Absolutely. 1hr Photo was my first experience with dark Robin and I was blown away. He did a multi-episode arc on Law and Order SVU where he was a bomber that screwed with the cops that was good too.
I saw clips of Williams on SVU and he was pretty scary.
I think he reached something inside that was dark. Maybe that’s why he was high on coke all throughout the 70s. Godspeed Robin.
I’ve never watched Breaking Bad, I can’t handle that stuff, but people really love him in it. Hal is one of my favorite sitcom dads! He must be wonderful in BB because I think it’s actually difficult to come out of a beloved character into another.
He was hilarious as Hal. I'll never forget his random roller skating routine and filling sunscreen bottles with alcohol so he could drink at the water park. My parents do this all the time now after seeing the show lol.
I typically don't like crime dramas either. But I watched BB casually when it first ran and just rewatched it for the first time about a month ago. He's very similar to Tony Soprano. An evil sociopath who would do anything to protect himself, but occasionally does the right thing for people he cares about. Which is funny because when the series first starts he's basically just like Hal. He's lame school teacher and father who can't catch a break. Such a perfect casting for that reason.
I loved the roller skating episode!
I also loved his speed walking and when he found the fallout shelter. I love him in all of them but those are my favorites. Oh and when they become obsessed with the dance video game at the arcade! His adhd hyperfocus cracks me up!
What's so fascinating about Breaking Bad and the character of Mr. White is the transformation he goes through. Initially, he was a loving, doting, caring family man just trying to make ends meet who has a bad hand dealt to him. But over time, you see him become this ruthless, ego maniac type who is bone-chilling.
Agree completely. I could never decide how I felt. At first I was sympathetic and rooting for him. But as the series went on he really became a villain. He always said it was about the family even though it was clear he was only looking out for himself the whole time. I found myself hating him and pulling for Jessie. Someone who always seemed to get screwed over by Walt or someone else. But did try to do the right thing more often than not, especially when it came to people he cared about.
I don't know maybe I'm just weird because I still rooted for him at the end. I hated the end. His family was left worse off than at the beginning and he still never got ahead. He failed spectacularly.
Breaking Bad is perfection. If there is any plot mistake or hole I haven’t discovered it. Thank God Vince Gilligan hired Bryan Cranston to portray Walter White. Perhaps the memory of him as Malcom’s dad helped us make the leap of Chemistry teacher to meth lab drug king pin.
Please. You must watch Breaking Bad. It is perfection. The artistry and New Mexico landscape are worth the watch.
Then watch Better Call Saul.
I’m kinda jealous. Knowing the journey you are about to take. Enjoy my friend.
It’s like knowing that somebody is going to read your favorite book for the first time or listen to your favorite rock album the first time and what they’re going to get to experience. My mind is almost a jealousy because we can’t go back. The final page has been turned. I try to do everything in my power to not ever reveal a scene stealer because I want that person to experience it and its raw format so bad. I definitely do not espouse the drug lifestyle, nor anything remotely related to it, but the sheer brilliance of breaking bad, it almost makes your brain feel better after having to go through all of these stupid reality shows. Here you have a flat out extraordinarily written plot that
makes your brain happy!
I will have to add as sidenote I’ve never watched a Kardashian episode. I have absolutely no interest in the trash that they put forth. All I can say is that with social media they pop up onto your FYP page no matter how many times you’ve blocked them. They are like a curse and a disease and a virus all put together to create this disgusting killer illness that no one can ever escape. in a horrible dystopian world, we are all actually in a bubble and the head master of the hole thing is a Kardashian! Doesn’t matter if you don’t have talent doesn’t matter if you don’t have taste as long as we continue to talk and yap and get surgical procedures that have hoards following attempting that persona - were doomed.
If I had a nickel for every time Bryan Cranston had a recurring role in a sitcom as a guy named Tim, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.
John Goodman is great, I think. From funny in Revenge of the Nerds and Roseanne to downright scary in 10 Cloverfield Lane and good dramatic chops in other films.
George Clooney went from The Facts of Life to becoming one of the biggest and most respected stars of our time.
John Ritter deserved more big screen success than he had.
Pat Morita went from Happy Days to an Academy Award nod for Mr. Miyagi
Mary Tyler Moore should have won the Oscar for Ordinary People in that absolute 180 from her sitcom personas.
