# Movie actor with over 100 credits in serious films, who is most famous for two of the all time great comedy movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, actor-characters\ **Created:** [September 22, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277 "2026-09-22T16:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/1 "2026-09-22T16:05:10Z")
Take a guess, let us know how many of the hints you needed. Please put your answer in a spoiler if the hints unspoiled. Feel free to talk about him if you can avoid his name for the first 10 posts. After 10, no issue. **Hints** : 1. Mostly Westerns 2. Over 60 TV credits also 3. Started as Cowboy before shifting to acting. 4. Served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II 5. Was in mostly Westerns, so that early rodeo experience was very handy. 6. Best known for Blazing Saddles & Dr. Strangelove (see #4) but not a pilot. Answer: Are you sure? Slim Pickens ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/2 "2026-09-22T16:10:39Z")
I got it after the first hint. I think one of the 2 movies is known more for being satire than comedy, but I suppose that’s a thin line of distinction, since satire is an element in both. Both are among my top ten favorite films of all time. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/3 "2026-09-22T16:11:03Z")
I was pretty sure that I knew the answer before revealing any hints. I was certain after hint #3. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/4 "2026-09-22T16:21:53Z")
Needed all 6 clues, (or rather clue 6 would probably have been sufficient in and of itself.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/5 "2026-09-22T16:26:00Z")
I had absolutely no idea at all, and took a minute to remember who he was once I read the answer. Not proud; just honest. If you had asked me who he was, I’d have said “an old-time singer.” ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/6 "2026-09-22T16:44:22Z")
I was thinking Leslie Nielsen - **Airplane!** and **The Naked Gun** Before that, he was a serious actor. Supposedly. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/7 "2026-09-22T16:45:21Z")
My original thought was Leslie Nielsen , and then Cary Grant , both of which which evaporated after the first clue, but I had to read down to the third before I realized the answer. Probably should have thought more after the first clue, and changed eras as well. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/8 "2026-09-22T16:45:35Z")
Yeh that was my original thought before the hints ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/9 "2026-09-22T16:47:48Z")
I guessed without looking at the clues first. As for Slim Pickens… I’ve read that Stanley Kubrick didn’t tell Pickens **Dr. Strangelove** was a (very dark) comedy. He wanted him to play it straight, which made it even funnier. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/10 "2026-09-22T16:51:38Z")
Almost made the 10 without a spoiler. This clears the request. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/11 "2026-09-22T16:53:00Z")
Oops, sorry. Thanks for obscuring my last post. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/12 "2026-09-22T16:53:14Z")
All good. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/13 "2026-09-22T16:53:50Z")
Shoot! I thought “but not a pilot” in clue #6 meant a movie role in addition to what the OP was actually referring to. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/14 "2026-09-22T16:54:47Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I was thinking Leslie Nielsen - **Airplane!** and **The Naked Gun** > > Before that, he was a serious actor. Supposedly. Same. I wouldn’t have gotten it anyways, I don’t much pay attention to celebrities’ lives. (not a flex, I just don’t) ---
**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:** [September 22, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/15 "2026-09-22T16:57:54Z")
So a costar of his in Blazing Saddles has 3 movies in National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. One being Blazing Saddles of course. They are Madeline Kahn. The other 2 movies are: Young Frankenstein . Tougher one to guess: The Muppet Movie ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/16 "2026-09-22T16:59:19Z")
I read a blurb that said that that was only partially true, that Pickens arrived on set not knowing it was a black comedy, but realized it or was told the deal after the first day. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/17 "2026-09-22T18:23:51Z")
Another rumor that is true is that Sellers was originally going to play Major Kong in addition to his other roles, but couldn’t do it because he broke his ankle. John Wayne was asked, but never responded. Dan Blocker (Hoss from Bonanza) was asked, but thought the film was “too pinko” and turned it down. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/18 "2026-09-22T18:36:45Z")
Got it with no hints, but it took me five minutes to think it through. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/19 "2026-09-22T18:40:44Z")
I’m still waiting for a critical reassessment of **1941** to make it “3 all time great comedies”. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277/20 "2026-09-22T18:48:19Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Needed all 6 clues, (or rather clue 6 would probably have been sufficient in and of itself.) I needed all six clues, but then didn’t need to unblur the answer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movie-actor-with-over-100-credits-in-serious-films-who-is-most-famous-for-two-of-the-all-time-great-comedy-movies/1033277.md?page=2)