medical. I think) at Iowa (which I assume is a fairly decent program). He didn’t finish however before Hollywood came calling. Just another thread in untangling the mystery of Ashton Kutcher’s mental capability. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/102 "2013-01-20T01:49:02Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Fran Drescher is supposedly quite the savvy businesswoman Reminds me of Fred MacMurray, who became startlingly wealthy through shrewd real-estate investments. Not sure he qualifies, though, since he mostly played bland, affable characters, not dumb ones. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/103 "2013-01-20T02:20:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Reminds me of Fred MacMurray, who became startlingly wealthy through shrewd real-estate investments. Not sure he qualifies, though, since he mostly played bland, affable characters, not dumb ones. In his earlier days MacMurray played mostly nasty, sneaky, self centered characters..films like “Double Indemnity”, “Caine Mutiny” and “The Apartment”. But they weren’t stupid ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/104 "2013-01-20T02:48:18Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > You can probably add the short blond guy of the Penn and Teller duo to that - he’s reported to be the brains of the duo, although in their act it’s jsut the opposit Reported by Penn, actually. He will be the first to tell you that Teller is the brains of the show. When we saw them in Las Vegas a couple of years ago, after the show they were signing autographs and doing pictures, and I heard Penn tell someone that he shows up about 45 minutes before the show for makeup, goes over the trick list and then does the show. Teller has been in the theater for literally hours beforehand, painstakingly making sure that everything is where it’s supposed to be, rehearsing the illusions, setting the timing up, etc. You’ll notice that Penn is very good at bullshit, juggling and basic sleight of hand. But Teller does ALL of the serious magic in the show. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/105 "2013-01-20T03:43:10Z")
Edgar Buchanan, who as Uncle Joe was movin’ kinda slow on Petticoat Junction, was a dentist who shared a practice with his wife until acting consumed too much of his time. She kept the practice while he stayed licensed in California and Oregon. I’ve heard his co-workers couldn’t keep him out of their mouths if they had any tooth problems and would work backstage during breaks. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/106 "2013-01-20T04:21:43Z")
I figure it’s usually a bad sign when a character has the same name as the actor, but Woody harrelson wasn’t quite the lummox that Woody Boyd was on _Cheers_. I first saw Larry Drake playing a retarded man, Benny, as a recurring character in _L.A. Law_, and it’s always startling seeing him play any other role. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/107 "2013-01-21T22:25:28Z")
Tony Danza plays duh! characters (and I read most of his TV characters were named ‘Tony’ so he would respond?) , but he has a college degree and did a reality show where he taught in a high school. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/108 "2013-01-21T23:12:29Z")
Bill Fagerbakke (“Coach”, “The Stand”) earned a bachelors degree from University of Idaho and attended graduate school at Southern Methodist University. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/109 "2013-01-21T23:33:18Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > **Victoria Jackson** always acts dumb. But I do not think she’s dumb. [Let Victoria speak for herself.](http://www.wnd.com/2011/03/276421/) ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/110 "2013-01-22T00:12:57Z")
There was Cuban-born actress Louisa Moritz, who specialized in playing blonde bimbos in such films as _Death Race 2000_ and _One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest_, and even to some extent played to type in appearances as herself on game shows. She actually has a law degree (was on the Dean’s List in law school), speaks three languages fluently, is - I believe - a classically-trained pianist (imdb simply says “musically trained”), and practices law now. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/111 "2013-01-22T02:24:04Z")
I suspect “dumb” is like “klutzy” or “bad musician”: to do it really well in role you have to be the opposite in real life. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/112 "2013-01-22T02:51:58Z")
> [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](#): > > I suspect “dumb” is like “klutzy” or “bad musician”: to do it really well in role you have to be the opposite in real life. Sounds right to me. Examples: Ray Bolger and Victor Borge, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/113 "2013-01-22T15:14:14Z")
salingmind - I had just read Danza’s book about his teaching experience when I started this thread. Don’t know how much help he had writing it, but as someone who works in a high school, I can tell you it was quite perceptive & a worthwhile quick read. I have also read glowing reviews of Matt LeBlanc new show which pointed out his not-dumb contributions to it, but have not seen the show yet ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/114 "2013-01-22T15:55:07Z")
See it, it’s very good. My favorite phrase is one said to Matt by Bev: “It’s not f####d up - YOU f####d it up.” ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/115 "2013-01-22T16:24:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Joey Lawrence graduated high school and attended college, unlike his Blossom character. I thought his character did graduate high school, and even got a college scholarship (okay, a baseball one) to either Arizona or Arizona State, but he was drafted out of high school by a major league team and thus never went to college. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/116 "2013-01-22T16:38:33Z")
Actor [Brian Thomas Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Thomas_Smith), who has appeared in a number of episodes of the Big Bang Theory as Penny’s simple-minded boyfriend Zack graduated from the University of Central Missouri (Central Missouri State University) . ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/117 "2013-01-23T00:54:16Z")
I first saw Hugh Laurie is roles like “thick as a whale omelet” Prince George (later Lt. George) and the affable dimwit Bertie Wooster. He actually seems to be a pretty smart guy, though maybe not a super-genius like Dr. House, a role he’s better known for nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/118 "2013-01-23T01:45:08Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Reported by Penn, actually. He will be the first to tell you that Teller is the brains of the show. > > When we saw them in Las Vegas a couple of years ago, after the show they were signing autographs and doing pictures, and I heard Penn tell someone that he shows up about 45 minutes before the show for makeup, goes over the trick list and then does the show. Teller has been in the theater for literally hours beforehand, painstakingly making sure that everything is where it’s supposed to be, rehearsing the illusions, setting the timing up, etc. > > You’ll notice that Penn is very good at bullshit, juggling and basic sleight of hand. But Teller does ALL of the serious magic in the show. Penn told a story on his podcast that goes beyond even this. He said they were doing a panel discussion and someone asked about their hand-stab card trick (Teller finds a card by impaling it on a knife through Penn’s hand). Penn started to talk about how Teller switches the knife and hangs the real one on a hook behind his back, but then Teller stopped him and said they hadn’t done the trick that way in years. Now it involves a magnet in his pocket. This part of the trick didn’t concern Penn, so he had no need to know about it. Penn used this story to illustrate the fact that he really is not the driving force behind any of the magic in their act. Incidentally, I wouldn’t include either of them in this thread because they don’t really act dumb, unless one interprets Teller’s silent character that way. Which would be a mistake - he’s really really smart. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/119 "2013-01-23T02:05:13Z")
On the series _American Chopper_, Mikey Teutul was often shown as a goofball. I lived in Orange County when the show started. I never met the Teutul family but I knew people who knew them. And they said Mikey was actually the brains of the outfit. His father and his brother were good at motorcycles but it was Mikey that ran the business end and made it a success. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799/120 "2013-01-23T03:57:28Z")
> [@Art\_Rock](#): > > Actor [Brian Thomas Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Thomas_Smith), who has appeared in a number of episodes of the Big Bang Theory as Penny’s simple-minded boyfriend Zack graduated from the University of Central Missouri (Central Missouri State University) . Can’t tell if this is a joke or not, but…graduating from CMSU isn’t an achievement I would place very high on a list of major cerebral accomplishments. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-only-acted-dumb/646799.md?page=7)