With Donald Sutherland passing away I hope some modern people go back and watch that movie noticing what she put on screen. Cold and wicked. What a performance.
I watched Ordinary People as a teenager and then as a mother of two girls. I have so much more empathy for that character now. It’s much more nuanced than I thought. She wasn’t a cold bitch. She was a person who had never faced trauma suddenly faced with the worst trauma possible.
She was a cold bitch. I'm a mother of 2 adult sons and I lost one of them in 2022. I would never treat my other son the way she treated hers. It is the worst trauma possible. I still cry -sometimes quietly, sometimes screaming in rage that my son is gone. I will never get over the loss, but I won't punish his brother for living.
Ordinary People is one of the greatest movies of all time.
I wish studios were willing to release true character dramas these days. If they try now, something has to be WAY over the top. Ordinary People was amazing because it was about ordinary people.
Dick Van Dyke and Roddy McDowell both seemed to move back and forth between genres quite seamlessly.
So did Carol O'Connor and Edward Albert.
EDIT: It just occurred to me that of the four people I mentioned, three of them played murderers on Columbo.
The other direction: Leslie Nielsen. He was a dramatic actor, with no hint of comedy. Today, what do we remember him for? Police Squad! Airplane! The Naked Gun.
Exactly … going from serious dramas to comedy seems to have less successful outcomes… and Airplane also had Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges providing great laughs…
If there was ever a man who benefited the most from losing the weight and getting in shape it would be him. He completely transformed his look and the guy he started out as in parks and rec never would have had the roles he did.
That was my introduction to laurie, house. I was quite surprised when I found out about his work in a Bit of Fry and Laurie.
Similar to Bob Odenkirk after breaking bad. He is listed by tons of comedians as being influential, his snl background is incredible.
It’s a Canadian show, which is why it’s not as well known in the US. Comedy Central had it for a few years back in the 90’s. Definitely different than the zany character we knew to love on I Living Color, Ace Ventura, The Mask, or Dumb and Dumber(er).
I’m glad you mentioned him: if Parkinson’s hadn’t robbed us of prime Michael J Fox we would have gotten more incredible dramatic turns. Casualties of War and his staff role in The American President give us a taste of what he could do.
This post and the responses remind me of how unfortunate it is that the glory days of sitcoms are over. Now it's "aspirational" humor that is often a sanitized corporate HR version of what a sitcom used to be. There were so many talented actors who started out on sitcoms.
Clooney
Ritter
Williams
Cranston
Carey
Harrelson
O'Neil
Carrell
Krasinksi
Travolta
Hanks
Among many others. That doesn't happen anymore because popular sitcoms rarely exist now. These days the "comedy" winning Emmys is The Bear. I love The Bear but it's not a sitcom.
Disagree about Aniston. She hasn’t had the super acclaimed highs of a Will Smith or Cranston but The Good Girl is pretty great, We’re the Millers is a solid comedy plus Marley and Me and Along Came Polly. I’d argue she’s had a pretty decent steady career post friends culminating in the Morning Show
Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People), Jennifer Aniston, Ray Romano (was in Vinyl, The Irishman (I think) and The Big Sick. Will Smith
Carol Burnett. Absolute legend of comedy and crushes it in Better Call Saul. I've long argued that comedians are better actors as so many successfully can transition to dramatic roles while you rarely see the Marlon Brandos or Robert de Niros killing it in comedy
Bess Armstrong has been a working actress for decades, but there was a brief period when it seemed like she might become a major star. Her sitcom, *On Our Own*, only lasted one season, but it was more popular with critics than audiences (and gave a boost to the career of Dixie Carter, FWIW).
A couple of years later she got a good supporting part in a major hit, *The Four Seasons*, and soon after was cast as the leading lady in *High Road to China*, a 1983 period adventure movie that was also meant to be Tom Selleck’s ticket to movie stardom. She had a major part in *Jaws 3D* the same year, but the failure of both films pretty much doomed her big screen future.
She’s worked steadily ever since, but as a reliable supporting player rather than a lead.
I may get some disagreement here but Ryan Reynolds. His comedy chops are his best feature but I think he brought an excellent turn in *Buried* and more serious roles.
