Audiences will forgive the movie stars they love for almost anything. But play against, type and things can get ugly, especially when it’s a comic trying a serious role.
Bill Murray began his booming film career in hit comedies including “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters,” and it was years before audiences accepted him in a drama. “The Razor’s Edge” was a flop, and “Mad Dog and Glory,” in which he co-starred with Robert DeNiro, was barely seen. It wasn’t until the mid-’90s when Murray took supporting roles in “Ed Wood,” “Wild Things” and “Rushmore” that he found acceptance on the serious side.
If winning an Oscar is what Murray desires, he was wise to try dramas. Tom Hanks and Robin Williams didn’t win for comedies, and the only Oscars won for comedic roles in the last 25 years were all won by actors who are not known as comedians.
John Gielgud and Kevin Kline won best supporting actor for “Arthur” and “A Fish Called Wanda,” respectively. Marisa Tomei, Mira Sorvino, Olympia Dukakis and Dianne Wiest won best supporting actress for “My Cousin Vinny,” “Mighty Aphrodite,” “Moonstruck” and “Bullets over Broadway,” respectively.
But even those awards illustrate how little respect the Academy has for comedic roles. The only actor to win for a lead role in a comedy since 1980 was Cher, who won for “Moonstruck.”
For Jamie Foxx, who went from sitcom star to Oscar-nominated serious actor for his lead role in “Ray,” the right role to propel his breakthrough has come much earlier than it did for Hanks or Williams. Here’s a list of several actors who have successfully made the jump from comedian to drama king or queen.
Robin Williams
Made name as: Mork in “Mork and Mindy.”
First step toward drama cred: Quirky writer in “The World According to Garp.”
Best serious role: Psychologist in “Good Will Hunting.”
Biggest departure: Homicidal maniac in “Insomnia.”
Oscar history: Four nominations. Won best supporting actor for “Good Will Hunting.”
Will Smith
Made name as: Will Smith in “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
First step toward drama cred: Gay con man in “Six Degrees of Separation.”
Best serious role: Muhammad Ali in “Ali.”
Biggest departure: “Six Degrees of Separation.”
Oscar history: Best actor nomination for “Ali.”
Sally Field
Made name as: Star of 1960s sitcoms
“Gidget” and “The Flying Nun.”
First step toward drama cred: TV movie “Sybil.”
Best serious role: Norma in “Norma Rae.”
Biggest departure: Comic in “Punchline.”
Oscar history: Two nominations. Won best actress for “Norma Rae” and “Places in the Heart.”
Jim Carrey
Made name as: “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.”
First step toward drama cred: Reality-show star in “The Truman Show.”
Best serious role: Jilted boyfriend in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
Biggest departure: Average Joe in “The Majestic.”
Oscar history: Never nominated.
Tom Hanks
Made name as: Cross-dresser in “Bosom Buddies.”
First step toward drama cred: Fallen stock broker in “The Bonfire of the Vanities.”
Best serious role: Forrest in “Forrest Gump.”
Biggest departure: Gay lawyer in “Philadelphia.”
Oscar history: Five nominations for best actor. Won back to back for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump.”
Bill Murray
Made name as: “Saturday Night Live” cast member.
First step toward drama cred: World War I soldier in “Razor’s Edge.”
Best serious role: Aging actor in “Lost in Translation.”
Biggest departure: Polonius in “Hamlet.”
Oscar history: Best actor nomination for “Lost in Translation.”
Steve Martin
Made name as: Stand-up comedian with “Wild and Crazy Guy” act.
First step toward drama cred: Salesman in the musical “Pennies from Heaven.”
Best serious role: Downtrodden traveler in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”
Biggest departure: Con man in “The Spanish Prisoner.”
Oscar history: Never nominated. Two-time host.
Chris Rock
Made name as: “Saturday Night Live” cast member.
First step toward drama cred: Addict in “New Jack City.”
Best serious role: Hit man in “Nurse Betty.”
Biggest departure: Playing opposite Anthony Hopkins in “Bad Company.”
Oscar history: Never nominated. Host in 2005.
Janeane Garofalo
Made name as: Paula in “The Larry Sanders Show.”
First step toward drama cred: Twentysomething in “Reality Bites.”
Best serious role: “Wonderland” murder victim.
Biggest departure: Deputy in “Cop Land.”
Oscar history: Never nominated.
Michael Keaton
Made name as: Goofball Bill Blazejowski in “Night Shift.”
First step toward drama cred: Drug addict in “Clean and Sober.”
Best serious role: Editor in “The Paper.”
Biggest departure: Psychopathic tenant in “Pacific Heights.”
Oscar history: Never nominated.
Whoopi Goldberg
Made name as: Stand-up comedian.
First step toward drama cred: Celie in “The Color Purple.”
Best serious role: Psychic in “Ghost”
Biggest departure: Ray Liotta’s love interest in “Corrina, Corrina.”
Oscar history: Two nominations. Won best supporting actress for “Ghost.” Four-time host.
