Performances that leave an unforgettable imprint on the audience. However, why do comedians frequently flourish in the theater as well? As performers, comedians often possess a deep understanding of human emotion and ideas like rhythm and fragility, which, when used in more dramatic roles, are just as effective at eliciting shock or despair as they are at eliciting laughter in a comedy. When a comic tackles more somber subjects, the outcome is frequently iconic.
Robin Williams — Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society
Liam Neeson was originally asked to play the unconventional teacher in Dead Poets’ Society. Director Peter Weir had doubts about Robin Williams because he was slated to star in comedies during that time. When Williams auditioned for that role, unfortunately, he did not pass. The character of Keating demanded an abstract depth of poetry and rebellion, but he struggled on. However, he improvised the script and made history. Keating dwells upon the hearts of rebellions alike, and this became true because Robin Williams ate and left no crumbs. His iconic role in Good Will Hunting revealed that he was thoroughly in sync with the breadth of human emotions. The 1997 drama film follows a young, working-class prodigy named Will Hunting who, with the assistance of a therapist and his friends, faces his past and accepts his future. He embodied these roles, which became a part of his undying legacy.
Eddie Murphy — Dreamgirls (2006)
Eddie Murphy was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his dramatic role in the 2006 musical Dreamgirls. That innate, fast-talking Eddie Murphy energy was a wonderful fit for the movie’s James Brown stand-in. He was hilarious, sensual, cocksure, and he sang incredibly well. “Jimmy is perpetually on the edge of getting some national exposure, playing the cities, everyone loves him because he’s really one of a kind,” the actor said of his role in Dreamgirls, James (Jimmy) “Thunder”. “He just can’t seem to break through, but he is an R&B originator, bringing the sound that white kids could dance to, like James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard. While the country was still segregated, they were bridging the world of music, bringing Black sound to white America. It wasn’t until later that these performers realized just how much they accomplished.”
Will Ferrell — Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Will Ferrell’s first and greatest dramatic performance is as the rigorous IRS agent Harold Crick. He portrays Harold as a silent, tense man who comes to the hard realisation that his life is governed by an invisible author, rather than the boisterous scenes the audience is accustomed to seeing him perform in his comedies. Ferrell later starred in more somber films, such as Everything Must Go (2010), but Stranger Than Fiction’s existential tone gives him a larger canvas to work with. He even retains some of his comedic skills in Harold’s actions, but it’s more about fitting the film’s overall tone than being funny.
Steve Carell — Foxcatcher, The Big Short
Steve Carell plays Mark Baum, the head of FrontPoint Partners, a tiny, independent trading company. Baum is always disgusted by American banks. Steve Eisman served as the model for the character. Here, he took a different trajectory from his hilarious counterpart in ‘The Office.’ He brilliantly portrays the character who is under an extreme amount of financial stress and anxiety. He solidified his reputation as a talented dramatic character actor in Foxcatcher. Carell paints a terrifying picture of entitlement and insanity, John du Pont, shining through the prosthetics. As soon as Carell received his first Oscar nomination for Foxcatcher, the film industry began to recognize him as more than just the man who made people laugh with embarrassing shenanigans.
Adam Sandler — Uncut Gems, Punch-Drunk Love
Uncut Gems tells the story of the tragedies and terrible decisions that a Jewish jeweler in New York, played by the always endearing. Howard is a bit of a dreamer and a gambling addict who genuinely loves gems, the NBA, and money—a horrible combination that makes his life a never-ending maze. The protagonist is a realistic representation of human suffering and decision-making, but he isn’t presented on a pleasing pedestal. In ‘Punch Drunk Love’, Sandler was an unlikable protagonist, and the anxiety/stress was heightened and pushed as far as possible. He excels in the role of Barry Egan, and it was the first sign of his acting prowess outside of the typical lowbrow slapstick humor for which he was then well-known. In the conclusion of both these movies, the audience realizes, “Holy shit, he can act.”
Melissa McCarthy — Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
Melissa McCarthy, a gifted comedian who was nominated for an Oscar for Bridesmaids in 2012, was already well-known in 2018. Her next Oscar nomination for a serious role, however, was unexpected. In Can You Ever Forgive Me? As real-life author Lee Israel, who resorted to literary fabrication out of desperation, McCarthy is largely unrecognizable. McCarthy’s customary sarcasm and caustic quips portray Israel as a bitter, genuinely lonely person who, needing something wonderful to happen for once, makes a judgment error.
Sarah Silverman — I Smile Back (2015)
Sarah Silverman has earned her name with a raw style of stand-up comedy that’s cloaked in a girly delicacy. She smiles and winks as she delivers her scathing critique of sexism and bigotry. But in ‘I Smile Back’, she hid a facet of emotional depth that the world did not know. She portrays a woman who is overcome by a greater feeling of self-destruction in addition to drug, alcohol, and sex addiction. As perilous as the downward trajectory is, there’s a certain solace in its normalcy. Silverman’s character and tale had more depth since she is so devoted and genuine. One of the critics critiqued, “ Silverman’s spectacular performance alone making the price of a ticket well worth spending.”
Marlon Wayans — Requiem for a Dream (2000)
“Requiem for a Dream” offers parallel storylines that are linked by the bond between the lonely, bereaved Sara Goldfarb and her lovely but wayward son, Harry. The plump Sara, inspired by the idea of participating in a TV game show, has started on a risky diet program to enhance herself for a country stage. Wayans appears as the heroin junkie Tyrone, who spends most of his time with his best friend, Harry (Jared Leto). Tyrone longs to leave the slum where he has spent his entire life, while Harry is compelled to take care of his sick mother, Sara (Ellen Burstyn). Unfortunately, since Tyrone intends to travel to Miami to finalize a deal for a heroin shipment, his only way out is to delve further into the drug world. It was the 1990s, and he was often stereotyped for comedic characters, but his breakthrough as Tyrone earned him lifelong admiration.
Bill Murray — Lost in Translation (2003)
Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray portray two lost souls who ramble through a Tokyo hotel late at night and start talking about their marriages, happiness, and the purpose of it all. With his performance earning him an Oscar nomination and BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards, this movie really cemented Murray’s reputation as a serious actor. Murray’s performance in Lost in Translation seems the most genuinely real and fragile, even though nearly all of his other roles have some humor or eccentricity. Sofia Coppola’s picture will certainly withstand the sands of racing time.
Jim Carrey — Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Truman Show
Jim Carrey was well-versed in dramatic roles, having acted in the media satire “The Truman Show. A critic once wrote of his character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, “The people we share our lives with become pieces in the puzzle of our identity. To love is to reshape that puzzle, pain, and euphoria slotted together. I tell you this because it’s impossible for me to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Jim Carrey’s performance, without projecting meanings born out of love loss.” Carrey solidified his character by breaking away from generic comedic roles. “Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night!” his jesting persona took a back seat while reciting this line, and these roles embodied his name in the genre of an ‘actor’ encompassing a wide range of talent.