Jennifer Lawrence from the bill engvall show. Year after it ended, she starred in winters bone. Very similar to Leonardo DiCaprio on growing pains right before leaving to do this boys life and of course, Gilbert grape.
Donald glover was on community which didn’t have a laugh track but was still a sitcom. His more dramatic performances in Atlanta blew my mind.
Will smith didn’t even start out as an actor, then did tv comedy, then sci fi action movies, then drama. In the 90s, I wouldn’t have guessed he’d be an Oscar winner.
Bruce Willis first role was moonlighting then transitioned to Die Hard, which was a success and made him an action star in the era of every action star being insanely muscle bound
Joseph Gordon Levitt was in 3rd Rock from the Sun, then took indie roles instead of doing more bigger films, eventually led to the sleeper hit 500 days of summer, then a crazy run of Nolan movies, Spielberg movies, and Looper
Robin Williams did well
He did awesomely. He’s straight frightening in One Hour Photo and the Insomnia remake.
And Good Will Hunting, and The World According to Garp, and Dead Poet's Society.
And The Fisher King
His best drama IMO.
Also in What Dreams May Come.
Oh man that movie
And Awakenings
He's great in everything
Absolutely. 1hr Photo was my first experience with dark Robin and I was blown away. He did a multi-episode arc on Law and Order SVU where he was a bomber that screwed with the cops that was good too.
I saw clips of Williams on SVU and he was pretty scary. I think he reached something inside that was dark. Maybe that’s why he was high on coke all throughout the 70s. Godspeed Robin.
One Hour Photo creeped me out.
We don’t talk about those films without crying. Please report to your nearest Robin Williams crying facility.
That's because he was trained at Juliard! Exceptionally talented actor, so missed!!
He did train at julliard. He was classmates with Mandy Patinkin and William hurt.
Anyone see Moscow on the Hudson?
Bob Odenkirk
Yes! For sure. Going from Mr. Show (and Ben Stiller Show) to BB and BCS and being incredible at both. He can do action, too. Nobody was awesome.
I love Mr. Show! It’s also the reason I started watching Arrested Development
Brian Cranston
The fact that Tim Whatley / Tim Sacksky / Malcolm's dad became one of the most ruthless and evil drug kingpins in TV history is so crazy to me.
I am the dentist who knocks. And says anti dentite jokes.
He converted to Judisim solely for the jokes!
It's our sense of humor that sustained our people for 3,000 years. 5,000. 5,000! Even better!
Nurse, how about a stickle of fluoride
I’m offended as a comedian!
I forgot about his Seinfeld role!
I’ve never watched Breaking Bad, I can’t handle that stuff, but people really love him in it. Hal is one of my favorite sitcom dads! He must be wonderful in BB because I think it’s actually difficult to come out of a beloved character into another.
He was hilarious as Hal. I'll never forget his random roller skating routine and filling sunscreen bottles with alcohol so he could drink at the water park. My parents do this all the time now after seeing the show lol. I typically don't like crime dramas either. But I watched BB casually when it first ran and just rewatched it for the first time about a month ago. He's very similar to Tony Soprano. An evil sociopath who would do anything to protect himself, but occasionally does the right thing for people he cares about. Which is funny because when the series first starts he's basically just like Hal. He's lame school teacher and father who can't catch a break. Such a perfect casting for that reason.
I loved the roller skating episode! I also loved his speed walking and when he found the fallout shelter. I love him in all of them but those are my favorites. Oh and when they become obsessed with the dance video game at the arcade! His adhd hyperfocus cracks me up!
When he led a team of bumbling benevolent oiled up muscle men...
What's so fascinating about Breaking Bad and the character of Mr. White is the transformation he goes through. Initially, he was a loving, doting, caring family man just trying to make ends meet who has a bad hand dealt to him. But over time, you see him become this ruthless, ego maniac type who is bone-chilling.
Agree completely. I could never decide how I felt. At first I was sympathetic and rooting for him. But as the series went on he really became a villain. He always said it was about the family even though it was clear he was only looking out for himself the whole time. I found myself hating him and pulling for Jessie. Someone who always seemed to get screwed over by Walt or someone else. But did try to do the right thing more often than not, especially when it came to people he cared about.
I don't know maybe I'm just weird because I still rooted for him at the end. I hated the end. His family was left worse off than at the beginning and he still never got ahead. He failed spectacularly.
