Comedy Actors Who Weren’t Meant for Serious Movies (And That’s Ok)

Summary

• Some comedic actors, like Mike Myers, attempt dramatic roles with mixed results but struggle to shed their funny personas.
• Even beloved personalities like Chevy Chase and Amy Schumer have faced challenges transitioning to serious movie roles successfully.
• While actors like Kevin Hart and John Cleese have tried their hand at drama, their signature humor often shines through, limiting their success.

Sometimes when comedic performers venture into more dramatic acting territory, the results can be downright spectacular, with famous stars like Melissa McCarthy, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, and Bill Murray all successfully making the genre jump. However, not every great comedian is meant to tackle serious roles, with some of Hollywood’s most beloved personalities trying their hand at dramatic work and falling just a bit short.

Side-splitting actors like Mike Myers and Owen Wilson are brilliant when it comes to delivering laughter and joy to the masses, but their respective forays into the world of drama highlight just how better suited they are to telling jokes than delivering emotional monologues. Let’s dive in and take a look at 10 comedy actors who weren’t meant for serious movies (and that’s okay).

10 Mike Myers

Saturday Night Live legend and ultimate master of disguise Mike Myers has been dominating Hollywood since he first joined the juggernaut comedy program in 1989, winning a Primetime Emmy for his writing contributions and notably branching out during his tenure to star in the cult classics Wayne’s World and So I Married an Axe Murderer. Myers truly began his silver screen take-over when he hilariously took on multiple roles in the Austin Powers franchise, as well as voicing the titular green ogre in the fan-favorite Shrek series.

Can’t Separate Myers From His Characters

Devoted fans of the gifted comedian are used to seeing the funnyman don elaborate costumes and personas and embracing his zany side. However, few may remember that he actually ventured into dramatic waters when he appeared in the 1998 drama 54 in which he starred as entrepreneur and Studio 54 co-founder Steve Rubell. While he did a solid job with his first foray into more serious work, audiences were waiting for the goofy actor to break character and embrace his trademark humor. It’s hard to separate Myers from his famous characters like Austin Powers and Wayne Campbell, even if he did make a valiant effort. Buy/Rent on Apple TV+.

9 Chevy Chase

Once deemed “The funniest man in America” after starring in the inaugural season of Saturday Night Live, the cool and charismatic Chevy Chase was the first member of the original cast line-up to depart the trailblazing series, doing so to pursue a film career in 1976. Chase would ultimately become a staple in ’80s cinema, famously appearing in comedy greats Caddyshack, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, and of course the National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise, among countless other uproarious farces.

Chase Can’t Shake His Comedy Roots

The furthest Chase strayed from his tried-and-true genre was when he starred in the 1992 dramedy Memoirs of an Invisible Man, in which he portrayed a stock analyst who is forced to go on the run from the CIA after he is accidentally turned invisible following a freak accident. The film was a vanity project for Chase and the actor wanted to use the project as a way to bridge into less comedic roles and showcase his range. Alas, the dramedy failed to make a splash with fans, with The Washington Post questioning in their review, “If Memoirs wants to get serious, why is Chevy Chase in the lead? This is the man who starred in National Lampoon’s European Vacation.” Stream on Tubi.

8 Amy Schumer

Actress, stand-up comedian, and writer Amy Schumer first made a name for herself when she starred in the acclaimed sketch comedy series Inside Amy Schumer, for which she nabbed a Peabody Award and Primetime Emmy. Schumer continued finding massive success when she made her sensational film debut in 2015’s Trainwreck, with the comedy earning her a Golden Globe nod and establishing her as an exciting comedic presence on the big screen. She followed up the lauded role with comedies like Snatched and I Feel Pretty.

Schumer Struggles with Being Serious

Though in recent years Schumer attempted to blend her love of comedy with drama in the popular Hulu series Life & Beth, the actress tried to tackle a more serious performance when she co-starred in the 2017 biographical war drama Thank You for Your Service. Schumer appeared as the grieving wife of a soldier killed in combat, but her heartfelt performance fell flat with audiences, and it was difficult to take her emotional side seriously when her fans were so used to her cracking raunchy and self-deprecating jokes. Stream on Netflix.

7 Dane Cook

Back in the late 2000s, stand-up comedian Dane Cook was on a mission to become Hollywood’s next go-to leading man, appearing in a string of flicks like Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck, and My Best Friend’s Girl and showing off his rude and crude humor in the comedies. Cook had attracted a negative reputation and was polarizing in the entertainment industry because of his on-stage routines, with some claiming he plagiarized fellow comics. Regardless, he still had a solid film career and was everywhere in the late aughts.

Cook Can’t Compete with Costner

In 2007, Cook decided to dip his toe outside the comedy genre when he appeared alongside Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, and William Hurt in the psychological thriller Mr. Brooks, which follows the eponymous serial killer and businessman as he wrestles with his demented alter ego. Cook played a man who witnessed Brooks commit his heinous crimes and attempted to blackmail him, yet the actor wasn’t able to shake his comedic quirks and shed his funny persona, unintentionally sticking out like a sore thumb opposite the powerhouse Costner. Currently unavailable for streaming.

6 Kevin Hart

Undeniably one of the hardest-working comedic presences in the industry is none other than Kevin Hart, who seems to have his hand in every pot and is constantly popping up in an array of exciting projects. Hart has released countless lucrative stand-up specials including Laugh at My Pain and What Now? and continues to tour, while becoming one of the cinema’s most charismatic stars with side-splitting roles in Ride Along, Central Intelligence, Get Hard, and the blockbuster Jumanji franchise.

