# Comic actors who've given good or great dramatic performances **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279 "2004-01-07T20:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TERRA\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TERRA\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TERRA_Rising)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/21 "2004-01-08T11:49:23Z")
Tom Hanks in most of the movies he’s done since Forredt Gump. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/22 "2004-01-08T11:54:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Casey1505 \* > \*\*It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but I’ll offer Billy Connelly in _Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown_ \*\* I’ll see that and raise you _The Debt Collector_. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/23 "2004-01-08T12:00:44Z")
I wonder if on the basis of this work [Jack Lemmon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000493/) would qualify? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/24 "2004-01-08T12:06:45Z")
On behalf of UK Dopers I’ll nominate **David Jason** who, after decades in a succession of long-running and popular sit-coms, sequed without a miss-step into award-winning dramatic acting. He’s best-known as Detective Inspector Jack Frost, but I remember vividly a one-off drama he did several years ago as the father of young man about to be executed for drug-smuggling in Thailand. His portrayal of an ordinary, middle-aged man trying to come to terms with an extraordinary situation was heart-breaking. ---
**Author:** ![Legolamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@Legolamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legolamb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/25 "2004-01-08T12:14:09Z")
I’m sure David Jason does do a good job in his dramatic roles. Iv’e never been able to watch them though, because I have difficulty seeing him as anything other than Del Boy. Another nomination for \Billy Connolly\, this time for \Boondock Saints\. His wasn’t the largest of roles, but he certainly looked and acted the part. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/26 "2004-01-08T12:17:44Z")
**Michael Keaton** scared the crap out of me in _Pacific Heights._ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/27 "2004-01-08T12:41:55Z")
**Kevin Pollak** in _A Few Good Men._ **Nora Dunn** in _Miami Blues._ **Chris Elliot** in _Manhunter._ ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/28 "2004-01-08T13:13:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\*Anyway, I thought of another one. > > Richard Pryor > > He was good in _The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings_.TV \*\* And he was absolutely outstanding in **Blue Collar**. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/29 "2004-01-08T13:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*I wonder if on the basis of this work [Jack Lemmon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000493/) would qualify? \*\* I’d say so. He was incredible in **Glengarry Glen Ross**. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/30 "2004-01-08T13:35:46Z")
While John Belushi will always be remembered as a comic actor, his performances in “Continental Divide” and “Neighbors” prove he was good in non-comedic roles. ---
**Author:** ![soakman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@soakman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soakman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/31 "2004-01-08T18:21:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*We made it all this way without anyone mentioning **Tom Hanks**? Probably because he’s been a great dramatic actor for so long that people forget he started on _Bosom Buddies_ and _Bachelor Party_. His slow transformation into comic-actor-with-substance started in _Splash_ and _Big_, and then he did a 90 degree turn into drama with _Philadelphia_, and never went back. > > That also makes him unique in that he never really went back to comedy. Most of the other actors here have moved back and forth between comedy and drama, but Hanks hasn’t really done a comedic role since 1989. > \*\* What about his voice work as Woody in two “Toy Story” movies? ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279/32 "2004-01-08T18:37:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*We made it all this way without anyone mentioning **Tom Hanks**? Dammit. I was afraid someone would mention him. How many times must I tell you guys: Tom Hanks SUCKS. He addresses the camera!!! He can’t get into the role. Even Forest Gump was showing off for the camera. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comic-actors-whove-given-good-or-great-dramatic-performances/223279.md?page=1)