yeah we forgot they were that funny
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
actors you forgot were once comedy stars
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’re
taking a look at actors and actresses
that were initially associated with
comedic roles but have since become
better known for their dramatic chops
while their very first role doesn’t have
to have been a comedic one they should
have some fairly notable early roles in
the genre to qualify we don’t have a cow
we have a whole number 10
Woody Harrelson Harrelson is prolific as
a character actor and has even appeared
in blockbuster franchises like The
Hunger Games oh not what you were
expecting however what he first came to
fame is the dim-witted but warm-hearted
bartender on the massively popular
sitcom Cheers
a big-city bartender with the joke it’s
already after proving his comedic chops
on TV Harrelson transitioned to film
with early successes including white men
can’t jump
kingpin and the black comedy Natural
Born Killers you think you’re getting
out of here boy they go love you what
they’re gonna put you in a box his
rising stock as a film star landed him
the leading role in the People vs Larry
Flynt which earned him his first Academy
Award nomination cementing him as an
incredibly dynamic actor and leading to
more varied roles I am serious I’m
taking note to number 9 Emma Thompson
his prolific and respected British
actress is arguably most famous for
appearing in dramatic films adapted from
the works of history’s most iconic
writers including Jane Austen William
Shakespeare and even JK Rowling given we
see casas films into the future Thompson
also holds the impressive distinction of
being the only person to win an Oscar
for both writing and acting it may
surprise quite a few to learn that her
first real break into performing came in
college where she participated in a
troupe specializing in sketch comedy and
rad
crass stand-up fascist
with her fellow troupe members Hugh
Laurie and Stephen Fry Thompson appeared
in a variety of comedic shows on the BBC
long before making her way into film
number eight Chris Evans famous around
the world for playing Captain America
Evans has also played various other
comic characters to join me he appeared
as the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four
as well as one of Ramona’s evil exes in
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world and even
Casey Jones I could use a sidekick you
may have everyone else fooled but you
haven’t fooled me raft but before he was
a superhero Evans came to the public eye
in the satirical Not Another Teen Movie
playing a high school jock Evans spooked
numerous teen films from the 80s and 90s
including everything from American Pie
to 10 Things I Hate About You now that
you remember it you’re going to have a
hard time getting the picture of Evans
with a banana of his but out of your
head number 7 amy adams one of the most
respected actresses in Hollywood Adams
has been nominated for an Academy Award
five times and is famous for playing a
variety of different types of roles
early on in her career though the roles
she portrayed were less diverse and she
was often cast as bubbly and upbeat
characters with a comedic tone hilarious
early characters included a former
cheerleader on the office and a perky
nurse and catch me if you can notice
anything different about me got your
braces off gaining Fame and critical
respect from comedic roles in films like
junebug and enchanted afforded her the
chance to break typecasting and attempt
roles vastly different than the ones she
had played before and went on to make
her into the movie star she is today
reduction number six Bob Odenkirk fans
of Breaking Bad as well as the spin-off
better call Saul are quite familiar with
Odenkirk as the morally ambiguous lawyer
Saul Goodman don’t drink and drive
but if you do call me just like Jimmy
McGill ‘he’s metamorphosis into Saul
Goodman
Odenkirk thrives has been a long and
interesting one he actually began
writing sketches for popular shows like
Saturday Night Live and Late Night with
Conan O’Brien here in his home before
creating mr. show with David Cross after
that success he made his way to comedic
films
I rest my case appearing in a handful in
the 2000s as well as appearing as a
guest star in multiple sitcoms in the
same manner he appeared in a recurring
role on Breaking Bad before becoming one
of the show’s breakout stars I’m going
to leave the room make myself a Nescafe
number 5 Jamie Foxx getting his start in
stand-up comedy
Eric bishop took the stage name Jamie
Foxx after learning that female
comedians typically perform first and as
a tribute to stand-up legend Redd Foxx
but if you think the voice is Lucas whoo
what do you see the whole package to go
free Jamie Foxx parlayed his stand-up
success to become a cast member on the
massively successful sketch comedy show
in living color from there he received
his own sitcom the Jeannie Fox show in
part way through the show’s run Fox was
given his first chance at a dramatic
role drawing on his own experience as a
football player in any given Sunday
following it up with a thriller
collateral eventually Fox cemented
himself as a dramatic star appearing in
films like the oscar-winning Ray and
Django Unchained
I said til miss Laura goodbye
number 4 Bryan Cranston you might want
to hold off sometimes it’s difficult to
believe that the dorky Hal from Malcolm
in the Middle and drug kingpin Walter
White from Breaking Bad were played by
the same person
of course Bryan Cranston was the man
behind these radically different roles
both of which earned him multiple Emmy
nominations
crying out loud after a humble start as
a voice actor okay my my aha
Cranston became best known for guest
starring in various sitcoms including
Seinfeld oh great it is cavity time
since becoming better known for his
dramatic abilities Cranston has gone on
to play an incredibly diverse set of
roles notably in drives Godzilla and his
oscar-nominated portrayal of the title
character in Trumbo you lose I lose we
all lose number three Robert Downey jr.