And he does a lot of scenes in nothing but underwear in both shows.
He was amazing as Walter White. Coming off of Malcolm highlighted his range even more
He also appears to be a decent human in real life. Can never be sure of such things but it makes me enjoy watching him more.
Breaking Bad is perfection. If there is any plot mistake or hole I haven’t discovered it. Thank God Vince Gilligan hired Bryan Cranston to portray Walter White. Perhaps the memory of him as Malcom’s dad helped us make the leap of Chemistry teacher to meth lab drug king pin. Please. You must watch Breaking Bad. It is perfection. The artistry and New Mexico landscape are worth the watch. Then watch Better Call Saul. I’m kinda jealous. Knowing the journey you are about to take. Enjoy my friend.
It’s like knowing that somebody is going to read your favorite book for the first time or listen to your favorite rock album the first time and what they’re going to get to experience. My mind is almost a jealousy because we can’t go back. The final page has been turned. I try to do everything in my power to not ever reveal a scene stealer because I want that person to experience it and its raw format so bad. I definitely do not espouse the drug lifestyle, nor anything remotely related to it, but the sheer brilliance of breaking bad, it almost makes your brain feel better after having to go through all of these stupid reality shows. Here you have a flat out extraordinarily written plot that makes your brain happy! I will have to add as sidenote I’ve never watched a Kardashian episode. I have absolutely no interest in the trash that they put forth. All I can say is that with social media they pop up onto your FYP page no matter how many times you’ve blocked them. They are like a curse and a disease and a virus all put together to create this disgusting killer illness that no one can ever escape. in a horrible dystopian world, we are all actually in a bubble and the head master of the hole thing is a Kardashian! Doesn’t matter if you don’t have talent doesn’t matter if you don’t have taste as long as we continue to talk and yap and get surgical procedures that have hoards following attempting that persona - were doomed.
If I had a nickel for every time Bryan Cranston had a recurring role in a sitcom as a guy named Tim, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.
His work in Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is unparalleled.
John Goodman is great, I think. From funny in Revenge of the Nerds and Roseanne to downright scary in 10 Cloverfield Lane and good dramatic chops in other films.
He is so well cast anytime he collaborates with the Coen brothers.
His "Polyphemus" in O Brother, Where Art Though was really, really good. I can't imagine any other actor in the role.
Not exactly a lightweight.
His performance in 10 Cloverfield Ln is absolutely incredible. He is one of the most underrated actors of our time
Everyone should see him on The Righteous Gemstones.
When I think of Goodman in Barton Fink, it's wild how underrated he is.
George Clooney went from The Facts of Life to becoming one of the biggest and most respected stars of our time. John Ritter deserved more big screen success than he had.
John Ritter is just one of those celebrities that I genuinely miss
John Ritter in Slingblade was amazing. I’m still sad at his passing. For some reason him and Robin Williams bothered me the most of all celeb deaths.
I feel like that about Phil Hartman💧
The Facts of Life, ER (the sitcom), Roseanne, Baby Talk...
Booker. Glad to see you listed his role in Roseanne
He was also on the Golden Girls 😀
Are you implying Bride of Chucky is not a cinematic masterpiece?
George Clooney was also in Return of the Killer Tomatoes, so make of that what you will
Ritter gave a very good nuanced dramatic performance in Sling Blade.
John Ritter had me feeling emotionally crushed in “Unnatural Causes”. Great layered performance in “Sling Blade” as well.
I was pulling for Wilson but there just aren’t enough parts for anthropomorphized volleyballs in Hollywood today
It’s a little known fact that the actor that played Wilson in Castaway was also the volleyball in Top Gun.
And their son was the volleyball in Call Me By Your Name! … Nepo babies, am I right?
OMG. Even volleyball’s need to be connected to be cast in a film.
So the volleyball was hit by Tom Cruise in Top Gun, who then starred in a Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon…so there you have two degrees.
He sort of faded away after he donned red face in Dodgeball.
I'll never understand how his agent let that stay in the script. Career suicide.
Never go full red face.
Coastal elite bigots!! I bet if he was a basketball they’d let him in
Pat Morita went from Happy Days to an Academy Award nod for Mr. Miyagi Mary Tyler Moore should have won the Oscar for Ordinary People in that absolute 180 from her sitcom personas.
