10 Memorable Times Where Actors Played Against Type (And Succeeded)

Many actors often find themselves associated with a particular type of character. For every tough guy, suave hero, femme fatale, damsel in distress, or hopeless romantic, there will always be a few names that come to mind to play them. There’s nothing wrong with that because the best actors always make their characters work regardless of how typecast they may seem.

Sometimes, an actor may take on the increasingly difficult task of breaking out of the roles they are popularly known for and portray a character far different from the ones we are used to seeing them play. Here are a few memorable examples of actors who played against type.

10. Leslie Nielsen- Airplane! (1980)

I could fill a good chunk of this list with the cast of Airplane! alone and technically, it would still work (hence the header image). It’s ironic that one of the greatest comedies ever made featured a cast of actors who were all (at least up to that point) typically known for playing serious roles. Perhaps this was what allowed it to stand out among other comedies of that time. Surely you can’t be serious if you made such a list without including the late Leslie Nielsen’s iconic portrayal of Dr. Rumack.

Agreed by most to be the film’s breakout character, Rumack’s cool headed obliviousness to the ridiculousness around him was only enhanced by Nielsen’s ability to deliver his character’s most absurd lines with flawless levels of deadpan. The character was such a success that Nielsen soon began to primarily focus on other comedic roles. However, this one role still stood out for being against type on both portions of Nielsen’s acting career. It was a departure from the many serious roles he played before Airplane! came out while still being portrayed with a level of dryness and sharpness unlike the bumbling characters we became accustomed to seeing him as later on in his career.

9. Samuel L. Jackson- Unbreakable (2000)

Known for playing trash talking men of action like Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction or Nick Fury in the MCU, Jackson’s characters were never confined to a particular genre or alignment. Whether as a hero or villain, played straight or for laughs, viewers were accustomed to his boisterous physical expressions, colourful language and matter of fact demeanor. It was a given that no matter what was going on in this movie, you could best believe that Jackson’s characters would be right there in the thick of it all. Jackson was so successful in these roles because he was able to project his own personality into the characters he portrayed, making them natural and believable.

All that went out the window in M. Night Shyamalan’s superhero origin story, Unbreakable. Unlike the self-assured, hard as a rock type characters we were accustomed to seeing him portray, the character of Elijah Price was an exceptionally fragile man both physically and emotionally. He was truly fitting of the moniker “Mr.Glass.” Suffering from brittle bones that do not allow him to be in the heat of the action and socially reclusive from years of childhood bullying, Mr. Glass was an extremely complex character.

A lost soul searching for a purpose in life, Glass had no problems making himself the villain if it meant he had found his place in the world. A stark departure from most roles he played, Glass’ disability meant that he could not be played with the same high action physicality typically seen in Jackson’s movies. Instead, Jackson had to play a scheming mastermind with a level of vulnerability not seen before in any of his characters. To say he pulled it off successfully would be an understatement as Unbreakable soon became the first instalment of a trilogy set in it’s own universe.

8.Charlize Theron- Monster (2003)

One of Hollywood’s most beautiful and successful actresses, Theron has received numerous accolades and has played characters ranging from wholesome girls next door to high action heroines and even villainous vixens. Her roles also span various genres such as action, romance, comedy and even biographical movies. A constant in many of her performances was her charm and elegance and us viewers could not picture her any differently.

That was until 2003’s monster where Theron portrayed serial killer Aileen Wuornos. To portray the mentally unstable murderer, Theron underwent quite a transformation. She shaved her eyebrows, gained around 30 pounds and wore prosthetic teeth to fit the look. If you had to rank the most successful roles that were played against type, this would be high up there as Theron won both the Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for best actress while the film itself earned numerous accolades as well.

7. Rodney Dangerfield: Natural Born Killers (1994)

Earlier, we’ve seen the success of a serious actor’s transition to comedy. Now, we see the opposite. One of the greatest comedians of all time, Rodney Dangerfield was both a success on the stage and screen. Throughout his near 70 year career, he had crafted an image as a lovable loser who always somehow came up on top in the end. His movies were lighthearted and wholesome and his characters were relatable, if not a little whacky.

