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Tom Cruise: 'Tropic Thunder' (2008) -

Tom Cruise completely shocked audiences with his role in the 2008 film 'Tropic Thunder.' It isn't until the end credits that you realize the vulgar, Flo Rida-loving movie executive was played by Cruise all along! It was a rare moment of levity for the actor, who is best known for his action roles. 

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Ralph Fiennes: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (2014) -

From 'Schindler's List' (1993) to 'The English Patient' (1996), Ralph Fiennes has proven himself to be a serious dramatic actor who can take on some heavy subjects. However, he adapted seamlessly to Wes Anderson's typically surreal humor in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (2014).

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Jason Statham: 'Spy' (2015) -

Jason Statham is the go-to tough guy for action or gangster movies. He plays a similar character in 'Spy' (2015) as a high-achieving CIA agent, but his zealousness is comedic gold opposite the brilliant Melissa McCarthy.

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Brad Pitt: 'Burn After Reading' (2008) -

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Brad Pitt is too attractive to be funny, but he used his good looks for humor in the 2008 Coen brothers movie 'Burn After Reading.' He played the typical gym bro, long before gym bros were a thing, and he played it to perfection.

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George Clooney: 'Burn After Reading' (2008) -

George Clooney was another breakout comedic star from 'Burn After Reading' (2008). It set him up for further humorous roles in movies like 'Hail, Caesar!' (2016), another Coen brothers' film. 

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Al Pacino: 'Jack And Jill' (2011) -

Al Pacino turned screwball in the 2011 Adam Sandler comedy 'Jack and Jill.' He plays a man avidly pursuing Jill, who is a female character played by Adam Sandler himself. The whole thing is so absurd that you just have to laugh. Pacino was great, even if the film got horrible reviews.

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Colin Farrell: 'In Bruges' (2008) -

Colin Farrell had primarily appeared in dramas and action movies prior to his role in the 2008 dark comedy 'In Bruges.' Writer and director Martin McDonagh's Irish heritage really comes through in the banter between the two leads, and Farrell succeeds in bringing a great deal of laughter to a dark story.

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Jeff Bridges: 'The Big Lebowski' (1998) -

Somehow the Coen brothers knew that Jeff Bridges, not your typical comedy lead, would be perfect to take on the role of "The Dude." Their instincts were correct, and Bridges turned this lovable stoner into an icon, and the movie into a cult classic.

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Joe Pesci: 'My Cousin Vinny' (1992) -

Joe Pesci has a knack for playing tough, violent characters, similar to his iconic role as Tommy DeVito in 'Goodfellas' (1990). He applied the same foul-mouthed, smooth-talking traits to his role in 'My Cousin Vinny' (1992) for hilarious results.

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Robert De Niro: 'Meet the Parents' (2000) -

From 'The Godfather Part II' (1974) to 'The Irishman' (2019), Robert De Niro has made his mark as a renowned dramatic actor. He's the reigning king of tough guys. That makes it all the more entertaining when he uses this persona to surprise audiences with his comedy roles. De Niro is as hilarious as he is terrifying playing the intimidating father-in-law in 'Meet the Parents' (2000).

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Robert De Niro: 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012) -

Another special mention goes to his role in the 2012 movie 'Silver Linings Playbook'. De Niro plays the superstitious, football-obsessed father. His performance is both outrageous and touching, showing us his impressive range as an actor.

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Joaquin Phoenix: 'Inherent Vice' (2014) -

Joaquin Phoenix plays an incredible villain, and is best known for his dark and twisted characters. In 'Inherent Vice' (2014), he plays a hippy private detective trying to work his was through a drug-addled adventure. His uniquely expressive face was well used for comedic effect.

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Meryl Streep: 'Death Becomes Her' (1992) -

Meryl Streep had already won two Oscars and earned a further seven nominations by the time she starred in 'Death Becomes Her' (1992). The outrageous premise allowed Streep to go far outside her normal performance range, and she absolutely slayed as Madeleine Ashton.

