www.bbc.co.uk/markkermode My recent blog about comedians playing serious roles prompted loads of great suggestions from you - here are some favourites.
Actually one of Williams' first roles was in 'The World According to Garp' which was a tour de force that vacillated between the comic and the tragic. He was amazing in it and I don't think he ever topped it.
Agreed. I'm not sure how Kermode managed to get through the video without mentioning him. Yes, arguably he did more than one (like a few mentioned in the video). He was a comedic legend who was equally capable in straight roles.
Seize The Day is brilliant. It came out just before the Good Morning Vietnam revival so it's also Williams at a career low going for broke by being totally serious. It's about a man having the worst possible day at the worst possible time. It's great, if you're in the mood, but my first viewing was clouded by Leslie Nielsen syndrome. (ie If you've only seen the actor do goofy comedy, all the straight roles have the burden of you waiting for the gag)
Robin Wiliams is a good example, from playing a comedic DJ in "Good Morning, Vietnam" and a nanny in "Mrs. Doubtfire", to the disturbed psycho in "One Hour Photo".
Ralph Fiennes. He can go from absolute evil Amon Goeth in Schindlers List and Voldemort in Harry Potter to In Bruges, Grand Budapest Hotel and Hail Caesar.
Thanks for mentioning Blue Collar, I've worked in a factory for over twenty years and there are still similarities today. A brilliant, overlooked film.
Robin Williams: Insomnia, and One Hour Photo. Out of the two, honestly, Insomnia is more chilling to me. It took me almost a year to see Williams as himself after that performance.
Mark, Billy Connolly in The Debt, Takeshi Kitano in Hana Bi (his masterpiece) and Jerry Lewis, Lee Evans and Freddie Davis - all magnificent in Funny Bones.....
Michael Keaton - started out in more comedy before doing a few more serious roles. Jerry Lewis - although the character he portrayed in King of Comedy was a comedian it was definitely a serious role and he did it well.
I know its from telly so Kermode can't comment, but I've always marvelled at the ability of Ronnie Barker and Paul Whitehouse to imbue a comedy program with real emotional weight with their performance. Wonderful actors.
Lisa Kudrow’s performance in The Opposite of Sex was terrific and totally unexpected. Lily Tomlin’s dramatic performances are just as good as her comedy roles; her guest star part in Homocide, Life on the Streets was excellent. And so was Robin Williams in his Homocide episode.
There are loads of comedians who have ended up playing straight tv roles: Charlie Higson, Lenny Henry, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Robbie Coltraine, to name just a few from the last few months.
Don Rickles in “The Man with X-Ray Eyes”. Plays a really unnerving and creepy huckster who threatens to expose Ray Milland. You wouldn’t guess he made a living out of being a wisecracking comic
Adam Sandler was never funny, but Uncut Gems was breathtaking, and his performance deserved a nomination I don't believe it received. Edit: also, Chris Rock is about to play a mob boss in the "Fargo" TV series - it's black comedy but he's in quite a serious role. Not to mention he's also going to be in the next SAW movie playing a detective.
Would Reece Shearsmith (in A Field in England, High-Rise etc.) count? I know his comedy is very dark, but he has probably done more comedy than 'serious' films.
Bit of an odd choice for me, but I would select Kurt Russel in guardians of the galaxy vol. 2, just for the sheer evil the thing he plays is. "Ego" as he's known, not only killed the main characters mother, but killed possibly thousands of other creatures just to find someone with his correct gene to prolong his existence. I remember feeling so shocked in the cinema when this was revealed. What an amazing role reversal for an otherwise comedic/Action oriented actor.
Tomas Alfredsson (Tinker tailor..., Let the right one in) is known in Sweden to be (at least, I'm not sure) closely linked to one of the most famous comedic collectives from Sweden, Killingänget. He has directed a few very black comedies in which you see some of the most famous Swedish comedians in roles that both are very funny, but also enormously tragic. I don't know how well these films translates to audiences outside of Sweden, but at least try check out "Torsk på Tallin".
A bit late to the discussion, but what about Bill Murray in Cradle Will Rock? Really nailed the film down, and was the first time I realised he was more than a comic turn.
