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30 Times Actors Surprised Everyone By Nailing A Character That’s Against Their Typecast
Interview With Expert
Being someone you’re not takes a lot to pull off. Even if it is for a job, i.e. acting (as opposed to lying, feigning, avoiding situations or responsibilities, etc.).
It’s even more so impressive when an actor who’s historically predominantly been typecast to fill a particular kind of role breaks free from the shackles of assumption and proves to the world just how versatile they are as professionals.
Well, folks on Reddit have been discussing just that: actors who were typecast, but performed spectacularly in a role against that type. Take a scroll down the list to see the answers, and why not also share some of your insights and picks for the list in the comment section below.
And be sure to check out our interview with horror blogger Palvi Sharma who provides insights into typecasting from the perspective of the horror genre.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Tom Hanks was the adorable jokester and lovable romcom man until he did Philadelphia and then he became very versatile for everything.
Lunaofthenest (She/they) 1 year ago
I saw this movie in the community center at college and it truly completely unhinged me. I was *NOT* prepared for the depth & gravity. That movie shook 18 year old me. Not only did it really own my eyes to bias, homophobia & the AIDS epidemic but it made me see Tom Hanks in a completely new light. Harsh, but brilliant film.
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#2
Ik it’s a TV show but Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad is a no brainer for this.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Reminds me of Hugh laurie. Before he was Dr. House, he was George on Black Adder with Rowan Atkinson and he did sketch comedy with Stephen Fry.
#3
Surprised I haven't seen Ralph Finnes in here. Guy built his career on prestige drama roles, and never shied away from playing an unlikable character. See The English Patient, Schindler's List, Red Dragon, The Dutchess, Harry Potter, etc. His performances are always heavy.
Then he goes and does The Grand Budapest and you see the guy has great comedic timing. Blew my mind to be laughing at Ralph Finnes.
Rebecca Ferguson 1 year ago
This man is a brilliant actor and this is by far my favourite Wes Anderson film.
For those unaware, typecasting is when film directors and anyone else responsible repeatedly assign the same actors to the same types of roles because of the appropriateness of their appearance or previous success in the roles. The most common reason for that is the industry and (or) the audience simply wants specific people playing specific roles. Simple as that.
#5
Charlize Theron in *Monster*.
T'Mar of Vulcan 1 year ago
South Africans call her the "bombshell from Benoni". She's a great actress.
#6
Robin Williams playing a killer in Insomnia was always so striking to me. He did such a great job and it was so different from his prior roles.
electronicgogo 1 year ago
this and one hour photo. his character in that one made me cringe. what an incredible talent. *sigh*
An example of typecasting can be seen with actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose entire career is mostly based on the strong man action hero type of character.
The same can be said about the likes of Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, and Bryan Cranston, all of whom mostly had funny, lighthearted or otherwise comedic roles, but when given an antithetical role nailed that too.
#7
Woody Harrelson. It would be an understatement to say people were surprised when Woody from Cheers showed up starring in Natural Born Killers.
Also, Bruce Willis. Until Die Hard, everyone knew him as a romantic lead. He was in Moonlighting with Cybill Shepherd.
AtMostTheFabulist 1 year ago
I remember Woody Harrelson in Cheers. He played such an airhead. Then when he moved to movies it was like he flipped a switch. You could see his intelligence in every role.
#8
Bruce Willis broke into action roles with Die Hard.
TheBoredMan replied:
Yeah people these days forget Bruce Willis was a TV heart throb when Die Hard came out. People were used to 80s body builders starring in action movies and a lot of the buzz came from confusion “An action movie starring BRUCE WILLIS wtf??”
moo-loy replied:
Audiences laughed en mass when trailers for Die Hard were aired. The thought of Bruce Willis playing an action hero was hilarious to the general public.
#9
Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys. That movie showed the world that he could act and wasn't just a pretty actor.
Bored Panda has reached out to horror movie expert and blogger Palvi Sharma of Dark Horror Tales, who shared her insights into breaking a typecast from the perspective of the horror movie genre.
