What's your favorite comedic performance by a serious actor?

Tom Cruise as Les Grossman is one of my favorite surprise turns in all of cinema. I wish he would do more roles like that because he absolutely killed it.

For those of us old enough to have seen Airplane when it first came out, these actors in these roles bring back the shock of that old movie. Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, and Peter Graves had all been dramatic actors in serious roles before then. Seeing them act silly made that movie wonderfully kookie. Leslie Nielsen is known to new generations as a comedic actor, but it started with Airplane.

The Dude is the most chilled out film character of all time.

Leslie Nielson deserves number 1# spot. He really knows how to deliver every silly sentence in a serious way which is for me even funnier in his movies.

Death Becomes Her was one of my late sister's _favorite_ movies. It really is underappreciated.

My favorite serious actor in a comedy role? No contest. The late, amazing, Alan Rickman as Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest!

I really love Sharon Stone in The Muse, Sigourney Weaver in Heartbreakers, Winona Ryder in Mr. Deeds, Jodie Foster in Carnage and Nim's Island, Michelle Pfeiffer in The Family, Glenn close in 101 Dalmatians

Ryan Gosling - The Nice Guys

Jason Statham was hilarious in Spy. I hope to see him take more comedic roles.

It would be good to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger after giving us a very serious performance in "Conan the Barbarian" (1982), "Conan the Destroyer" and "The Terminator" (1984), "Red Sonja" and "Commando" (1985), etc he then started making comedies like "Twins" (1998) and "Kindergarten Cop" (1990).

Sitting in the theater, right at the end of Tropic Thunder, in the scene when Tom Cruise finally takes his glasses off, I realized at that moment who had been hiding under the glasses and bald cap the entire time and I seriously could not believe what I was seeing.

I would’ve added Alan Rickman or Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest.

This proves that just like comedians can play dramatic roles, drama/serious actors can play comedy roles

Just one note - George C Scott did “Patton” in 1970, while “Dr. Strangelove...” was done in 1964. Narrator said Scott filmed “Dr. Strangelove...” AFTER. “Patton”. Should of have said BEFORE. Hey love your content and keeping doing what you’re doing. Many THANKS!

Shocked RDJ wasn't on this list for Tropic Thunder. It's was a huge risk, but man was it done perfectly for what the role was.

This is actually a pretty great list! We'll done, WatchMojo! I have no issues with any on the list, and the Top 2 are just about as perfectly placed at the Top, as any List that WatchMojo has ever made. Sincerely love Leslie Nielsen! He was simply a genius! My parents took me and 4 of my friends to go see "The Naked Gun" when we were 12-13 years old... We laughed the ENTIRE MOVIE! I mean, full out, loud, often uncontrollable laughter! At the time, obviously we knew who Leslie Nielsen was mostly because of the Airplane movies, but this was different. HE was different. The Theater was almost at Full Capacity, and this was one of those experiences where the whole crowd was into it, together! Everyone was laughing for the entire movie! It was difficult to hear the lines sometimes. Anyway, I am just happy that Leslie Nielsen is still remembered, still revered, and is still being recognized by fans and peers alike.

3:59 Brad Pitt in once opon a time in Hollywood: I'm I a joke to you?

They left off Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times At Ridgemont High and Diane Keaton as Annie Hall in Annie Hall.

Ralph Feinnes was also hilarious in “in Bruges”

Please, Top 20 Serious Performances By Comedic Actress and Actors Thanks

1:17 Joaquín Phoenix 😍❤

Pitt in the closet is probably the hardest I laughed at such a gory death, before Deadpool of course. It was just the look he gave as the door opened

Tom Cruise in tropic thunder still kills me🤣🤣

Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading is really underrated 🤣🤣

An interesting fact about George C. Scott's hilarious performance in the film Dr Stangelove is that director Stanley Kubrick conned him into performing the character as absurdly funny. Scott initially refused to play the role comedically and wanted to do it straight and serious. Kubrick tricked him by proposing to film two performances-one straight and the other comedic-promising he would not use the comedic version in the final cut. Well, he lied and released the film with the comedic performance, much to Scott's chagrin. . Since the release of the film, Scott vowed to never work with Kubrick again, not even speaking once to the director right through Kubrick's death in 1999. Recently interviewed, when asked to comment on his role in the film, he admitted to realizing it was the best performance of his career.

This is an excellent list.

Tom Cruise was just too funny in Tropic Thunder and it was just funny that I didn't even recognize him at all.