Yeah, but by that time, he had already had a steady balance of serious and comedic films. He did Days of Wine and Roses in 1962 (directed by Blake Edwards!), a super-serious film about an alcoholic couple; and he was an Academy Award for Save The Tiger, a 1973 film about a businessman at the end of his rope.
Jerry Lee Lewis in The Day The Clown Cried, Unreleased ill fated concentration camp set tale in which Lewis played a clown who would lure children into the gas chambers... Yes that's how bad it was....
Don Rickles in “The Man with X-Ray Eyes”. Plays a really unnerving and creepy huckster who threatens to expose Ray Milland. You wouldn’t guess he made a living out of being a wisecracking comic
Jerry Lewis in The King of Comedy. "Anyone ever tell you you're a moron?" It's De Niro who plays the funny man, but Lewis is completely straight.
Robin William in one hour photo
Williams*
Actually one of Williams' first roles was in 'The World According to Garp' which was a tour de force that vacillated between the comic and the tragic. He was amazing in it and I don't think he ever topped it.
Agreed. I'm not sure how Kermode managed to get through the video without mentioning him. Yes, arguably he did more than one (like a few mentioned in the video). He was a comedic legend who was equally capable in straight roles.
Seize The Day is brilliant. It came out just before the Good Morning Vietnam revival so it's also Williams at a career low going for broke by being totally serious. It's about a man having the worst possible day at the worst possible time. It's great, if you're in the mood, but my first viewing was clouded by Leslie Nielsen syndrome. (ie If you've only seen the actor do goofy comedy, all the straight roles have the burden of you waiting for the gag)
Insomnia too
Marlon Wayans in Requiem for a Dream.
Kathy Burke in Nil by Mouth. She's a brilliant comedic and dramatic actress.
What about Bryan Cranston, who starred as the goofy dad in 'Malcolm In the Middle' before playing Walter White in 'Breaking Bad'
I wish he'd go back to being a goofy dad, cos now everyone wants him to do "serious" roles.. not even characters, just growling and looking angry.
Robin Wiliams is a good example,
from playing a comedic DJ in "Good Morning, Vietnam" and a nanny in "Mrs. Doubtfire", to the disturbed psycho in "One Hour Photo".
Albert Brooks in Drive
Nathan Parsons He was in Taxi Driver to correct me if im wrong.
How could I have forgotten about Michael Palin in Brazil? That one was brilliant.
It's not a big role, but it takes me aback every time: Leonard Rossiter in "2001: A Space Odyssey".
Ralph Fiennes. He can go from absolute evil Amon Goeth in Schindlers List and Voldemort in Harry Potter to In Bruges, Grand Budapest Hotel and Hail Caesar.
Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers. He was a sitcom actor less than a year earlier.
Thanks for mentioning Blue Collar, I've worked in a factory for over twenty years and there are still similarities today. A brilliant, overlooked film.
Steve carrel in Foxcatcher
You obviously never saw him when he was on The Daily Show
Monique's performance in Precious was indeed outstanding. Makes me want to watch the movie again.
Both Dylan Moran and Chris O' Dowd in Calvary
Robin Williams: Insomnia, and One Hour Photo. Out of the two, honestly, Insomnia is more chilling to me. It took me almost a year to see Williams as himself after that performance.
Mark, Billy Connolly in The Debt, Takeshi Kitano in Hana Bi (his masterpiece) and Jerry Lewis, Lee Evans and Freddie Davis - all magnificent in Funny Bones.....
Robin Williams was great playing the baddie in Insomnia and One Hour Photo.
Also, Jim Carrey in The Number 23.
Also, Williams in Awakenings.
charlie brookers direction of black mirror is a fantastic example, also adam sandler in reign over me is often underlooked
Rodney Dangerfield in Natural Born Killers
What about Tom Hanks? People tend to forget that his earliest films are pretty much all comedies
I was expecting the creature to be doing the silly walk in Ken's Frankenstein when I heard that John Cleese was in it!
*Makes a mental note to watch/rewatch every film on this list...
Michael Keaton - started out in more comedy before doing a few more serious roles.