before he was Iron Man Downey’s career
famously stalled in the late 90s and
2000 as the actor struggled with
substance abuse and legal trouble of
course before all that Downey was one of
the most talented rising stars in
Hollywood thanks in large part to his
wit and comedic sensibilities
during the 80s he became largely
associated with coming-of-age comedies
like weird science as well as a brief
and less than amazing stint as a cast
member on Saturday Night Live after
re-emerging from his career slump our DJ
became notable for appearing in serious
films and summer blockbusters I just
wanna do that especially by kicking off
the Marvel Cinematic Universe number 2
Michael Keaton Keaton will forever be
linked to his most iconic role Batman
are you
I’m bet he earned praise from critics
and fans for playing him as a dark loner
and is still considered by some to be
the best to play the part however when
he was originally cast the choice was
met with fan outrage with people
thinking the actor who played the
off-the-wall beetlejuice was
inappropriate for the part in fact
Keaton had spent much of the 80s
building a reputation as a strong
comedic actor in films like mr. mom
honey if you’re calling I’m not here
I’ll be at the jammer I think I’m club
of course heating quickly proved his
detractors wrong not so much of the fact
that you gotta do it that guy now what
do you think you think I’m qualified and
he continues to shine in outstanding
dramatic performances today
what’s wrong with reason before we
reveal our number one pick here are some
honorable mentions well this is the
check I could stand here and chew your
fat all day but time has compounders
find out he’s really funny
mm-hmm I don’t know wise maybe he’s gone
funny huh that’s sweet isn’t it
going on the silvers for me number one
Tom Hanks it’s hard to recall a time
when Tom Hanks wasn’t considered one of
the most versatile and bankable dramatic
stars on the planet
of course early in his career tanks
appeared and beloved but relatively
simple comedies like splash and Turner
and hooch I was dropped off on the wrong
side of the beach I was wondering if you
could take me over to the island
eventually Hank starred in comedies with
more dramatic weight like the fantastic
big before moving to a purely dramatic
role in Philadelphia which he followed
up with Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 as
well as numerous collaborations with
Steven Spielberg unlike many other huge
comedic stars who ventured into drama
Hanks completely redefined himself with
his almost non-stop stream of films
loved by both audiences and critics
alike my mom always said life was like a
box of chocolates
you never know what you’re going to get
do you agree with our pics check out
these other great clips from watch mojo
and subscribe for new videos every day
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
actors you forgot were once comedy stars
before we begin we publish new videos
every day so be sure to subscribe for
more great content for this list we’re
taking a look at actors and actresses
that were initially associated with
comedic roles but have since become
better known for their dramatic chops
while their very first role doesn’t have
to have been a comedic one they should
have some fairly notable early roles in
the genre to qualify we don’t have a cow
we have a whole number 10
Woody Harrelson Harrelson is prolific as
a character actor and has even appeared
in blockbuster franchises like The
Hunger Games oh not what you were
expecting however what he first came to
fame is the dim-witted but warm-hearted
bartender on the massively popular
sitcom Cheers
a big-city bartender with the joke it’s
already after proving his comedic chops
on TV Harrelson transitioned to film
with early successes including white men
can’t jump
kingpin and the black comedy Natural
Born Killers you think you’re getting
out of here boy they go love you what
they’re gonna put you in a box his
rising stock as a film star landed him
the leading role in the People vs Larry
Flynt which earned him his first Academy
Award nomination cementing him as an
incredibly dynamic actor and leading to
more varied roles I am serious I’m
taking note to number 9 Emma Thompson
his prolific and respected British
actress is arguably most famous for
appearing in dramatic films adapted from
the works of history’s most iconic
writers including Jane Austen William
Shakespeare and even JK Rowling given we
see casas films into the future Thompson
also holds the impressive distinction of
being the only person to win an Oscar
for both writing and acting it may
surprise quite a few to learn that her
first real break into performing came in
college where she participated in a
troupe specializing in sketch comedy and
rad
crass stand-up fascist
with her fellow troupe members Hugh
Laurie and Stephen Fry Thompson appeared
in a variety of comedic shows on the BBC
long before making her way into film
number eight Chris Evans famous around
the world for playing Captain America
Evans has also played various other
comic characters to join me he appeared
as the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four
as well as one of Ramona’s evil exes in
Scott Pilgrim vs. the world and even
Casey Jones I could use a sidekick you
may have everyone else fooled but you
haven’t fooled me raft but before he was
a superhero Evans came to the public eye
in the satirical Not Another Teen Movie
playing a high school jock Evans spooked
numerous teen films from the 80s and 90s
including everything from American Pie
to 10 Things I Hate About You now that
you remember it you’re going to have a
hard time getting the picture of Evans
with a banana of his but out of your
head number 7 amy adams one of the most
respected actresses in Hollywood Adams
has been nominated for an Academy Award
five times and is famous for playing a