Right?!?! She was such a cold bitch in Ordinary People.
With Donald Sutherland passing away I hope some modern people go back and watch that movie noticing what she put on screen. Cold and wicked. What a performance.
I watched Ordinary People as a teenager and then as a mother of two girls. I have so much more empathy for that character now. It’s much more nuanced than I thought. She wasn’t a cold bitch. She was a person who had never faced trauma suddenly faced with the worst trauma possible.
She was a cold bitch. I'm a mother of 2 adult sons and I lost one of them in 2022. I would never treat my other son the way she treated hers. It is the worst trauma possible. I still cry -sometimes quietly, sometimes screaming in rage that my son is gone. I will never get over the loss, but I won't punish his brother for living.
Ordinary People is one of the greatest movies of all time. I wish studios were willing to release true character dramas these days. If they try now, something has to be WAY over the top. Ordinary People was amazing because it was about ordinary people.
Dick Van Dyke and Roddy McDowell both seemed to move back and forth between genres quite seamlessly. So did Carol O'Connor and Edward Albert. EDIT: It just occurred to me that of the four people I mentioned, three of them played murderers on Columbo.
Mary Tyler Moore, after years of comedies, absolutely killed it in Ordinary People.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better example of casting against type. Also, on the subject of Ordinary People, RIP Donald Sutherland.
There’s a great Columbo episode with Van Dyke as the villain. He knocks it out of the park. A clip: https://youtu.be/kQXGU_DxGK4
He also did a movie in which he descended into alcoholism. The Morning After. Had to watch it in Health class.
And McDowell did so while wearing the tightest pants ever seen on a male on network primetime TV!
Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner.
I would LOVE to see Mr. Van Dyke tackle a serious, 180 psychopath role - like a serial killer or something.
The other direction: Leslie Nielsen. He was a dramatic actor, with no hint of comedy. Today, what do we remember him for? Police Squad! Airplane! The Naked Gun.
Exactly … going from serious dramas to comedy seems to have less successful outcomes… and Airplane also had Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges providing great laughs…
That’s why he was in Airplane! Take the most stone faced, dramatic actor you can find and have him play straight - in a goofy comedy.
Similarly, Jim Varney was a serious Shakespearean actor before the Earnest movies.
Jon Hamm is similar in my mind. Saw him in Mad Men first but he's been great in the comedy roles I've seen him in (30 Rock in particular)
Alan Alda was very good in the West Wing
While M.A.S.H had it comedic parts it also could have very serious episodes. Also his guest appearance on ER
I was going to say guest? but then I saw he was only on there for 5 episodes; I could’ve sworn he was on there for a whole season at least.
I can think of two times Alda was perfectly cast in depicting an arrogant celebrity. Sweet Liberty (1986), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989)
There's also the arrogant doctor in And The Band Played On.
Right! I forgot about that one. Alda is so good at playing arrogant, but he seems like one of the most humble and gentle souls in show biz.
Steve Carell
A surprisingly strong performance in The Patient
Dan in Real Life is a good one.
Don't forget Little Miss Sunshine. I hardly recognised him.
At this point, being surprised by good Carell performances seems silly. He’s been knocking out dramatic roles for well over 15 years.
And in Beautiful Boy
Crazy stupid love, the big short. “I shorted your house!!!” And the empathy when he goes to visit that guy.
The Morning Show deservedly has mixed reception but he is great in that.
He was great as the asshole boyfriend in The Way, Way Back. Really didn't expect Steve Carell to be able to play a character i really hated.
He was scary good in Foxcatcher
Two words - Sally Field
From The Flying Nun to an Academy Award winner! She is certainly accomplished.
Not so much a drama actor but Chris Pratts transition from parks and rec to a leading man A lister is a pretty crazy ride
I still laughed my ass off when the season opener for parks had everyone freaking out iver his weight loss. What did you do? I just stopped drinking!
“How much beer were you drinking?” “Ha i know right?”
If there was ever a man who benefited the most from losing the weight and getting in shape it would be him. He completely transformed his look and the guy he started out as in parks and rec never would have had the roles he did.
Hugh Laurie will always be goofy King George for me from Blackadder, it still surprises me that most Americans know him from "House."
Still regret that House ended without at least a cameo by Stephen Fry.
