# Comedians who turn out to have good dramatic acting skills **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [April 8, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515 "2022-04-08T12:57:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/101 "2022-04-10T14:59:44Z")
So, this thread has proved that basically every comedian who took on dramatic acting were good at it… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/102 "2022-04-10T15:11:09Z")
Isn’t the famous line “Dying is easy; comedy is hard.” ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/103 "2022-04-10T15:39:04Z")
I have nothing to offer except that I assumed that this thread had been inspired by Volodymyr Zelensky who, regardless of his obvious competence and high skills as a leader, has to be also demonstrating incredible dramatic acting chops. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/104 "2022-04-10T15:41:25Z")
Um, he’s not acting. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/105 "2022-04-10T15:42:48Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Kilmer seems like a better fit for the [Serious actors, or non-actors, doing comedy later on…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-actors-or-non-actors-doing-comedy-later-on/962529) thread. Kinda. I think he is/was mostly a serious actor, but it just so happened that his two early, breakout roles were comedies. So, I’m not sure that he really fits in either thread. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/106 "2022-04-10T15:47:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Um, he’s not acting As I said, “regardless of his obvious competence and high skills as a leader”. Notwithstanding that I have no doubt that there are ample times when he has to act differently than how he may actually feel. It wasn’t intended as an insult to Zelensky. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/107 "2022-04-10T16:08:52Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s apocryphal, but that’s the line. I think there’s something to it though; there seem to be a LOT of comedians/comedic actors who transition into dramatic roles with an unusual level of success. Like to the point where it’s almost a done deal that a comedic actor who plays a dramatic part will do at worst, a workmanlike job of it. The same isn’t necessarily true in the opposite direction. Some dramatic actors can pull it off (Clooney and Pitt come to mind), but a lot can’t, although it’s becoming more common than in past generations. I mean, Leonardo Di Caprio is funny enough, but can you imagine Charlton Heston in a comedic role? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/108 "2022-04-10T17:06:58Z")
> [@bump](#): > > can you imagine Charlton Heston in a comedic role? Well, there was his cameo in **Wayne’s World 2** : [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6eWsFFQP0gA/maxresdefault.jpg "Wayne's World 2 (10/10) Movie CLIP - A Real Actor (1993) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eWsFFQP0gA) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/109 "2022-04-10T17:44:02Z")
Peter Sellers demonstrated solid dramatic chops as _Chance_ in _Being There_. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/110 "2022-04-10T20:28:03Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > You should see it. Very strange. Reminds me a bit of _Brazil_ in some hallucinogenic way. Plus, anything with Kate Winslet in it is probably worth it. And Kirsten Dunst and Mark Ruffalo and Tom Wilkinson and … I _really_ love this movie. Don’t get spoiled! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/111 "2022-04-10T21:15:56Z")
In radio, Dennis Day, who played Jack Benny’s immature and unintelligent singer for years and years, did at least one dramatic radio role ([https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/thriller/suspense/christmas-for-carole-1950-12-21](https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/thriller/suspense/christmas-for-carole-1950-12-21)) as a husband driven to crime to get money for his wife’s medical bills. He did a credible job, but it was really difficult for me to take him seriously,since his voice was recognizably silly old Dennis ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/112 "2022-04-10T22:03:11Z")
Art Carney became successful as the clownish Ed Norton in _The Honeymooners_, but was quite effective in a _Twilight Zone_ episode as a department store Santa. He later won a Best Actor Oscar for _Harry and Tonto._ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/113 "2022-04-10T23:24:11Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > In radio, Dennis Day, who played Jack Benny’s immature and unintelligent singer for years and years, did at least one dramatic radio role ([https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/thriller/suspense/christmas-for-carole-1950-12-21](https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/thriller/suspense/christmas-for-carole-1950-12-21)) as a husband driven to crime to get money for his wife’s medical bills. He did a credible job, but it was really difficult for me to take him seriously,since his voice was recognizably silly old Dennis Similarly, Jim and Marian Jordan – Fibber McGee and Molly – gave quite credible performances in the radio drama “Backseat Driver” for _Suspense._ It was so successful that their roles two years later. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/114 "2022-04-11T00:44:21Z")
In fact, Carney had a career in radio drama before The Honeymooners came along. He was frequently used in documentary-type programs portraying figures like Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/115 "2022-04-11T01:18:36Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Dick Van Dyke didn’t do a lot of heavy drama, but he won an Emmy for his performance in _The Morning After._ Similarly, Jack Lemmon in **Days of Wine and Roses**. I’d only seen him as a comedic actor before this. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/116 "2022-04-11T04:12:56Z")
Years later, Jack Lemmon did a fine dramatic performance in Glengarry Glen Ross. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2022, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/117 "2022-04-11T11:03:36Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > There’s **Eddie Izzard** who started in stand up comedy but seems a fairly versatile actor. Izzard was quite good in spy drama **Six Minutes to Midnight**. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/118 "2022-04-13T21:38:20Z")
I never thought of Tom Poston ever playing drama, but in an episode of _Newhart_, his character had to break up with a very sweet woman who loved him more than he loved her. He handled the part of someone desperately not wanting to hurt the person he was hurting with considerable skill - vocally, physically and with the right expressions on his face. Turns out Poston originally studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and had played serious roles before going into comedy with Steve Allen in the mid-1950s. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/119 "2022-04-14T15:31:45Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Wow, serious Mandela Effect here: I’ve been thinking of this movie lately, for no particular reason, but I’d have bet money it was Billy Crystal, not Tom Hanks, who starred opposite Jackie Gleason. This was the film where I realized that Tom Hanks could do more than just goofy movies/shows. (And, as an aside, Tom’s portrayal of an advertising guy might have had an effect on me being one… he certainly made it seem fun: “No, I don’t have a half-finished screenplay in my desk drawer. I like writing ads!”) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515/120 "2022-04-15T06:53:14Z")
Mary Tyler Moore in **Ordinary People** , after appearing as a light comic actress up until then. She was unforgettable as a cold, grieving mother, winning a Golden Glove for her performance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-who-turn-out-to-have-good-dramatic-acting-skills/962515.md?page=7)