variety of different types of roles
early on in her career though the roles
she portrayed were less diverse and she
was often cast as bubbly and upbeat
characters with a comedic tone hilarious
early characters included a former
cheerleader on the office and a perky
nurse and catch me if you can notice
anything different about me got your
braces off gaining Fame and critical
respect from comedic roles in films like
junebug and enchanted afforded her the
chance to break typecasting and attempt
roles vastly different than the ones she
had played before and went on to make
her into the movie star she is today
reduction number six Bob Odenkirk fans
of Breaking Bad as well as the spin-off
better call Saul are quite familiar with
Odenkirk as the morally ambiguous lawyer
Saul Goodman don’t drink and drive
but if you do call me just like Jimmy
McGill ‘he’s metamorphosis into Saul
Goodman
Odenkirk thrives has been a long and
interesting one he actually began
writing sketches for popular shows like
Saturday Night Live and Late Night with
Conan O’Brien here in his home before
creating mr. show with David Cross after
that success he made his way to comedic
films
I rest my case appearing in a handful in
the 2000s as well as appearing as a
guest star in multiple sitcoms in the
same manner he appeared in a recurring
role on Breaking Bad before becoming one
of the show’s breakout stars I’m going
to leave the room make myself a Nescafe
number 5 Jamie Foxx getting his start in
stand-up comedy
Eric bishop took the stage name Jamie
Foxx after learning that female
comedians typically perform first and as
a tribute to stand-up legend Redd Foxx
but if you think the voice is Lucas whoo
what do you see the whole package to go
free Jamie Foxx parlayed his stand-up
success to become a cast member on the
massively successful sketch comedy show
in living color from there he received
his own sitcom the Jeannie Fox show in
part way through the show’s run Fox was
given his first chance at a dramatic
role drawing on his own experience as a
football player in any given Sunday
following it up with a thriller
collateral eventually Fox cemented
himself as a dramatic star appearing in
films like the oscar-winning Ray and
Django Unchained
I said til miss Laura goodbye
number 4 Bryan Cranston you might want
to hold off sometimes it’s difficult to
believe that the dorky Hal from Malcolm
in the Middle and drug kingpin Walter
White from Breaking Bad were played by
the same person
of course Bryan Cranston was the man
behind these radically different roles
both of which earned him multiple Emmy
nominations
crying out loud after a humble start as
a voice actor okay my my aha
Cranston became best known for guest
starring in various sitcoms including
Seinfeld oh great it is cavity time
since becoming better known for his
dramatic abilities Cranston has gone on
to play an incredibly diverse set of
roles notably in drives Godzilla and his
oscar-nominated portrayal of the title
character in Trumbo you lose I lose we
all lose number three Robert Downey jr.
before he was Iron Man Downey’s career
famously stalled in the late 90s and
2000 as the actor struggled with
substance abuse and legal trouble of
course before all that Downey was one of
the most talented rising stars in
Hollywood thanks in large part to his
wit and comedic sensibilities
during the 80s he became largely
associated with coming-of-age comedies
like weird science as well as a brief
and less than amazing stint as a cast
member on Saturday Night Live after
re-emerging from his career slump our DJ
became notable for appearing in serious
films and summer blockbusters I just
wanna do that especially by kicking off
the Marvel Cinematic Universe number 2
Michael Keaton Keaton will forever be
linked to his most iconic role Batman
are you
I’m bet he earned praise from critics
and fans for playing him as a dark loner
and is still considered by some to be
the best to play the part however when
he was originally cast the choice was
met with fan outrage with people
thinking the actor who played the
off-the-wall beetlejuice was
inappropriate for the part in fact
Keaton had spent much of the 80s
building a reputation as a strong
comedic actor in films like mr. mom
honey if you’re calling I’m not here
I’ll be at the jammer I think I’m club
of course heating quickly proved his
detractors wrong not so much of the fact
that you gotta do it that guy now what
do you think you think I’m qualified and
he continues to shine in outstanding
dramatic performances today
what’s wrong with reason before we
reveal our number one pick here are some
honorable mentions well this is the
check I could stand here and chew your
fat all day but time has compounders
find out he’s really funny
mm-hmm I don’t know wise maybe he’s gone
funny huh that’s sweet isn’t it
going on the silvers for me number one
Tom Hanks it’s hard to recall a time
when Tom Hanks wasn’t considered one of
the most versatile and bankable dramatic
stars on the planet
of course early in his career tanks
appeared and beloved but relatively
simple comedies like splash and Turner
and hooch I was dropped off on the wrong
side of the beach I was wondering if you
could take me over to the island
eventually Hank starred in comedies with
more dramatic weight like the fantastic
big before moving to a purely dramatic
role in Philadelphia which he followed
up with Forrest Gump and Apollo 13 as
well as numerous collaborations with
Steven Spielberg unlike many other huge
comedic stars who ventured into drama
Hanks completely redefined himself with
his almost non-stop stream of films
loved by both audiences and critics
alike my mom always said life was like a
box of chocolates
you never know what you’re going to get
do you agree with our pics check out
these other great clips from watch mojo
and subscribe for new videos every day
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