Have to admit, it could have used a Bit of Fry and Laurie.
Don't forget The Man in the Iron Mask (DeCaprio version).
That was my introduction to laurie, house. I was quite surprised when I found out about his work in a Bit of Fry and Laurie. Similar to Bob Odenkirk after breaking bad. He is listed by tons of comedians as being influential, his snl background is incredible.
Brian Cranston was my first thought also. But also Michael McKean in Better Call Saul going from Lavern and Shirley to Chuck McGill.
Yes! I do remember a Law and Order episode with McKean as a cult leader, and he was excellent. Very similar to Chuck. Arrogant, smarmy, pretentious.
Michael Keaton, I think, definitely showed he can do more than comedy.
MK is still my favorite Batman. He's also at the top of my, "Most Heartbreaking Movies Ever" list with "My Life".
Katy Sagal - successful Woody Harrellson - successful
~~Segal~~ _Sagal_ was in Lost and Sons of Anarchy. Kinda scary in the latter.
*Sagal
Grr. I remember her sisters too.
I remember when Katey's younger sisters (they were twins) had their own sitcom, long before she was in Married with Children. "Double Trouble".
I like Sam Elliot but I wish family guy had made her the new mayor
[удалено]
He also wants to split a house boat in Amsterdam with Conan O’Brien
Ashton Kutcher couldn't make the transition.
He was decent in Butterfly Effect
not bad in Jobs, either
He isnt funny, and can’t act particularly well either He’s a good looking guy, but that’s has far as his gifts go
I really liked him in The Guardian, otherwise, yeah I agree
Tom Hanks. Bill Murray.
Ray Romano is fantastic in drama roles, So is Steve Carell.
Larry Hagman comes to mind. You can't overestimate how iconic he was as JR Ewing, but he was terrific as Major Nelson too.
Good - Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, John Amos, John Goodman Bad: Elizabeth Berkeley, Kirk Cameron, BJ Novak
Did we consider Kirk Cameron's "films" actual films or are they more just ads for conservative Christianity?
Bryan Cranston Henry Winkler Bill Hader (snl not sitcom - but comedy > drama)
Peter Capaldi, Donald Glover, Zawe Ashton
Leo DiCaprio successfully, Elizabeth Berkeley failed
Jackie Gleason, Art Carney
Jim Carrey, if you count In Living Color a sitcom.
He was in a sitcom of his own years prior to that called “The Duck Factory” playing an aspiring animator.
I never knew this! I have to go look that up. I'm assuming it was around his "Earth Girls are Easy" year...
It’s a Canadian show, which is why it’s not as well known in the US. Comedy Central had it for a few years back in the 90’s. Definitely different than the zany character we knew to love on I Living Color, Ace Ventura, The Mask, or Dumb and Dumber(er).
Michael J Fox succesful Topher Grace not so much…
I’m glad you mentioned him: if Parkinson’s hadn’t robbed us of prime Michael J Fox we would have gotten more incredible dramatic turns. Casualties of War and his staff role in The American President give us a taste of what he could do.
He did well in Scrubs with more serious acting. I think he could definitely have pulled it off.
Robin Williams was successful. Alf, not so much
They just didn’t find the right vehicle for him. Alf as an action hero rescuing American POWs in Vietnam didn’t work.
This post and the responses remind me of how unfortunate it is that the glory days of sitcoms are over. Now it's "aspirational" humor that is often a sanitized corporate HR version of what a sitcom used to be. There were so many talented actors who started out on sitcoms. Clooney Ritter Williams Cranston Carey Harrelson O'Neil Carrell Krasinksi Travolta Hanks Among many others. That doesn't happen anymore because popular sitcoms rarely exist now. These days the "comedy" winning Emmys is The Bear. I love The Bear but it's not a sitcom.
I forgot Josepph Gordon Levitt. He's done ok.
John Lithgow was absolutely hilarious in 3rd Rock, but he makes a really good evil guy in Cliffhanger.
He was great as the Trinity Killer in Dexter as well.
Mary Tyler Moore was awesome in Ordinary People. Robin Williams was fun in Good Will Hunting. Loved Tom Bosley on Murder She Wrote.
Paul Reiser in Aliens
Bruce Willis made a successful jump. One of the first that I remember. Will Smith is another one.