"Actors can go through a grueling process while acting in horror movies. It can affect them mentally and several actors have mentioned suffering from PTSD-like symptoms after performing intense scenes," elaborated Sharma. "Take for example Alex Wolff in Hereditary or Janet Leigh in Psycho. Both actors were left feeling traumatized after shooting terrifying scenes."
#10
John Travolta in Pulp Fiction. Everyone and I mean everyone at the time associated him with the Look Who’s talking movies and Saturday Night Fever. Then he just gets this amazing career revival and puts out a badass performance in an instant classic.
#11
I think Sally Field provided the blueprint for breaking type casting originally with Sybil. Then came her Oscar wins.
#12
Gary Oldman played a lot of bad guys. Liam Neeson played a lot of good guys.
Christopher Nolan reversed that typecasting in Batman Begins.
Sharma did go on to say that every genre requires actors to perform with a different set of skills. Many might argue that just because an actor is doing comedy, it doesn’t mean that things are easier on set. Performing comedic scenes can be just as challenging as performing an emotional scene.
However, horror can even be more demanding. The one thing people might hear is that actors are required to perfect their screams for horror movies. In fact, several actors have even taken coaching lessons to perfect their screams and land good movie roles.
#13
Several have mentioned Robin Williams but I didn't see any mention of *Awakenings*, a straight dramatic role with virtually none of his usual comic shenanigans.
Macaulay Culkin in *My Girl* plays a role that's almost a total opposite of the *Home Alone* character he's best known for.
Rebecca Ferguson 1 year ago
One of his greatest performances - It was so subtle and controlled.
#14
Steve Carell comes to mind for mainly being known for his comedic roles to then doing films like foxcatcher and beautiful boy.
AmusingMusing7 replied:
I think Little Miss Sunshine was his first real dramatic role.
#15
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. People were scoffing at the idea that the snarky goofball from Fantastic Four would be the stalwart, noble leader of the avengers. Said Downey would act him off the screen in Avengers. That the character itself was too boring and he wouldn’t elevate it. Instead became the heart and soul of the MCU and a superhero icon.
"Many actors started their careers in horror movies before they transitioned to comedy and action," explained Sharma. "Take for example Jennifer Anniston who starred in Leprechaun before moving on to her famous role as Rachel on Friends. Then there was Kevin Bacon who starred in Friday the 13th before playing his most iconic role in Footloose."
"If there is one actor who made a successful transition into the horror genre, I would have to say it is Nicolas Cage. He played meek roles before moving on to action and then adventure roles. He was even sometimes criticized for his acting skills in them. But it is in horror movies that Nicolas Cage has found a way to display his vast acting range and truly shined."
#16
Between the latest James Bond movies and *Layer Cake*, **Daniel Craig** is mostly known as "suave British spy / criminal." But later he proved he has comedic talent and also a knack for southern accents in *Logan Lucky* and the *Knives Out* films.
#17
Stanley Tucci in the Hunger Games.
AtMostTheFabulist 1 year ago
Stanley Tucci is so versatile, it's hard to believe. You should see him in Big Night.
#18
Most recently I would say Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All At Once. She is known for pretty or sexy or put together characters. In Everything she is dowdy (sometimes evil) but never her usual - and she was great.
Patricia Steward 1 year ago
Her episodes on the TV show The Bear are astonishing. I didn't know it was her until I read the credits.
Sharma continued: "Take for example [Cage's] role in the recent Dream Scenario. He goes from playing a timid professor anyone can walk over to an overconfident celebrity to a deranged maniac, calculating criminal (even if it is in a dream), and then a walkover once again. Nicolas Cage truly gets to display his full potential in that movie and you do end up sympathizing with him throughout."
"His best role would have to be as the silent janitor in Willy’s Wonderland. Many horror fans will tell you that this Nicolas Cage was better in Five Nights At Freddy’s. Willy’s Wonderland was supposed to be a sort of parody of the famous video game but Cage’s acting skills helped the movie stand out. Only Nicolas Cage could make a movie with that premise, actually entertaining."