All that changed in the controversial, Natural Born Killers where Dangerfield portrayed Ed Wilson, the father of one the movie’s main characters Mallory. His character, in keeping with the film itself, was dark and plain evil. He was a vulgar man who constantly insulted his family, used offensive slurs and sexually abused his own daughter. Unlike the lovable losers we were so used to seeing Dangerfield play, there was nothing the slightest bit redeeming about Ed Wilson. So much so that many viewers found it satisfying to see his character get killed off.

What was so memorable about Dangerfield’s performance was that he took his light heartedness and propelled it into the darkest direction possible. Still dropping witty one-liners as an unsettling laugh track echoed in the background. The fact that someone whom we could so easily love was able to go out of his way and flawlessly play a character we could so easily hate is a testament to Rodney Dangerfield’s often overlooked versatility as an actor.

6. Adam Sandler: Reign Over Me (2007)

Keeping with the trend of comedians taking on serious roles, we move on to Adam Sandler. His movies and characters need no introduction. They’re loud, absurd and in your face with slapstick and bathroom humor ad nauseam. Whether you find them truly funny or not varies with each person but chances are you watched them anyway. When someone mentions an Adam Sandler movie, your mind will automatically associate it with a comedy.

That was why, his role in 2007’s Reign Over Me as Charlie Fineman, a man who had lost his wife and kids in 9/11 was very surprising, not only for the tonal shift from the typical Sandler film but because of the very heavy subject matter the movie deals with. Watching Sandler convey the agony and struggles of a once sociable and successful man in the face of tragedy was a very refreshing change of pace from what we were normally used to. His performance was not only uncharacteristically tasteful but also fairly profound. Although Sandler is still primarily a comedic actor, this movie was our first glimpse of his ability to play dramatic roles well

5. Christopher Walken: Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Be it as a good guy or bad guy set in a comedy, drama or action film, there is always something endearingly weird about Christopher Walken’s characters. That seemingly unintentional deadpan expression and the way he delivers dialogue, one can always notice Walken’s own idiosyncrasies seeping out into his characters. We can’t complain though because that is what gives them their shine. We can never know for sure what’s going on in these characters’ minds and we love them for it.

However, in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film, Catch Me If You Can, Walken puts all that quirkiness aside and plays it completely straight. Playing Frank Abagnale Sr, father of Leonardo Dicaprio’s character in this pseudo-biographical film, Walken’s performance is subdued and appropriate for the role of a well-meaning family man trying to get around his financial troubles. There was something uncharacteristically relatable about Walken’s ability to portray the struggles of his character and it serves as a testament to his ability as an actor to so seamlessly break out of the shell that has served him well for decades.

4. Michael Keaton: Batman (1989)

Although we are now more than aware of Michael Keaton’s success in both dramas and superhero films, he was best known earlier on as a comedy actor. Mind you, he was a good one with the ability to play lighthearted everymen or ridiculous poltergeists. As good as these may have been, it did not fit the image of the face behind DC’s preeminent tragic superhero. Fans were understandably apprehensive about the choice to cast Keaton especially when other actors, more fit to the genre could have been selected.

The main fear was that by having a comedic actor portray Batman, the movie would not stay faithful to it’s darker roots and drift off into a campier direction akin to the 1960s series. To say that Keaton proved everyone wrong would be a massive understatement. He played the role as faithfully to the source material as possible, capturing not only the menacing aura of Batman but also the justness and vulnerability of his alter-ego Bruce Wayne. In a way, he was playing two different roles, both against type and both equally successful. One could say that this role elevated the genre of superhero movies and opened the doors for actors to transition into such roles by going against type. A notable example of this would be Paul Rudd in Antman. Michael Keaton’s role as Batman has been so widely acclaimed and iconic that to this day, he is often recognised by many as the best actor to play the character to date. So much so that he will make his return to the role in 2022’s Flash movie, 30 years after first hanging up his cowl.