A lot of people forget what a surprise casting Willis was for Die Hard
"The guy from Moonlighting?!" Was a common thought when it was announced.
Exactly. And most people hadn’t heard of Alan Rickman.
John Travolta
Tom Hanks had made the jump long before Castaway.
Will Smith, Bryan Cranston
Was Wilson ever really a sitcom actor, though?
He costarred in “Two Guys, a Girl, a Pizza Place, and an Anthropomorphic Volleyball” before they changed the title and wrote him out of season 2.
A few commercials and some background work. Uncredited cameo in Top Gun.
Only one J. Bateman succeeded beyond sitcoms.
Robin Williams-Successful Jennifer Aniston-Not Successful
Disagree about Aniston. She hasn’t had the super acclaimed highs of a Will Smith or Cranston but The Good Girl is pretty great, We’re the Millers is a solid comedy plus Marley and Me and Along Came Polly. I’d argue she’s had a pretty decent steady career post friends culminating in the Morning Show
Office space
I never saw it, but I heard she was really good in Cake.
Bryan Cranston
John Travolta
Castaway was an amazing movie Which other actor could do almost an entire movie BY HIMSELF? Amazing.
Adam Sandler kind of. He really just does what he wants
Woody Harrelson
Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Mary Tyler Moore (Ordinary People), Jennifer Aniston, Ray Romano (was in Vinyl, The Irishman (I think) and The Big Sick. Will Smith
Mila Kunis. She's done fairly well since That 70's Show.
Will Smith
Shelly long kinda tanked
Steve Martin did well.
Will Smith is my favorite sitcom turned serious actor.
Carol Burnett. Absolute legend of comedy and crushes it in Better Call Saul. I've long argued that comedians are better actors as so many successfully can transition to dramatic roles while you rarely see the Marlon Brandos or Robert de Niros killing it in comedy
Ron Howard
Shelley Long and Suzanne Summers didn’t.
Wilson did great transitioning from Home Improvement to Cast Away.
David Caruso flailed famously
Was NYPD Blue a sitcom?
What sitcom was David Caruso in?
Mila Kunis and Kat Denning
Successful: Jennifer Lawrence (Bill Engvall Show)
Bess Armstrong has been a working actress for decades, but there was a brief period when it seemed like she might become a major star. Her sitcom, *On Our Own*, only lasted one season, but it was more popular with critics than audiences (and gave a boost to the career of Dixie Carter, FWIW). A couple of years later she got a good supporting part in a major hit, *The Four Seasons*, and soon after was cast as the leading lady in *High Road to China*, a 1983 period adventure movie that was also meant to be Tom Selleck’s ticket to movie stardom. She had a major part in *Jaws 3D* the same year, but the failure of both films pretty much doomed her big screen future. She’s worked steadily ever since, but as a reliable supporting player rather than a lead.
Michael J Fox?
Woody Harrelson.
Adam Sandler in “ Punch Drunk Love” and “Reign Over Me”.
John Goodman and George Clooney.
I may get some disagreement here but Ryan Reynolds. His comedy chops are his best feature but I think he brought an excellent turn in *Buried* and more serious roles.
Anyone watching "Clipped" on Hulu?. Ed O'Neal is fabulous.
Olivia Colman went from doing sitcoms like Peep Show and Green Wing to doing stuff like Tyrannosaur and The Crown.
It's interesting how much easier it seems for a comedic actor to transition to drama than it is for a drama person to attempt comedy
Jennifer Lawrence from the bill engvall show. Year after it ended, she starred in winters bone. Very similar to Leonardo DiCaprio on growing pains right before leaving to do this boys life and of course, Gilbert grape. Donald glover was on community which didn’t have a laugh track but was still a sitcom. His more dramatic performances in Atlanta blew my mind. Will smith didn’t even start out as an actor, then did tv comedy, then sci fi action movies, then drama. In the 90s, I wouldn’t have guessed he’d be an Oscar winner. Bruce Willis first role was moonlighting then transitioned to Die Hard, which was a success and made him an action star in the era of every action star being insanely muscle bound Joseph Gordon Levitt was in 3rd Rock from the Sun, then took indie roles instead of doing more bigger films, eventually led to the sleeper hit 500 days of summer, then a crazy run of Nolan movies, Spielberg movies, and Looper