20 comedic actors who are also great in dramatic roles

Steve Carell wasn’t just great as Michael Scott in The Office. Yes, he’s one of the finest comedic actors in all of Hollywood, but he’s also a superb actor in dramatic roles. Carell earned an Oscar nomination for his work in the biopic Foxcatcher. 

Emma Stone is rightfully known for now having two Oscars to her name, but some of her best early roles were in comedy, like Superbad, The House Bunny, and Easy A. And we’ve all seen her on SNL. She’s hilarious. But she’s also clearly an insanely talented actress in every film genre.  

Robin Williams is largely responsible for ushering in a new wave of modern comedic actors who can also take on dramatic roles. He didn’t earn his Oscar (and his three nominations prior) for delivering a great stand-up routine. 

Sandra Bullock has always gone back and forth between comedic and dramatic roles. She’s one of Hollywood’s top rom-com queens from her era, but she’s proven time and again that she’s got range. Look to her Oscar win for proof.  

Will Smith has done so much dramatic acting in his life that it’s sometimes hard to remember his roots are in comedic acting. He rose to fame as an actor through his work in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and he used his time on the show to hone his skills enough to later earn an Oscar.

Melissa McCarthy is so funny it’s almost a curse. Her humor sometimes overshadows her talent as a dramatic actress. But McCarthy is a fantastic dramatic actress. She’s been nominated for two Oscars, and we all know the Academy doesn’t hand out acting nominations for comedic performances.

Jamie Foxx has roots in comedy, too. He began his career in stand-up comedy and eventually transitioned to sitcoms, landing his own eponymous TV comedy. Then he went and earned two Oscar nominations in the same year, winning for his work as Ray Charles in the musician’s biopic. 

Anna Kendrick’s most popular roles are in comedies, but her best roles are in dramas. There’s a reason Kendrick has Oscar, Emmy, and Tony nominations under her belt. 

Eddie Murphy is one of the few Saturday Night Live stars who went on to be nominated for an Oscar. Murphy will always be known for being able to make anyone laugh, but he’s also fantastic in a dramatic role. 

Kathryn Hahn is absolutely hilarious, but she deserves flowers for her dramatic work, too. Hahn might be most successful in a dramedy role, where she can float effortlessly between making audiences laugh and cry. 

If you haven’t watched Uncut Gems, you need to. It’s all the proof required that Adam Sandler can do drama. He still imbued some of his signature Sandler humor into the role, but he did it quite well. 

Aubrey Plaza’s dry affectation makes her the perfect actress to take on both comedic and dramatic roles. While most of her notable work has been in straight comedy, she was critically acclaimed for her role in the second season of The White Lotus. 

Jason Sudeikis has ventured outside comedy plenty of times but hasn’t gotten the credit he deserves. If you’re worried it won’t be worth your time, watch Ted Lasso. Sudeikis was just as effective in the funny moments as he was in the serious ones. 

Jane Krakowski can do anything. Give that woman a script and she’ll know what to do. Krakowski’s best work has been in both comedy and drama. She’s just as good in sitcoms as she is in dramas, especially on stage. 

Woody Harrelson is just a good actor. He added major flavor to one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and he’s been nominated for three Oscars. The man has range. 

Ryan Murphy loves an actor who can do comedy and drama, which is why he’s tapped Niecy Nash for so many of his projects. She can do comedy, she can do dramedy, and she can do drama. 

Owen Wilson doesn’t get enough recognition for how talented and diverse he is as an actor. His comedic work is among the best in Hollywood, but he’s also good for a dramatic role. He’s especially good when the two genres get to cross paths. 

When it’s all said and done, Rashida Jones’ most memorable performance might be her work in Parks and Recreation, but she’s handled plenty of dramatic roles with grace and authenticity. Though small, her role in The Social Network is a great example of Jones’ dramatic chops. 

Jim Carrey is almost too naturally funny because it can be hard to take him seriously. But he’s a very talented actor who’s proven he’s capable of dramatic roles, too. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is proof. 

Megan Mullally is just fantastic. She doesn’t do much drama, but when she does, she nails it. She showed some of her range through her work in The Righteous Gemstones. While the show itself has a lot of humor, her role wasn’t particularly funny. But Mullally was perfect.