Comedy Stars Reboot as Action Heroes: Epic Comebacks You’ll Love

In your upcoming comedy film viewing, consider visualizing the lead actor involved in a fistfight against a criminal, successfully disarming their minions in a gun battle. Who knows, they might just be on their way to becoming Hollywood’s next action star!

It might initially appear surprising, but you’ll find that numerous exceptional action movies and series have been spearheaded or included significant roles by stand-up comedians or performers who gained fame through humorous films or classic sitcoms. To see this for yourself, explore the careers of some comedic actors who defied expectations to become action stars.

Will Smith

Back when I first gained recognition as a rapper, little did people know that I was destined for the silver screen too. In the early ’90s, I stepped into the limelight as the leading man in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and it felt like home. Then came 1995, where Michael Bay cast me in his buddy cop movie, “Bad Boys.” The next year, I found myself at the helm of Roland Emmerich’s epic alien invasion film, “Independence Day.” It was just the beginning; there were many more exciting roles to come.

Cheech Marin

Together with his partner, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin essentially became the embodiment of stoner humor, particularly after jointly leading the iconic ’70s film “Up in Smoke.” His career shifted dramatically when he starred in “Desperado” in 1995, which led him to become a regular in Robert Rodriguez’s films. Over time, he started playing characters that were different from his roles in the Cheech & Chong movies, alongside Don Johnson on the popular cop show, “Nash Bridges.

Chris Pratt

Drawing from the hilarious charm he exhibited in his standout role as Andy Dwyer on the Parks and Recreation team, Chris Pratt breathed a refreshing humor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his appearance in 2014’s space adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy. His lively, emotional portrayal of Peter “Star-Lord” Quill not only added levity but also demonstrated his potential as a leading man. This versatility paved the way for him to headline films like the Jurassic World series and Amazon Prime’s The Terminal List, among others.

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd initially showcased his talent in a leading role for a beloved high school comedy film titled “Clueless“, followed by popular comedies such as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy“, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin“, and “Knocked Up“. These roles established him as a highly demanded actor in the comedy industry. He discovered an ideal part to cement his place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe by portraying Ant-Man, a character whose ordinary charm mirrored the qualities that made him a top-tier star.

Michael Keaton

Initially, Michael Keaton was a stand-up comedian and was popular for films like “Night Shift” and “Mr. Mom”. When Tim Burton chose him to play Batman in his live-action movies, “Batman” and “Batman Returns”, comic book enthusiasts were skeptical. However, Keaton’s performance as the Dark Knight earned him much praise (often considered the best or at least one of the best), and he even reprised a superhero role in 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, playing the formidable Spider-Man villain, Vulture.

Nicolas Cage

It might be surprising to remember that Nicolas Cage initially made a name for himself in comedies such as “Valley Girl” and “Peggy Sue Got Married.” However, it is equally clear that the Academy Award winner has a background in comedy, hinted by his roles in action movies like those mentioned above, as well as more unconventional performances in films like “Mandy” and “Willy’s Wonderland.

Damon Wayans

Perhaps you may not recall that he was on Saturday Night Live, but it’s hard to forget Damon Wayans from his time with the In Living Color cast and shows like My Wife and Kids. I hope you didn’t miss out on his roles in ’90s action-thrillers like The Last Boy Scout (opposite Bruce Willis) and Bulletproof (opposite Adam Sandler). Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that he stepped into the role of Roger Murtaugh for the television adaptation of Lethal Weapon.

Robert Downey Jr.

Following a successful stint on Saturday Night Live, roles in ’80s teen comedies such as Weird Science, and a first Oscar nomination for portraying Charlie Chaplin, Robert Downey Jr.’s career faced difficulties in the early 2000s. Fortunately, he managed an impressive resurgence by starring in the 2005 noir thriller Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, followed by launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Man and portraying Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s adaptation.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is often credited for singlehandedly reviving Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, just before he co-starred with Nick Nolte in Walter Hill’s 1982 film, 48 Hrs. Only two years after that, the comedian took the lead in his own action-comedy movie titled Beverly Hills Cop, which catapulted him to superstardom in Hollywood.

