# What actors best known for comic/heroic/sympathetic roles would make good villains? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 24, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392 "2010-06-24T18:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/1 "2010-06-24T18:19:38Z")
And, of course, say why. I’ll start with Courtney Cox, largely because I’m a sadist and feel like inflicting the following implied-nudity, probably-Shopped, & not-quite-safe-for-work picture on y’all: [Yeah, we all like dirty girls, but this is ridiculous.](http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_02/cox1WENN200307_468x564.jpg) I can easily see her in a spy thriller, calmly telling the hero, “Look, you can talk _without_ being tortured, or _after_ being tortured. We’re gonna kill you either way; it’s just a question of whether it’ll be an open- or closed-casket service. It’s all the same to me.” But that’s just my opinion. What actors best known for light, sympathetic, heroic, or comedic roles can you most easily see turning to the dark side? And don’t say Denzel Washington, or someone will mock you. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/2 "2010-06-24T18:22:56Z")
Viggo Mortensen or however you spell it would make a wonderful quiet zealot of a villain. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/3 "2010-06-24T18:23:32Z")
I’d say most actors known for comedy could play effective villains. All that laughing-on-the-outside? Yeah, but what’s underneath? Robin Williams and Jim Carrey can play chilling sociopaths, because, you know. It all depends on whether the commedy actor is willing to show that side of himself to the public. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/4 "2010-06-24T18:25:53Z")
Neil Patrick Harris. And I’m not just saying this because of _Starship Troopers_, though that helped. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/5 "2010-06-24T18:25:54Z")
I was intrigued by the rumors a few years ago that Rowen Atkinson might be playing Voldemort. It turned out not to be true, but I think it could have been brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/6 "2010-06-24T18:27:21Z")
Tom Bosley _is_ Dick Cheney! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/7 "2010-06-24T18:37:59Z")
I definately could have seen [Bob Keeshan](http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2004/2004-01/23-captain_kangaroo-inside.jpg) plunging a knife into someone’s neck, especially that of some 6 year old kid eating a slightly toasted pastry strudel. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/8 "2010-06-24T18:41:17Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I definately could have seen [Bob Keeshan](http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2004/2004-01/23-captain_kangaroo-inside.jpg) plunging a knife into someone’s neck, especially that of some 6 year old kid eating a slightly toasted pastry strudel. I would have loved to have seen Bob Keeshan in that Very Special Episode of Different Strokes. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/9 "2010-06-24T18:45:30Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Neil Patrick Harris. > > And I’m not just saying this because of _Starship Troopers_, though that helped. Already done - he _is_ Dr. Horrible! Ryan Reynolds - usually a comedic lightweight actor, but he would be great as a villain. ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@Short\_Guy\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy_1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/10 "2010-06-24T19:10:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I was intrigued by the rumors a few years ago that Rowen Atkinson might be playing Voldemort. It turned out not to be true, but I think it could have been brilliant. I came in here to say this, and will add that I would still pay money to see it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/11 "2010-06-24T19:17:34Z")
I could see Ashton Kutcher as a serial killer. (As an Evil Overlord or a bad-guy spy or a crime-gang boss, not so much.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/12 "2010-06-24T19:19:00Z")
Kristen Bell - I could see her as a Richard Gloucester type of manipulative villain. She plays smart very well (see “Veronica Mars”), and she’s just plain likeable. As was Richard - he was able to scheme, lie, and murder his way to the throne precisely because so many people thought of him as a good and honest friend.\* I’m speaking of Shakespeare’s character, here - I know the real Richard III was very likely a decent man. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/13 "2010-06-24T19:45:08Z")
> [@howye](#): > > Ryan Reynolds - usually a comedic lightweight actor, but he would be great as a villain. Deadpool in _Wolverine_ > [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Kristen Bell Pretty villainous in _Heroes_ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/14 "2010-06-24T19:50:47Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Pretty villainous in _Heroes_ Ah - I don’t watch that. I guess I’ll have to, now! ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/15 "2010-06-24T20:18:53Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Deadpool in _Wolverine_ Alas, I will sadly never know then. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/16 "2010-06-24T21:21:43Z")
Julianna Margulies - I can’t belive she hasn’t been cast a a vampire or vampy villianess yet. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/17 "2010-06-24T21:28:03Z")
> [@Stuffy](#): > > Julianna Margulies - I can’t belive she hasn’t been cast a a vampire or vampy villianess yet. On Scrubs, she played a – well, not exactly EVIL lawyer – she played a lawyer who was zealous in her advocacy of her father’s care, and perceived as a bitch by Dr. Cox, who might be seen as sexually exploiting JD. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/18 "2010-06-24T21:35:11Z")
Too late, of course, but the late Danny Kaye [apparently had a cold and dark side](http://www.amazon.ca/Nobodys-Fool-Lives-Danny-Kaye/dp/0671864947) – it would have been interesting to see him play a villain. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/19 "2010-06-24T22:22:00Z")
I think the comedians as referred to earlier would make awesome villains, at least on par with Hannibal Lector. Robin Williams has always done well as a villain. Carey needs to be more psychotic, less funny, and less like his Riddler character. All you need to do is juxtapose (look it up) a person who looks, acts, or is expected to look or act a certain way with very bad behavior. The prototype, imho, is the made-for-TV biopic of Ted Bundy starring Mark Harmon. I don’t think his image ever recovered from it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392/20 "2010-06-24T22:35:44Z")
If voice work counts, Jason Lee made a damn good villain in “The Incredibles”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-best-known-for-comic-heroic-sympathetic-roles-would-make-good-villains/544392.md?page=2)