Hart’s Lucrative Netflix Collaboration

In 2021, Hart signed a massive deal with Netflix in which he would create and star in four films for the streaming giant, appearing in the comedies The Man from Toronto, Me Time, and Lift while also branching out to headline the dramedy Fatherhood. Hart portrays a single father who struggles with raising his newborn daughter after the tragic passing of his wife, and it was the comedian’s first major foray into the drama genre. Though Hart did tackle the more emotional elements of the movie solidly, he was still basically playing himself and his signature humor was never far away, making it hard for him to truly emerge as a serious actor. Stream on Netflix.

5 Molly Shannon

The criminally underrated Molly Shannon is without a doubt one of the best comedic performers to come out of Saturday Night Live, with the actress spreading laughter and joy week after week from 1995 to 2001 on the hit series. Shannon landed supporting roles in popular flicks like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Wet Hot American Summer, My Boss’s Daughter, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and brought her delightful on-screen charisma to TV shows like Enlightened, The White Lotus, and I Love That for You.

Shannon Knows What She’s Doing

Anytime Shannon has switched things up and appeared in more serious projects, she is largely there as comedic relief and brings a light-hearted touch to more heavy moments. When the endearing performer starred alongside Jesse Plemmons in the 2016 dramedy Other People, she was able to flex her acting chops a bit with her compelling portrayal of a cancer-stricken mother. While she more than held her own, Shannon’s trademark wit was still on full display and she has yet to tackle a straight-up drama that could truly showcase her range. Stream on Peacock.

4 Owen Wilson

With a decorated career spanning nearly thirty years, Owen Wilson has firmly established himself as one of the silver screen’s most likable and charismatic leading men, serving up some major laughs with his laid-back attitude and amiable demeanor. After first rising to prominence in Wes Anderon’s 1996 directorial debut Bottle Rocket, Wilson hit the ground running and became the face of the 2000s comedy game, knocking it out of the park with magnetic performances in Zoolander, The Royal Tenenbaums, Starsky & Hutch, and The Wedding Crashers.

Owen’s Valiant Attempt

After demonstrating his charm and hilarity as supermodel Hansel in Zoolander and Roy O’Bannon in Shanghai Noon, Wilson surprised the masses when he appeared as Lt. Chris Burnett in the 2001 action war drama Behind Enemy Lines, portraying the naval flight officer who is shot down in enemy territory during the Bosnian War. Wilson made a noble effort to deliver a serious performance, but many felt he was sorely miscast and unable to shake his signature expressions and trademark pizazz, lessening the film’s overall impact. Stream on Hulu.

3 Jimmy Fallon

Another Saturday Night Live breakout star who had some difficulties navigating serious on-screen work was Jimmy Fallon, who became notorious for breaking character and cracking up on stage during his six years on the hit show. While he was still a cast member on SNL, Fallon branched out and starred in the action comedy Taxi and in an episode of the 2001 lauded war miniseries Band of Brothers, portraying 2nd Lt. George C. Rice during the Battle of the Bulge in “Crossroads.”

Fallon’s Playful Demeanor Can’t Be Shaken

Fallon’s brief cameo in the raw and gripping drama definitely caught fans off-guard, as he was known at the time as the small screen’s resident goofball and wild card. Despite how small the role and appearance were, it was hard for audiences to separate Fallon from his SNL persona, and he stuck out like a sore thumb in the war-torn landscape. It seemed as though Fallon was moments away from breaking character and holding back a giggle as he starred in the scene, despite his character delivering crucial resources to his fellow troops; it’s no wonder he never attempted the genre again. Stream on Max.

2 John Cleese

Hollywood legend John Cleese is known for being a co-founder of the iconic comedy troupe Monty Python, delivering unforgettable performances as a member of the group in beloved classics like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python’s Life of Brian. He was able to make a name for himself outside the troupe and landed prominent roles in lively flicks like A Fish Called Wanda, Clockwise, Rat Race, and the Shrek franchise, showing off his dry humor and distinct demeanor in every project he tackled.

Cleese Provides Comedic Relief

Even when he’s cast in a more serious picture, Cleese is often utilized for his comedic talents and shakes up the heaviness of the drama, doing so when he portrayed Nearly Headless Nick in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and its subsequent sequel. The fantasy flick featured Cleese as the zany Gryffindor House ghost, and he was in peak form in the blockbuster hit, bringing a fun and fresh energy to the role and not trying to make it a somber performance. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Cleese knows exactly what he’s doing and though he may try his hand at other genres, his cheeky humor is never far behind. Stream on Peacock.

1 Tiffany Haddish

The fast-talking, wise-cracking actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish became a certified sensation when she headlined the female-led farce Girls Trip in 2017, winning an NAACP Image Award for her uproarious work in the film. Haddish followed up the raved-about performance with films like The Oath, Bad Trip, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and Haunted Mansion, serving up a heaping dose of her fearless approach to comedy and unapologetic attitude in every character she takes on.

Haddish Tries Her Hand with a Crime Drama

While she dazzles moviegoers with her rapid-fire jokes and talent, Haddish opted to try something different and starred opposite Oscar Isaac in the 2021 crime drama The Card Reader, portraying the savvy gambler’s tough and quick-thinking girlfriend who joins him in his lucrative hustle. Haddish can’t help but possess a commanding and bold on-screen presence, and her audacious energy ultimately prevented the actress from matching the dramatic delivery Isaac presented and kept fans wondering when she might crack a joke. Stream on Freevee.