The best serious performances by comedy actors are showcases of their acting ranges where famous comedians demonstrate their talent for heavier performances. Some of these performances are so memorable that they’ve become iconic, defining moments in the careers of these comedians. Acting against the type always grabs the audience’s attention, because they’re pleasantly surprised by the exhibition of unprecedented skill.
Hence, every movie that proves actors can do something different from their most famous roles is often the most popular and famous film in their filmography. Range is one of the most appreciated attributes in actors’ arsenals, since the versatility of an actor not only makes them more dependable, but also brings with it the promise of memorable, quality performances.
Actors who seamlessly go from comedy to drama are among the most billable performers in the industry. Not only can you rely on them for various kinds of roles, but they’re also ideal for films that tonally shift between two genres, like comedy and action. The existence of the action-comedy genre is proof that more action stars should do comedy.
Angelina Jolie
The face that many still ᴀssociate with Lara Croft, Angelina Jolie, despite her versatility, will forever be ᴀssociated with the action genre, for being one of the few actresses to consistently do action roles in the early 2000s, when the trend of action being a male-dominated genre was only slowly shifting. She’s among the best action stars of her generation.
Among her best action movies is Mr. & Mrs. Smith, where she and Brad Pitt play secret agents in a marriage. The set pieces, typical of any Jolie movie, obviously demonstrate her prowess as an action star. They also demonstrate her comic timing as her character’s dry wit and physical gags prove that she can handle the demands of comedy.
Jason Statham
Jason Statham may be an action star, but he’s equally linked to comedy because of the hilarity of some of his films, which are often otherwise serious. Jason Statham’s profession movies, a genre that he invented with an unexpectedly consistent trend, often feature moments of unintentional comedy because of his larger-than-life persona and over-the-top one-liners that are perfect for memes.
However, Paul Feig’s Spy stands out in his filmography as one of his best films, and features an unabashedly comedic role by him, which parodies the kind of character he’s built a reputation for portraying. He talks up a big game, but consistently falters. Statham’s seamless portrayal of the character’s self-serious goofiness is proof that he’d be great in comedy.
Michelle Yeoh
She’s been shining in action-heavy roles since the ’80s, and has been in martial arts movies that everyone should see, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which is one of the greatest wuxia films ever made, and gives her the grandest of stages imaginable to showcase her incredible martial arts skills. The action genre is inextricably linked to her star persona.
Michelle Yeoh won the Best Actress Academy Award for her layered performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once, which blends elements of comedy, drama, and action.
Among her recent films, Everything Everywhere All At Once is an action-comedy where her performance leans into the whimsy created by the body humor in the film. Before that, she starred in Crazy Rich Asians, which let her showcase her talents as a comedic performer with its hilarious, melodramatic moments. As a comedy-drama, it proves she’s ideal for comedy too.
Dave Bautista
Among Dave Bautista’s best action movies are the three Guardians of the Galaxy films, where he plays Drax the Destroyer, the comic relief character known for initially struggling to understand the nuances of human communication, especially jokes, and then regularly taking hilarious digs at his teammates and his enemies. So, the comedy genre is already heavily ᴀssociated with Dave Bautista.
Recent films like The Killer’s Game, the second My Spy movie, and Afterburn also rely on Bautista’s comic timing alongside his prowess as an action star, but his performance in 2022’s Glᴀss Onion almost exclusively leans into the former, proving his comedic presence should be put at the forefront in more of his films, and he should do out-and-out comedies.
Ana de Armas
While she got her start in romantic, dramatic, and crime movies, Ana de Armas has become ᴀssociated with the action genre ever since her role as a Bond girl in No Time to Die. So, while salacious roles are still considered her forte, with the latest John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, she’s secured her legacy as an action star, as well.
Her performance in Ballerina stands out for leaning into the natural hilarity of some of the situations her character gets into. Moreover, Knives Out, albeit sinister at times, is a comedic mystery film, where Ana’s performance again leans into the unexpected comedy in her largely dramatic role. Those who remember War Dogs also know how suitable she is for comedy.
Keanu Reeves
The action genre wouldn’t be what it is today without Keanu Reeves. The тιтular protagonist of the John Wick franchise is a movie character who helped reshape genre expectations with his grounded action choreography, stylish but realistic setpieces, and clear, sharp, easy-to-follow cinematography, which disposes of the shaky cam style of cinematography common in action films that came before it.
One of his most iconic non-action roles, despite his frequent appearances in dramas, is in Always Be My Maybe. He hilariously walks into the room in slow motion in the dinner scene, then furiously kisses Ali Wong’s character, and later cries while listening to Joji and drinking wine, creating a meme that makes us wish he did more such roles.
Charlize Theron
Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde are both action movies that far exceeded all expectations, and part of their charm lies in watching Charlize Theron in what’s become her element as an action star today. Bombshell and Monster, both of which earned her Oscar nominations, also showcase her dramatic talents, but she’ll forever be ᴀssociated with the action genre.
Her minor role in That Thing You Do! from her earliest days as an actress already demonstrates her comedic talents, but later movies like Tully and Long SH๏τ, both of which remain underrated, also showcase her comic timing. The memorable awkwardness of her hilarious performance in Young Adult is further proof that we deserve more comedy movies starring Charlize Theron.
Liam Neeson
Ducard/Ra’s al Ghul from Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Qui-Gon Jinn from Star Wars, and Bryan Mills from the Taken franchise – viewers may disagree about Liam Neeson’s best action role, but none can deny his prominence in the industry as an action star. Liam Neeson’s legacy as an actor has become permanently linked to his famous and iconic action movie characters.
However, the glowing reviews of The Naked Gun‘s legacy sequel, where he plays the son of Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin, proves that Neeson is also in his element when leaning into the whimsical and silly nature of such a pure comedy movie. While the actor doesn’t expect sequels, we hope he’ll entertain us with similar comedic performances in the future.
Michelle Rodriguez
The Fast and Furious movies and the Resident Evil movies have permanently secured Michelle Rodriguez’s legacy as an action star, as her characters are constantly involved in high-stakes, intense action sequences with unbelievable stunts and immersive fight scenes. Her debut role in Girl Fight might also involve action, but it demonstrates that she is a great dramatic actress as well.
Rodriguez latest role was in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a fantasy movie with some of the best action scenes in the genre, which also heavily leans into the whimsical nature of D&D as a TTRPG, allowing the actress to demonstrate her comic timing and her comfort with comedic roles. She can elevate funny roles with her ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan delivery.
Tom Cruise
When Tom Cruise runs, the world watches in awe. Known for regularly risking his life to push the boundaries of real-life action filmmaking that uses minimal CGI and relies on creating unbelievable but authentic action spectacles for audiences, he’s arguably the biggest action star of all time, whose reputation for action overshadows his equally brilliant skills as a dramatic actor.
His pre-2000s persona was more balanced, but the hilariously over-the-top motivational speaker he plays in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia is still underrated. However, his turn as the short-tempered and profane film producer in Tropic Thunder made everyone take stock of Cruise’s shockingly good comedy skills. The shouting, swearing, and dancing suits him as much as climbing the Burj Khalifa does.