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Leonardo DiCaprio: 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013) -

Leonardo DiCaprio has tried his hand at a wide range of characters, but his role as the shameless stockbroker in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013) is hands down the funniest! The scene where he's whacked out of his mind on Quaaludes is one for the annals of film history.

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Morgan Freeman: 'Bruce Almighty' (2003) -

Morgan Freeman played a significant role in making 'The Shawshank Redemption' (1994) one of the best movies ever made, but nonetheless, he's largely best remembered for playing God in 'Bruce Almighty' (2003). He keeps it perfectly deadpan opposite Jim Carrey's usual eccentric performance.

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Tom Hanks: 'You've Got Mail' (1998) -

Tom Hanks is one of the few people in history to win consecutive Oscars, for his 1993 role in 'Philadelphia' and his 1994 role in 'Forrest Gump.' His lovable nature is perfect for comedies, and his 1998 rom-com 'You've Got Mail' was an instant classic.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman: 'Along Came Polly' (2004) -

Philip Seymour Hoffman was known as one of the great dramatic actors of his generation. So it was a surprise to see him play the train-wreck best friend in the 2004 rom-com 'Along Came Polly.' He completely committed to this clumsy, obnoxious character, and it really paid off.

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Billy Bob Thornton: 'Bad Santa' (2003) -

Billy Bob Thornton's dramatic characters can sometimes lend themselves to a touch of dark humor, but 'Bad Santa' (2003) was a full-blown black comedy. He plays a nasty alcoholic burglar who poses as a mall Santa, yet is still somehow quite a sympathetic character.

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Kate Winslet: 'The Holiday' (2006) -

Kate Winslet established herself as a queen of period dramas, from 'Titanic' (1997) to 'The Reader' (2008). The 2006 rom-com 'The Holiday' was a bit of a diversion for her, but she played her part perfectly.

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Jeff Daniels: 'Dumb and Dumber' (1994) -

Before scoring his iconic role in 'Dumb and Dumber' (1994), Jeff Daniels had appeared in serious features like the Civil War drama 'Gettysburg' (1993) and the action blockbuster 'Speed' (1994). He accelerated to the other end of the spectrum with his absurdly goofy performance as Harry Dunne.

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Michael Douglas: 'The War of the Roses' (1989) -

Michael Douglas is brilliant opposite Kathleen Turner in 'The War of the Roses' (1989). They play a couple whose relationship turns from the perfect romance into the stereotypical nasty divorce.

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Alan Rickman: 'Galaxy Quest' (1999) -

Alan Rickman was considered one of the best actors of his generation, both in theatre and on screen. He took on the role of a down-and-out actor on a failing sci-fi show in the 1999 comedy 'Galaxy Quest.' His melancholic demeanor and straight-faced delivery paved the way for his brilliant performance as Snape in the 'Harry Potter' franchise. 

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Dustin Hoffman: 'Tootsie' (1982) -

A few years after winning an Oscar for 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), Dustin Hoffman stepped into a pair of high heels to play the role of Dorsey. 'Tootsie' (1982) tells the story of an out-of-work actor who disguises himself as a woman to get a role. This was a pretty big step for a serious actor in the 1980s! He flexed his comedic muscles opposite co-star Bill Murray to critical acclaim.

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Kevin Kline: 'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988) -

Kevin Kline had mostly appeared in serious dramas when he scored a role in 'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988). He played a mean-spirited criminal who becomes both likeable and ridiculous through his many faults.

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Kevin Kline: 'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988) -

Kline even won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor! Comedy roles rarely receive this kind of recognition, so it says a lot about his performance.

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James Caan: 'Elf' (2003) -

James Caan is another serious actor who used his reputation as the tough guy for excellent comic effect. He plays the gruff dad in Will Ferrell's Christmas classic 'Elf' (2003).

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George C. Scott: 'Dr. Strangelove' (1964) -

George C. Scott was known for taking on some extremely heavy roles in war epics like 'Patton' (1970), but he played a different kind of general in the whacky 'Dr. Strangelove' (1964). He perfectly captured the borderline mania of a man on the edge!

Sources: (WatchMojo) (TV Overmind) (Insider)

See also: Actors who can't escape their iconic roles

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