#19
Tom Cruise - Les Grossman.
electronicgogo 1 year ago
while his scientology stuff creeps me out, this part blew my mind. his dancing weirded me out, but it was good.
#20
Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems.
acart005 replied:
I scrolled too damn far before I saw Adam. That man is a Robin Williams level actor in the right films when it comes to flawless serious and comedic acting.
The problem is he figured out he gets paid more to hang out with his friends on camera for mid comedies (ex. Grown Ups). You can't blame him if the studio is gonna pay for you and all your bros to hangout in Hawaii for a few months AND you get a dump truck of cash, you would do it too. So even though I think he has the actual acting potential to equal Robin, his overall filmography never will which is sad.
His debut comedies are eternal classics and Punch Drunk Love, Longest Yard, and Uncut Gems are all extremely well made serious films.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I enjoyed Sandler in Spanglish. I also liked the movies he played opposite of Drew Barrymore. He helped her return, and she helped him play fully adult characters. A forty year old man shouldn't be playing the twenty year old living in Mom's basement.
#21
Robert Pattinson post-Twilight BUT ALSO I have so much respect for Elijah Wood and Daniel Radcliffe. They made their money and then just started doing BONKERS stuff that they really believed in and wanted to do. Elijah Wood in Sin City and I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore (plus SpectreVision which is a production company he started that produces proper B horror), and Radcliffe in Horns, Swiss Army Man, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
FreeShavocadoCitizen replied:
Agree 100%. Loved Elijah so much growing up, then he went from hobbit to serial killer and it was chilling.
justhere4daSpursnGOT replied:
Green street hooligans is a great movie that he really gave his all in. Completely changed my view of him
Now, it isn't unusual to see actors being typecast after their success in a single movie role. Audiences might sometimes demand it, and it can be exhausting for actors as they are given little choice in their roles.
Sharma elaborates that, at least in the horror movie scene, that is the case for the likes of Scout Taylor-Compton, who is often cast to play a character with morals who ends up on the wrong side of the law or with bad company, but pulls through and does justice to the character.
Another example that Sharma notes is Justin Long. "There is a running joke that if he appears in a horror movie, his character is going to go through a lot of trouble. And it usually is the case. Movies like Barbarian and House of Darkness are proof of that."
#23
I think Matthew McConaughey is up there for breaking out of the romcom stuff to do things like Interstellar.
#24
Jason Bateman in Ozark?
Pittsburgh rare 1 year ago
Absolutely. He did a Bryan Cranston type of thing and turned out fantastically.
Now, some might argue that it's the fans that ultimately own the franchises. This in turn might encourage anything from gatekeeping to well, akshually moments that leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Well, Sharma notes that horror fans, while being some of the most loyal in the industry, are very accepting of actors jumping genres and breaking their typecast to test out the waters in the horror scene.
"How the actors eventually perform in the movies is what cements their place in the Horror community. Many actors have found their place in [here] and have been supported through the years by horror fans."
#25
Jeff Daniels in *Dumb & Dumber*
Javelina Poppers 1 year ago
His part as Union Col. Joshua Chamberlain in the 1993 movie Gettysburg was one of his best roles.
#26
Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition. He leaned into that role so hard and it really paid off. Never would’ve thought he’d play a great gangster like that.
David 1 year ago (edited)
I feel like tom hanks can play just about anything. Not sure about comedy but he seems believable in just about any serious role. EDIT: Okay yes, he did some early comedy. But mostly stuff I consider 'amusing' rather than laugh out loud funny. I didn't really consider Splash or Sleepless in Seattle that funny. Big was amusing in places. I just have a hard time imagining him doing the kind of comedy that would have me laughing so hard I'm wheezing with tears in my eyes. But he's a damn fine actor so probably could if given the right role. Possibly he is just too classy for my sense of humor. I like absurd humor and dark humor. So... Robot Chicken, earlier seasons of Archer, Shoot Em Up, Deadpool - stuff like that.
#27
Most recently Dave Bautista in Knock at the Cabin.