Bruce Willis

During the late 1980s, Bruce Willis was widely recognized for his role as David Addison on Moonlighting, for starring alongside Kim Basinger in Blind Date, and for endorsing Seagram in commercials. This is why it caught people off guard when they saw him as John McClane in the Die Hard trailer. However, this 1988 action movie would quickly propel him to fame and establish him as a leading Hollywood action star. Later on, he became famous for headlining films like The Fifth Element, Armageddon, and Sin City.

Jamie Foxx

Through his successful stint in stand-up comedy, Jamie Foxx landed a spot on the cast of ‘In Living Color’ and subsequently starred in his own sitcom. However, it was his Academy Award-winning role in the 2004 music biopic, ‘Ray’, and Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Collateral’ that year that truly expanded his opportunities. He continued to take on thrilling roles such as those in ‘Jarhead’, ‘The Kingdom’, Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Django Unchained’, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ as Electro, and ‘White House Down’.

Alan Ritchson

Among Alan Ritchson’s significant acting roles, one noteworthy early credit was portraying the dimwitted college football player Thad Castle on the hilarious sitcom ‘Blue Mountain State’. He then secured a minor part in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’, did motion capture performances for the 2014 and 2017 ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ films, and starred as Hank “Hawk” Hall on ‘Titans’. The 6’3″ actor gained prominence with his standout performance in the lead role of the popular Amazon Prime TV series, ‘Reacher‘, which led to him being cast in Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare‘ project.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu first gained prominence with her role as Ling Woo on the successful series Ally McBeal. Following this, she reached film fame with Charlie’s Angels in 2000 and collaborated with Antonio Banderas in Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002). In Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, she portrayed the cold-blooded assassin O-Ren Ishii.

Bob Odenkirk

For several years in the 1980s, Bob Odenkirk penned scripts for Saturday Night Live. Later, he teamed up with David Cross to create and star in their successful sketch comedy series, Mr. Show, which gained him significant recognition. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he joined the cast of Breaking Bad as Saul Goodman. This role led to a prequel spin-off named Better Call Saul and eventually starring in the action movie Nobody.

Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence had an accomplished stand-up comedy career that morphed into a prosperous TV career with his popular sitcom, “Martin”. During this time, he also appeared in movies such as “Do the Right Thing” and “Boomerang”. In 1995, he took on the role of Det. Marcus Burnett for the first time in “Bad Boys”, a part he reprised numerous times. He further expanded his cop roles in comedies like “Blue Streak” and “Big Momma’s House”.

Ryan Reynolds

For quite a while, Ryan Reynolds was most famously recognized for his role in comedies like “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” and subsequent raunchy films such as “Waiting…” and “Just Friends.” However, this perception changed significantly in 2016 when he took on the lead role in “Deadpool,” a film that while maintaining its comical elements, is packed with action, rivaling any other comic book movie.

Sam Richardson

Sam Richardson swiftly gained popularity in the comedy sphere due to his side-splitting acts on shows such as “I Think You Should Leave,” “Veep,” and “Ted Lasso.” He then captivated audiences with his performances in Amazon Prime’s action-fueled time travel film, “The Tomorrow War,” alongside Chris Pratt. In 2021, he led the horror-comedy movie “Werewolves Within,” and made an appearance in Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Section 31.

Keanu Reeves

Known for leading blockbusters such as the “John Wick” and “Matrix” series, as well as hits like “Speed” and “Point Break”, Keanu Reeves stands among the most productive action heroes in film history. It’s surprising to realize that this is the same actor who delivered a fantastic performance as part of the title pair in the “Bill & Ted” movies.

John Goodman

John Goodman first gained significant recognition on the pioneering sitcom “Roseanne” playing Dan Conner, a role he later reprised in the revival series “The Conners.” Over the course of his career, he has delved into almost every genre imaginable, including action movies like “Kong: Skull Island” and “Atomic Blonde.

Emily Blunt

Although Emily Blunt might not immediately come to mind as a comedy actress, she made her breakthrough with a side-splitting performance in “The Devil Wears Prada” back in 2006. Later on, she demonstrated her versatility by portraying tougher characters, such as when she teamed up with Tom Cruise in the gripping sci-fi film “Edge of Tomorrow” and in Denis Villeneuve’s gritty crime drama “Sicario.

Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis is one of the most cherished comedic actors from his era, known for his roles at SCTV alongside Dave Thomas as the McKenzie Brothers (who also starred in their 1983 movie “Strange Brew”), and for films such as “Ghostbusters,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” In between these comedy gems, he played a role in Walter Hill’s dystopian “Rock ‘n Roll tale,” titled “Streets of Fire.

Bill Burr

In some of his comedy routines, Bill Burr often made fun of the Star Wars films. This amusing banter caught the attention of Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian. To incorporate Burr into the galactic universe, Favreau cast him in the series as a mercenary named Migs Mayfield. Since then, this role has been one of Burr’s most significant career accomplishments.

John Leguizamo

Initially making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, John Leguizamo’s early career took an unexpected turn as he landed roles in action films like “Die Hard 2” and “Executive Decision”. Alongside comedic projects such as “To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar” and the “Ice Age” series, he also found himself cast in thrillers. This included the “John Wick” movies and the recent film titled “Violent Night”.

Owen Wilson

As a fervent fan, I must say that while Owen Wilson is undeniably synonymous with comedies such as “Bottle Rocket,” “Meet the Parents,” and “Zoolander,” it’s truly remarkable to witness his versatility as an artist. He has ventured into different artistic realms, showcasing his adaptability, and even dipped his toes in action genres on several occasions. His most notable forays include “Behind Enemy Lines,” “No Escape,” and the MCU-aligned Disney+ series, “Loki.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks made a significant entry into show business with the sitcom “Bosom Buddies,” paving the way for him to appear in comedic films such as “Bachelor Party” and “Turner & Hooch.” However, it was his Academy Award-winning performances in “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump” that allowed him to venture into more intense dramas like the critically acclaimed war film “Saving Private Ryan” and the science fiction epic “Cloud Atlas.

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer is known for playing memorable characters such as Iceman from the hit movie Top Gun, Doc Holliday in the classic Western film Tombstone, and Batman in Batman Forever. Yet, it was his comedic roles that truly launched his career, specifically the absurd spy spoof, Top Secret!, and the amusing college comedy, Real Genius, which were released during the 1980s.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis gained popularity as Jackie Burkhart in the cast of That ’70s Show and as the voice of Meg on Family Guy. Later, she achieved A-list status. While her action movie roles, such as those in the film adaptations of video games like Max Payne and the Wachowski’s Jupiter Ascending, may not have been her most critically acclaimed projects, they are still worth mentioning.

Randall Park

As a devoted fan, I’d say Randall Park is most recognized for spearheading the sitcom “Fresh off the Boat,” delivering laughs with his memorable appearance on “The Office” as “Asian Jim Halpert,” and shining in hit comedy films such as “The Interview” and “Neighbors.” He’s also made a significant impact in the comic book movie world, starring as Agent Jimmy Woo in the MCU and as Dr. Shin in the “Aquaman” series.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf gained recognition as a teen actor on the Disney Channel comedy series, “Even Stevens.” He later achieved success in the movie industry with roles in the “Transformers” films, which paved the way for him to appear in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and David Ayer’s 2014 war drama, “Fury.

Malin Akerman

Prior to taking on the role of Silk Spectre II in the live-action version of Watchmen in 2009, Malin Akerman gained popularity through her appearances in comedic films such as 2007’s The Heartbreak Kid and television shows like Children’s Hospital.

Jim Belushi

As a film enthusiast, I found myself reminiscing about the Belushi brothers, particularly Jim, who followed in the footsteps of his late, great brother John on Saturday Night Live. However, unlike his sibling, Jim ventured into an unexpected territory – action films. He starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Red Heat, took on the role of a high school principal in The Principal, and even graced Oliver Stone’s Salvador with his presence.

Ernest Borgnine

Even before taking up the lead role in the popular sitcom “McHale’s Navy,” Ernest Borgnine had already won an Oscar for his movie performances. Later on, he went on to act in more serious action roles like the television adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” John Carpenter’s “Escape from New York,” and the 2010 film “RED.

2025-03-26 23:40