Can you do a top 20 serious performances by comedic actors like: Robin Williams in The Fisher King, dead poets society and good will hunting John leguizamo in summer of Sam Albert Brooks in drive Tracy Ullman in household saints Roberto benigni in life is beautiful Dane cook in mr. Brooks Christopher guest in girlfriends Jim Carrey in the Truman show and eternal sunshine of the spotless mind Billy Crystal in mr. Saturday night Steve Carell in the way way back, foxcatcher and the big short Cloris leachman in the last picture show Adam Sandler in uncut gems, funny people and punch drunk love Patton Oswalt in big fan Ben Stiller in Greenberg Kristen wiig in welcome time me Jenny Slate in obvious child Lucille ball in lured Dan aykroyd in house of mirth Eddie Murphy in dreamgirls Maya Rudolph in away we go Chris tucker in silver linings playbook Sarah Silverman in i smile back Jamie Foxx in Ray Art Carney in Harry and tonto Peter sellers in being there Steve Martin in the Spanish prisoner Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhardt in the king of comedy Goldie hawn in Sugarland express lily Tomlin in Nashville Seth Rogen in Steve Jobs Melissa McCarthy in can you ever forgive me? Marlon wayons in requiem for a dream Steve Coogan in Philomena Jason segel in the end of the tour Bill Murray in lost in translation Will Ferrell in stranger than fiction Jack black in King Kong Mary Tyler Moore in ordinary people Richard Pryor in blue collar Whoopi Goldberg in color purple and bogus Jennifer Aniston in cake Tom Hanks and in anything

Ralph Fiennes was terrific in The Grand Budapest Hotel, one of my favorite perfomances of all time hands down

Haha, as someone who was born in 1987, i can't imagine Leslie Nielsen in a serious role. I grew up watching Airplane, Naked Gun series, Scary movie etc

“Hey careful man there’s a Beverage here’’ 😂😂😂😂

What about Twister with Philip Seymour Hoffman! Not a comedy film but he's definitely comedic relief!

Ralph Fiennes counts within this list. His performance as Monsieur Gustave H. in The Grand Budapest Hotel was comedic gold, even if he hasn't dabbled in comedies before.

Joaquin phoenix kinda looks like John Lennon with Those shades

I love when Actors become so famous that on top of doing what they do best, they arent afraid to make fun of themselves and "pull the stick out" and just go nuts.

Philip Seymore Hoffman was also AMAZING as Dusty in Twister! _"It's the suck zone."_

I am serious and don’t call me surely. Airplane is one of my top comedies of all time, it stands up.

For me it's Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Twister! Waaaay funnier!!!

I had a burst of laugher when DiCaprio said "I will not die sober" hahahaha. 17:49 Ooooh that was Tom Cruise?, I spent the movie waiting for him to show up, hahahaha.

Finally. An list interesting in a while

I was definitely surprised by The Wolf of Wall Street. I went in thinking it would be another J. Edgar type film and was delightfully surprised by how funny it was.

A couple here I have not as yet seen, but I will do so now! Thanks!

So, this appears to be movie only, but if you wanted to do one for Television actors: Andre Braugher from Homicide to Brooklyn 99: Holy crap

I would have loved, seeing Tim Roth in Four Rooms in this list. But maybe because he already played in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he was'nt even considered. But hey! What about Gary Oldman in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? 😅

I can’t believe Kevin Kline was so funny when he was also in Sophie’s Choice, which was the exact opposite of a comedy.

Where is Sylvester Stallone? I didn't much care for Stop or my Mom will shoot, but Oscar is still one of the best comedies ever.

Statham was hilarious in Spy.

George C. Scott directed by Kubrick. GREAT!

Les Grossman is the best I still rewatch tropic thunder just for him ahahaha

How is Lloyd Bridges not on the list for “Hot Shots”?

I saw Leslie Nielsen first in his comedic roles. It was a shock for me to then see his episode of MASH where he played a hard-assed Colonel who was responsible for the deaths of many soldiers.

I’d also love to see if you haven’t done it a Top 10 Serious Performances From Comedic Actors

Omg... *Stardust* is one of my favorite movies!!

I love mojo bc they never run out of ideas 😂

Robert DeNiro did comedy a long time ago. One of his early movies is, The Gang Who couldn’t Shoot Straight. Its a spoof about the mafia.

