# Sitcom actors who became famous for dramatic movie roles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, movies\ **Created:** [December 12, 2024, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533 "2024-12-12T04:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/1 "2024-12-12T04:45:04Z")
Many actors who first became famous in television sitcoms have gone on to become famous movie-star comedians. Much less common, I think, are sitcom stars who later become even more famous for dramatic roles on the silver screen. The only obvious case that springs to my mind is Woody Harrelson, whose breakout role was the naïve bartender Woody Boyd on _Cheers_; since the 1990s he’s been an acclaimed movie star, taking mostly non-comedic roles. I also thought about Bryan Cranston, though I think his case is less clear-cut. His career breakthrough was playing Hal on _Malcolm in the Middle_, but his most famous dramatic role, as _Breaking Bad_’s Walter White, is still a television one. Although he later won awards for dramatic roles on film (_Trumbo_, _Argo_), I don’t think this work has come close to eclipsing his television roles in the popular consciousness. Are there any further Woody Harrelsons out there? ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/2 "2024-12-12T04:50:44Z")
George Clooney, perhaps; he had roles in the sitcoms E/R, The Facts of Life and Roseanne before appearing on the medical drama ER. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/3 "2024-12-12T04:56:33Z")
Tom Hanks I win. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/4 "2024-12-12T04:58:02Z")
Tom Hanks, of course. (rats, got ninja’d) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/5 "2024-12-12T05:24:28Z")
Never mind ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/6 "2024-12-12T05:26:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > George Clooney, perhaps; he had roles in the sitcoms E/R, The Facts of Life and Roseanne before appearing on the medical drama ER. The OP asks for actors who were famous for comedy. Clooney got roles before ER but he certainly wasn’t famous. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/7 "2024-12-12T05:35:36Z")
Steve Carell (The Office) was nominated for an Oscar for _Foxcatcher._ Will Smith (Fresh Prince) has had many dramatic roles and won an Oscar. Joseph Gordon-Levitt started on the sitcom _Third Rock from the Sun._ John Travolta started on _Welcome Back Kotter._ ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/8 "2024-12-12T05:38:29Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Are there any further Woody Harrelsons out there? Steve Carrel (_The Office_). Still largely doing comedy film, but he’s had various dramatic role successes (_The Big Short_, _Foxcatcher_, etc). John Travolta? Never saw _Welcome Back Kotter_, would it qualify? Robin Williams for sure. _Mork&Mindy_ to _Dead Poets Society_, _Good Will Hunting_, _What Dreams May Come_, _1 Hour Photo_ etc ETA - dang, ninjaed on two. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/9 "2024-12-12T05:43:37Z")
Helen Hunt (_Mad About You_ to … _Twister_ to …_The Sessions_ ) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/10 "2024-12-12T05:43:52Z")
I grew up detesting Lucille Ball, hating her shtick. (I’m somewhat humor-impaired and particularly uninclined to find “wince and cringe” humor remotely funny). Saw her in _Yours, Mine and Ours_ and was startled to see she could be a good dramatic actress. * * * I usually avoid Adam Sandler for similar reasons but I was quite impressed with his performance in _Fifty First Dates_ ETA: oops you did say _famous_ for their dramatic movie roles. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/11 "2024-12-12T06:48:43Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > John Travolta? Never saw _Welcome Back Kotter_, would it qualify? It was a sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![nofloyd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nofloyd/32/2870_2.png) [@nofloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nofloyd)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/12 "2024-12-12T07:00:11Z")
It was the breakout role for travolta that led to movies. > **[John Travolta’s ‘70s High School Sitcom Was Doomed After He Left, and This Is...](https://movieweb.com/why-john-travolta-left-welcome-back-kotter/)** > > John Travolta’s rise to superstardom was a blessing and curse for the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/13 "2024-12-12T07:59:29Z")
Helen Hunt was already known before Mad About You, to the point, in show, she made the joke about looking like Jodie Foster. As a child/teen actress she tend to get the roles jodie didn’t take. Already had starring roles in movies before sitcom. Look up [Project X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_X_(1987_film)) if unsure. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/14 "2024-12-12T08:02:32Z")
Just UK-famous, but Simon Pegg was quite well-known for _Spaced_, I think, but I think _most_ USAians would know him best for the _Mission Impossible_ and _Star Trek_ franchises, not his comedy films. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Helen Hunt was already known I’d say she was known but not famous. She had daughter or friend or girlfriend and ensemble roles, but _MAY_ was what made her famous - where she got the Emmies and the household name status. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/15 "2024-12-12T08:25:41Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Just UK-famous, but Simon Pegg was quite well-known for _Spaced_, I think, but I think _most_ USAians would know him best for the _Mission Impossible_ and _Star Trek_ franchises, not his comedy films. I’m not so sure. While the _Mission Impossible_ and _Star Trek_ films are bigger, he wasn’t the main character like he was in _Shaun of the Dead_ and _Hot Fuzz_. I think many people in the USA who would recognize him as Simon Pegg (and not just “that guy” from _Star Trek_) would think of his comedy films first. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/16 "2024-12-12T09:12:46Z")
I ONLY know Simon Pegg from his comedy films, as a US-ian who doesn’t watch much TV or go to many films. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/17 "2024-12-12T09:54:52Z")
You might be right. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/18 "2024-12-12T10:36:31Z")
Bruce Willis in _Moonlighting_, though I guess that was technically a dramedy. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/19 "2024-12-12T14:25:19Z")
I never watched _Police Squad!_, does that count as a sitcom? Leslie Nielsen was famous in a LOT of Dramatic movies before _Airplane!_ set him on the path to comic superstardom. Even his role in _The Reluctant Astronaut_ had him playing a serious character. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533/20 "2024-12-12T14:31:37Z")
Airplane! came before Police Squad and he never really did a famous dramatic roll after Airplane! He went another direction, Dramatic Movie Actor → Washed-up Hasbeen on TV shows like Columbo & Love Boat to Famous Comedic Actor following Airplane! Police Squad the Show was only 6 episodes. Less run time than the Police Squad Movies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-actors-who-became-famous-for-dramatic-movie-roles/1011533.md?page=2)