3. Emma Watson: The Bling Ring (2013)

When we think of Emma Watson, our minds automatically go to the Harry Potter series. As Hermione Granger, a role she played for 8 movies, we began to associate Watson with the clever, friendly girl next door character she played. It was a role that made her an icon to kids and teenagers worldwide and credit to her, it takes a respectable amount of skill to play the same character on a near yearly basis. Successful as she was though, Watson, like most of the younger cast of the Harry Potter movies, found it difficult to move past the role that defined much of her early life and career.

This changed in 2013’s satirical crime film, The Bling Ring. While Watson had attempted to slowly ease her way out of the role that dominated her career, her portrayal of Alexis Neiers was a complete 180 from any semblance of what we were used to seeing from her. Gone was the properness, classiness and innocence that endeared her to the audience and in came an obnoxious, fame obsessed teen who burgled houses and caused mayhem simply for recognition and the thrill of it. Further removing herself from her past roles, she also adopted a very convincing American accent to fit the character. Although reception to the movie was mixed, Watson’s role in it was met with wide acclaim and has demonstrated her ability to move past being typecast into a particular character type.

2. Tom Cruise: Tropic Thunder (2008)

Arguably one of the greatest leading men of all time, Tom Cruise has made his mark on the film industry with his lead roles in both dramas and action films. With his good looks, agelessness and the ability to do his own stunts, he has been able to maintain top billing status for over thirty years. From the 1980s till today, if you need a strong male lead, Tom Cruise is among the first names to come to mind.

Enter Tropic Thunder. Cruise played the character of Les Grossman, an overweight, balding, foul mouthed film executive. He was not just the complete antithesis of Cruise himself but a complete departure than any character he has played before or since. Unlike most movies which capitalize on his good looks and charm, Cruise was required to wear a fat suit, bald cap and large prosthetic hands to portray the unattractive Grossman. His dramatic chops and ability to do highly physical scenes were reduced to vulgar rants and a strange but memorable dance scene towards the end of the film. Despite this, Tropic Thunder was a roaring success and remains Cruise’s only comedic role to date. An interesting thing to note was that the character of Grossman was invented by Cruise himself. This shows not only his own willingness to go against type but also showed Cruise’s own creative prowess. If this eventually proves to be his only comedic role, he couldn’t have done it better.

1. Daniel Craig: Knives Out (2019)

Nobody was better suited to carry the character of James Bond into the 21st century than Daniel Craig. As suave and quick witted as his predecessors, Craig brought a modern grittiness into the role. He has held down the role of 007 for 15 years, longer than any of his predecessors and has even acted alongside Queen Elizabeth! Riding on that success, one could not imagine Craig in any role outside his commanding position as a leading action star. With his stone cold demeanor and intimidating one liners, Daniel Craig could truly be considered one of Hollywood’s preeminent hardmen.

When the mystery film, Knives Out was released in 2019 with Craig in a leading role as private investigator Benoit Blanc, there were no doubts that such a role was right up his alley. What we did not expect though, was how outside his comfort zone Craig went to set his character apart from James Bond. Replacing his actual British accent with a homely Southern drawl, this was just one of many instances of Craig going against type in this role. Where Bond was cold and gritty, Benoit Blanc was enthusiastic and quirky. Rather than a suave womanizer, Craig portrayed him as a sweet-natured gentleman with a virtuous heart and a love for his job. There was a certain innocence about Blanc that James Bond did not have. Despite the occasionally lighthearted nature of the movie and Blanc’s friendly disposition and eccentricities, Craig was able to avoid the comedic stereotype of a bumbling detective and still portray Blanc as a capable and consummate professional. Being pitted against an antagonist played by Chris Evans (who himself was also playing against type) further highlighted Craig’s ability to play more animated and lighthearted characters.

What made this performance so memorable was the fact that it did not need to go as against type as it did but went for it anyway with extremely successful results. This movie not only showed us Craig’s ability to portray more lighthearted and less intimidating characters but was such a success that it spawned it’s own franchise. With the second instalment of Knives Out having already begun filming, I personally am looking forward to more of Benoit Blanc and of Daniel Craig’s post Bond career.