Have you guys done Top 20 Comedians who played serious roles yet? Robin Williams would be on the top of my list.👍

I like how they make a top 20 list

I think Channing Tatum in 21 and 22 jump street should've been on here

John Malkovich- being john malkovich

My two cents... Peter Falk in The In-Laws and Alan Rickman in Galaxy Quest

What about Jack Nicholson in Batman or Jack Nicholson in anger management? the point is you forgot Jack Nicholson

Your forgetting that Brad Pitt was also on an episode of Friends and was hilarious

17# Why don't we go BACK to rewarding/nominating comedic roles? Best examples in recent years, Jesse Plemons- Game Night, Tiffany Haddish-Girlstrip, Ryan Reynolds-Deadpool, Melissa McCarthy- Bridesmaids, Jim Carrey-Sonic the Hedgehog, Gene Wilder- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Resse Witherspoon-Legally Blonde, Emma Stone- Easy A, Zack Galifianakis- The Hangover, Seth Rogen and James Franco- Pineapple Express, James Franco- The Disaster Artist, Will Ferrell- Anchorman

Here are some that aren't on the list that I can think of: Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets, Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty, Mark Wahlberg in Ted and Alan Rickman in Galaxy Quest.

For the next one you should do 20 serious performances from comedic actors👍💯

Always believed one of the best things about watching Dumb and Dumber was watching Jeff Daniels acting his ass off to come across as so idiotic while right next to him Jim Carrey was just "acting like his normal goofball self".

Hope everyone is staying safe and staying happy ❤️‼️

I love your voice

The first movie I saw Philip Seymour Hoffman in was Along Came Polly. He was so good in the role I just assumed he was a comedic actors, so I was surprised to see him in a serious role later on. Same for Joe Pesci. I couldn't believe him when I saw Goodfellas

I was thinking, no Leslie Nielson? and then boom! number 1!

Bad Santa is one of my favorite movies of all time 💚

Colin Farrell is one of my favorite actors, along with Mark Wahlberg

Do a top 20 on comedic actors doing serious roles.

The Wolf of Wall Street is a timeless piece of art.

Is there any chance you could follow this up with a "Top 10 Comedic Moments in Dramatic Movies" list?

How about Meryl Streep's performance in "It's Complicated" and Scarlett Johansson in "Scoop" (a very under rated film).

For me, all of them. I just like when Serious actors play comedic role.

I was sure that Jason Statham & Tom Cruise will be in this list

Unfortunately, Kubrik apparently lied to George C. Scott to get the over-the-top comedic performance in the film. The director promised the actor he wouldn't use these "excessive" takes, and that they were only to establish a mood and benchmark.

Kevin Kline was in at least one other great comedy, In And Out, in which he portrayed an small town teacher desperately trying to hide his gayness. Absolutely hilarious.

Dr Strangelove was a few years before Patton not after. Both are great though...

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue...

How the hell is Christian Bale not in this!!?? Oh wait, this guy usually plays comedic characters, The Fighter, American Hustle, The Big Short, Vice... Seriously, one of the best out there.

👍...I approve of this list

I absolutely love Leonardo DiCaprio and I think his performance in the Wolf of Wall Street was amazing but it does NOT belong on a list of comedic performances. Just because a character occasionally says or does something funny or outrageous doesn't make the movie or performance a comedy.

Came here for Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys, and you snubbed him even from honorable mentions...

You should do a top 20 (or, hell, a top 50) videos with a billion views video soon

Inherent vice was amazing

You should make lists for the top comedic movies by serious directors, and vice versa with serious movies by comedic directors.

8:39 never gets old.

Statham did his thing in 'Snatch'

* Brings up Jason Statham and Brad Pitt in ’Spy’ and ’Burn After Reading’ but not in ’Snatch’ * Me : *visible confusion*

Joaquín Phoenix’s life IS a comedy 😂😂

"I will not die sober!" I felt that.

Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading should've been #1. Even tho his scenes are minimal, I swear I rewinded them so many times until I was crying. Tom Cruise would've been #2 for me.

George Clooney was hilarious in one of his earlier roles, "Return of the Killer Tomatoes"...a delightfully twisted B-horror-spoof. You'll never look at product placement the same way again.

Matt Damon in European Trip. Scotty doesn't know! Hilarious! 😛

Tom Cruise should and ISS FIRST... None of them have aged so well as that performance.

Casting Leslie Nielsen in Airplane was a fuckin Ace.