Jerry Lewis - although the character he portrayed in King of Comedy was a comedian it was definitely a serious role and he did it well.
Don Rickels in Casino.
It's an oldie, but I'm surprised there's no mention of Andy Griffith in "A Face In The Crowd."
Steve Guttenberg in Boys from Brazil and The Bedroom Window. Tom Hanks in Philadelphia.
David Schwimmer in Band of Brothers is one of my favourite role reversals
Schwimmer was also good as Robert Kardashian in The People vs OJ Simpson.
John Candy -> JFK
John Cleese -> Silverado
Kathy Burke in Nil by Mouth.
holy f**k!
Andrew Dice Clay in Blue Jasmine
Surprised no one mentioned my pick for the best supporting performance of 2011, Albert Brooks as the razor-wielding gangster in DRIVE.
Robin Williams One hour photo
Lee Evans in Funny Bones
Robin Williams in One Hour Photo? (though he did have good form with other serious roles)
Wasn't a film but Norman Wisdom's performance in the TV play "Going Gently" was highly respected.
Simon McFee I cried buckets when that was over...
John C Reilly in We need to talk about Kevin, Robin Williams in Insomnia and recently David Johns in I, Daniel Blake
I know its from telly so Kermode can't comment, but I've always marvelled at the ability of Ronnie Barker and Paul Whitehouse to imbue a comedy program with real emotional weight with their performance. Wonderful actors.
The most serious thing I saw Paul Whitehouse in was Death of Stalin.
From 2018, John Krawinski in A Quiet Place.
Lee Evans in Freeze Frame.
What about Jack Lemmon in Glengarry or 12 Angry Men?
I love that film, but it feels very melodramatic compared to some of his other roles.
Or Missing, my favourite of his roles.
What about Reece Shearsmith in A Field in England?
Or Widower or High Rise. Even tho his comedy is dark he usually has goofy, floppy-haired quality to him + it's surprising he can be so good at drama.
Or when he played the killer in The Widower miniseries if you wanna go dead serious.
Bill Murray in Mad Dog and Glory
Steve Carell, the Foxcatcher
John Candy in JFK
W.P. Blatty was mostly known for comedy writing.
What about Steve Carrell in Foxcatcher?
Steve Marsh, of 'Big Cook Little Cook' fame, as the horrendous Zac in 'Looking For Eric'.
While I don't find either of them funny, I love Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love and Marlon Wayans in Requiem for a Dream
Eric Bana was comedian?
Was Sergi Lopez in Dirty Pretty Things? As the hotel manager?
Lisa Kudrow’s performance in The Opposite of Sex was terrific and totally unexpected. Lily Tomlin’s dramatic performances are just as good as her comedy roles; her guest star part in Homocide, Life on the Streets was excellent. And so was Robin Williams in his Homocide episode.
There are loads of comedians who have ended up playing straight tv roles: Charlie Higson, Lenny Henry, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Robbie Coltraine, to name just a few from the last few months.
Don Rickles in “The Man with X-Ray Eyes”. Plays a really unnerving and creepy huckster who threatens to expose Ray Milland. You wouldn’t guess he made a living out of being a wisecracking comic
Omar Sy in Intouchables is what comes straight to my mind.
What about Will Ferell in Stranger Than Fiction or Steve Carell in Foxcatcher?
Adam Sandler was never funny, but Uncut Gems was breathtaking, and his performance deserved a nomination I don't believe it received.
Edit: also, Chris Rock is about to play a mob boss in the "Fargo" TV series - it's black comedy but he's in quite a serious role. Not to mention he's also going to be in the next SAW movie playing a detective.
LOL @ "Adam Sandler was never funny...."
Would Reece Shearsmith (in A Field in England, High-Rise etc.) count? I know his comedy is very dark, but he has probably done more comedy than 'serious' films.
John Cleese in *Silverado*.
Leslie Nielsen in Creepshow
Wasn't John Bishop in Route Irish?
Insomnia Robin Williams
Didnt Robin Williams have some serious roles over the years as well?
Surprised Robin Williams doesn't get a mention. I think of One Hour Photo as a great example.
