# TV Actors Who Act Hard **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401 "2015-10-21T20:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/41 "2015-10-22T15:45:43Z")
Let’s not forget Christopher Lloyd on this anniversary of _Back to the Future_. Also his role in the _Taxi_ series: looking that disheveled and dissolute must have taken a long time in the makeup room. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/42 "2015-10-22T15:49:22Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > I’ve only just started this, but was very struck very quickly as to forgetting it was the same actress playing all these widely different roles. I just watch it now assuming they are different actors, confuses me less. There’s some behind the scenes stuff explaining how they film it. Any time there’s more than one of her in the shot they have to film it once for each clone. At the end of one of the seasons (2?) all of them were in a scene together. I have to assume it was just to pull see if they could pull of the SFX. They shot it like four times and if you watch carefully any time Felix goes from interacting (dancing, in this case) with one clone to another he’ll quickly bob off screen and jump right back. You wouldn’t notice it unless you were watching for it. I think this is the video that explains it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XE2u_N8g6cs/maxresdefault.jpg "Making of ORPHAN BLACK's 4 Clone Dance Party - BBC AMERICA") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2u_N8g6cs) ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/43 "2015-10-22T16:37:15Z")
How about actors who do a lot of physical comedy? The top of that list obviously is Lucille Ball but Debra Messing(who has been compared to Lucy) is pretty good at mugging for the camera and basically acting the clumsy fool. Both Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara of \*Modern Family \* do the physical stuff pretty well also. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/44 "2015-10-22T16:50:48Z")
Dick Van Dyke did a lot of physical comedy (such as the pratfall over the ottoman in the credits of his show) and Chris Farley did on SNL (such as when he was Matt Foley falling onto the coffee table). ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/45 "2015-10-22T17:07:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Dick Van Dyke did a lot of physical comedy (such as the pratfall over the ottoman in the credits of his show) and Chris Farley did on SNL (such as when he was Matt Foley falling onto the coffee table). Good examples. And not to be insulting to her by lumping her with Chris Farley because she’s heavy or anything, but Melissa McCarthy give it her all. _Bridesmaids_ has been on tv a lot recently and she just sells the hell out of her character, Megan. She pretty much knows no boundaries when \*she’s \*on SNL either. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/46 "2015-10-22T17:21:43Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Melissa Rauch as Bernadette on The Big Bang Theory > > Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman on That '70s Show. > > Megan Mullally as Karen Walker on Will and Grace > > (What? You think they talk like that in real life?) I think Megan Mullally is close to her regular voice…isn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/47 "2015-10-22T17:34:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Chris Farley did on SNL I got the impression the OP was primarily looking for actors doing specific roles; but of course plenty of actors in sketch comedy shows like SNL have to do lots of different accents, personas, crazy personalities, etc. So do voice actors who perform lots of distinct characters (like Seth MacFarlane or Dan Castallaneta), though at least their jobs aren’t physically demanding. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/48 "2015-10-22T17:44:49Z")
I want to give Harry Shearer some props for his extensive voice acting on _The Simpsons_, literally dozens of distinct characters. I’ve heard that watching him do scenes with Smithers and Mr. Burns is jaw-dropping. He nailed those characters and their voices consistently from season 1, even though he did and does so many. Hank Azaria, as well. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/49 "2015-10-22T17:52:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I think Megan Mullally is close to her regular voice…isn’t she? Not really. Here’s her Karen Walker [voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCXOF2hLT5Q) and here she’s talking in her [normal voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pdSZX5uQ6c). ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/50 "2015-10-22T17:59:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Melissa Rauch as Bernadette on The Big Bang Theory > > Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman on That '70s Show. > > Megan Mullally as Karen Walker on Will and Grace > > (What? You think they talk like that in real life?) Bobcat Goldthwait is another person who became famous using a stage voice. Here he is in an interview talking in his [normal voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp_B8OaAnSk). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/51 "2015-10-22T18:25:13Z")
[Gilbert Gottfried, too](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdbElWMnkyY) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/52 "2015-10-22T18:30:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Let’s not forget Christopher Lloyd on this anniversary of _Back to the Future_. Also his role in the _Taxi_ series: looking that disheveled and dissolute must have taken a long time in the makeup room. Speaking of which, check out [Jimmy Kimmel](https://www.facebook.com/JimmyKimmelLive/videos/10153666678768374/?fref=nf). Funny stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/53 "2015-10-22T19:27:50Z")
How could I forget Pee Wee Herman? He’s working his butt off! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/54 "2015-10-22T19:31:39Z")
Ron Jeremy is a hard actor. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/55 "2015-10-22T20:08:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Bobcat Goldthwait is another person who became famous using a stage voice. Here he is in an interview talking in his [normal voice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp_B8OaAnSk). He says now that it has been so long since he did the character he doesn’t even know how to do the voice anymore. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/56 "2015-10-22T22:07:40Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Another actor who managed to play an American-ish character very well was Jamie Bamber (Apollo) in Battlestar Galactica. And [Dominic West](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pvhb73zxbg) on _[The Wire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKxvEsmyVg)_. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/57 "2015-10-22T22:35:52Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I think the winner would have to be Tatiana Maslany, star of Orphan Black, who plays so many completely different characters so utterly convincingly that it beggars belief. The fact that she has not won an Emmy is criminal. DING DING DING I’d give honorable mention to the star of iZombie. She has to fake an American accent and has to try to emulate different traits of the murder victims whose brains she eats each week. It’s not quite as much playing a bunch of different characters as Orphan, but it’s similar enough that I find it impressive. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/58 "2015-10-22T22:45:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Julie Kavner has said it’s physically difficult to do Marge Simpson’s voice. I’m guessing she never thought she’d be doing it for twenty-seven years. I’m surprised, as those are not super far from her normal voice. But I guess it doesn’t take much to get problematic when you’re starting from that place. Dan Castellaneta changed Homer’s voice early on because he found it too hard to do his original (Walter Matthau inspired) voice so much. Guess he was the smart one! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/59 "2015-10-22T23:37:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > And [Dominic West](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pvhb73zxbg) on _[The Wire](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qKxvEsmyVg)_. And Miranda Otto is nailing it on _Homeland_ this season. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401/60 "2015-10-23T01:02:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Indeed, in one outtake, Julia Louis-Dreyfus can’t keep from laughing and spoils take after take. Richards actually gets a little testy with her, he’s so “on.” He apparently did this a lot. He was a perfectionist himself and expected the same from everyone else. On the accents theme, when I saw _American Sniper_ last year, I didn’t know anything about Sienna Miller and thought she was well cast because she came across as so quintessentially American. The first time I heard her speak on an interview show I almost fell out of my chair! She was actually born in the US but lived in Britain since she was a year old, and her accent is _very_ British. I thought she did an outstanding job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-actors-who-act-hard/735401.md?page=4)