AliasUndercover123 replied:
Bautista in every role. Dude broke in with Guardians and then made a decision to go as varied as possible to break the typecast and prove he's got skill. He's the anti-Rock.
deathbystereo007 replied:
I love that he very obviously cares about working with great directors and pushing boundaries with interesting roles. The Rock has chosen instead to chase money & feed his ego - & thus, has taken on almost no roles that take risks. At one time he did seem relatively eager to take on different types of roles (like in Be Cool), but somewhere along the way he became satisfied with just playing the same character over and over. I don't mean to say that all of his films are bad. The Jumanji reboot & the sequel were surprisingly good. I just always know exactly what I'm getting from The Rock in a movie & that can become stale pretty quickly.
Sharma continues: "Felissa Rose who rose to fame as Angela Baker in Sleepaway Camp is still doing horror movies and fans still watch any movie her name is attached to."
"Tara Reid used to be known for her roles in raunchy comedies or as the ditzy blonde character in rom-coms, but she too has been able to make her mark in the horror community with numerous roles in horror movies."
"She now gets to move away from stereotypical roles and do something that is better suited to her acting talents. Despite the low ratings on some of her movies, she has been appreciated for her acting skills and screen presence."
#28
I haven’t seen anyone mention James Caan’s amazing performance in Elf or George Clooney going to near Nic Cage levels in Burn After Reading. I think Burn After Reading is an amazing overlooked Coen Brothers movie that does a good job getting actors to play against type
#30
Hugh Grant in The Gentlemen
What do you think ?
Say No to Downvoting 1 year ago
Can we get a few more women on this list? Kathy Bates - Misery, Fried Green Tomatoes, Titanic Glenn Close - World According to Garp, Fatal Attraction, 100 Dalmations, Air Force One Whoops Goldberg - The Colour Purple, Sister Act, Boys on the Side Kate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Emma Thompson
Casey Payne 1 year ago
Let's not forget Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People right after her TV career. Leslie Ann Warren going from Mission Impossible to Norma Cassidy in Victor/Victoria to Miss Scarlet in Clue, but I'm not sure if she has a type. Sigourney Weaver going from Alien/Aliens to Working Girl then Galaxy Quest, as well as The Ice Storm. Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey both played against type and are excellent in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but only Carrey seems to get the praise. Winona Rider surprised and impressed everyone in Stranger Things. Those are just the roles off the top of my head. Oh, I love the story where executives told Lucille Ball that she was too pretty to do comedy, so she had to self produce I Love Lucy to prove them wrong. While pregnant. You're right, there needs to be more women on this list.
Load More Replies... Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
HOW COULD YOU MISS Michael Keaton in BATMAN?!? Tim Burton watched Mr. Mom and said "Hey this guy is really good! I'm gonna make him a mischievous ghost." Then he said, "That went well, let's make him FREAKING BATMAN".
Say No to Downvoting 1 year ago
Can we get a few more women on this list? Kathy Bates - Misery, Fried Green Tomatoes, Titanic Glenn Close - World According to Garp, Fatal Attraction, 100 Dalmations, Air Force One Whoops Goldberg - The Colour Purple, Sister Act, Boys on the Side Kate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Emma Thompson
Casey Payne 1 year ago
Let's not forget Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People right after her TV career. Leslie Ann Warren going from Mission Impossible to Norma Cassidy in Victor/Victoria to Miss Scarlet in Clue, but I'm not sure if she has a type. Sigourney Weaver going from Alien/Aliens to Working Girl then Galaxy Quest, as well as The Ice Storm. Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey both played against type and are excellent in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but only Carrey seems to get the praise. Winona Rider surprised and impressed everyone in Stranger Things. Those are just the roles off the top of my head. Oh, I love the story where executives told Lucille Ball that she was too pretty to do comedy, so she had to self produce I Love Lucy to prove them wrong. While pregnant. You're right, there needs to be more women on this list.
Load More Replies... Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
HOW COULD YOU MISS Michael Keaton in BATMAN?!? Tim Burton watched Mr. Mom and said "Hey this guy is really good! I'm gonna make him a mischievous ghost." Then he said, "That went well, let's make him FREAKING BATMAN".
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