Sorry Mark did you say Shopgirl is superb? You hated it as much as I did when it came out.
No one suggested Steve Carrell in Foxcatcher?
Very good shout. That was a very serious film and a serious performance from Carrell.
That was in his original vlog.
Aha, fair enough. I didn't see the original vlog
Bit of an odd choice for me, but I would select Kurt Russel in guardians of the galaxy vol. 2, just for the sheer evil the thing he plays is. "Ego" as he's known, not only killed the main characters mother, but killed possibly thousands of other creatures just to find someone with his correct gene to prolong his existence. I remember feeling so shocked in the cinema when this was revealed. What an amazing role reversal for an otherwise comedic/Action oriented actor.
Billy Connolly in The Debt Collector.
How did he not mention Robin Williams in One Hour Photo? Also Buster Keaton in Sunset Boulevard and Richard Pryor in David Lynch's Lost Highway
Fun clip, thanks. Sorry if this is mentioned further down but... Jack Lemmon in 'Days of Wine and Roses' ... come on...
Adam Sandler - Punch Drunk Love. Can't stand Sandler, but surprised this was missed from the list.
wiseguy100 also in Reign Over Me. He was really good in that movie.
Which are your perfect movies which would be sacrilege if they was to be remade.
Tomas Alfredsson (Tinker tailor..., Let the right one in) is known in Sweden to be (at least, I'm not sure) closely linked to one of the most famous comedic collectives from Sweden, Killingänget. He has directed a few very black comedies in which you see some of the most famous Swedish comedians in roles that both are very funny, but also enormously tragic. I don't know how well these films translates to audiences outside of Sweden, but at least try check out "Torsk på Tallin".
A bit late to the discussion, but what about Bill Murray in Cradle Will Rock? Really nailed the film down, and was the first time I realised he was more than a comic turn.
Robin Williams in insomnia
Robin Williams in 'One Hour Photo'
What about Freddie Starr in British thriller The Squeeze (1977).
Sergi Lopez was playing nasty roles well before Pan's Labyrinth - e.g. in Harry, he's here to help from the year 2000.
Leslie Nielsen in George A. Romero's "Creepshow"
Kermit the frog as Bob Cratchit :-D
Jackie Gleason in "Requiem for a Heavyweight"
Leslie neilson in Creepshow. Pretty tongue-in-cheek but still very creepy.
Karl Karlos good point, but he's still best known for comedy
If anything, Leslie Nielsen in Airplane. That was the start of the comedic career as we knew it. He still did have a serious role here and there.
Yeah, unless you count some of the unintentionally funny parts of his Commander Cain from Battlestar Galactica (TOS)
Neilson actually started out as a serious actor, so it doesn't really count
How did One Hour Photo not get mentioned?
Coluche in Tchao Pantin (so long stooge) for french films fans
Jack Lemmon in Glengarry Glen Ross .
Yeah, but by that time, he had already had a steady balance of serious and comedic films. He did Days of Wine and Roses in 1962 (directed by Blake Edwards!), a super-serious film about an alcoholic couple; and he was an Academy Award for Save The Tiger, a 1973 film about a businessman at the end of his rope.
Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting
Albert Brooks in Drive.
Michael Keaton, Pacific Heights
Lots of comedians can do straight, fewer straight actors can do comedy.
Norman wisdom in the night they raided minsky's
Dead presidents is a fantastic film.
Everyone mentioning Robin Williams in One Hour Photo but what about Insomnia?
Albert Brookes in Drive
Robin Williams awakenings
Lily Tomlin in Nashville.
Jerry Lee Lewis in The Day The Clown Cried, Unreleased ill fated concentration camp set tale in which Lewis played a clown who would lure children into the gas chambers... Yes that's how bad it was....
What, no joe pesci?
Wait... chaplin was a comedian?
Will Ferrel in Everything Must Go & Rodney Dangerfield in
Natural Born Killers
Don Rickles in “The Man with X-Ray Eyes”. Plays a really unnerving and creepy huckster who threatens to expose Ray Milland. You wouldn’t guess he made a living out of being a wisecracking comic
And Casino!