Actors Who Can Do Any Genre Or Are Total Typecasts
Some actors are some of the most multi-faceted entertainers in the world. It doesn’t matter what they look or sound like, they can just embody a role and completely become a different being. No matter the movie, these actors just know what’s required and deliver every time. On the other end of the spectrum, the industry has decided certain people are only fit to play one role for their entire career. Whether they lean into it or not, a few special people are so typecast it’s almost written law that they can’t be in anything that requires a modicum of effort away from their comfort zone. For better or worse, it takes all sorts of actors to make Hollywood shine, and they’re all incredible. Which are typecast and which can do just about anything? Take a trip down the Walk of Fame and then start scrolling!
Genre Jumper: Jim Carrey
It’s kind of baffling to think that Jim Carrey is often considered only a funny actor. The comic, painter, and outspoken activist is many things. One thing he’ll never be is typecast. While Carrey is an unstoppable force in a comedy role, he also knows how to keep the camera and attention on him in a drama. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of Jim Carrey’s best movies of his entire career.
Seeing the typical zany actor embrace the seriousness of Joel’s plight sent us all over the edge and does upon every rewatch. Part of what made it such a great movie was that nobody saw Carrey’s impact coming from a mile away. Nobody wanted to forget this movie after he took the lead.
One-Note Actor: Robert DeNiro
Robert DeNiro is a fantastic and extraordinary actor that has changed filmmaking and the level of professionalism people expect to see when they enjoy a movie. He’s also one of those rare actors that knows what he’s doing. But, he can never find a role that really transforms him into someone else.
Nearly every DeNiro part is him pretending to be someone somewhat similar to himself very well. There’s barely any characterization that separates DeNiro from whoever he’s supposed to be playing in front of the camera. That’s not a complaint, just an observation that rings in a single note over and over again.
Genre Jumper: Will Ferrell
No matter what people think of him, Will Ferrell is a highly successful comedian, actor, and businessman. He does such a great job of being a screaming manchild that many forget how good he is in serious roles. Stranger Than Fiction isn’t just a great film. It’s also an excellent example of the kind of range that helped get Will Ferrell to the top.
Playing the manifestation of someone else’s imagination really worked out well for Ferrell. Harold Crick’s mental breakdown played out in Ferrell’s favor. Not only could he try out new dramatic ways of acting, he could inject his own humor into the mix as well.
One-Note Actor: Jason Statham
If you’re looking for a great transporter that is also expendable, then look no further than Jason Statham. The English hunk and leading man has no problem getting dirty and standing up for his crew when the chips are down. He’s so good at it that that’s all he does! Every single Jason Statham is the same by the time the plot gets going.
Something bad happens. Statham shows up without shaving. He gets a gun somehow. Pow! ACTION! CARS! Resolution. Credits. $20-$25 million per film. Repeat. This is his MO and it’s been working so well that people don’t even have to guess what a Statham movie is about. Once his name is on the poster everyone already knows who he’s playing and what the film’s about.
Genre Jumper: Rowan Atkinson
It’s hard to separate Rowan Atkinson from his career-defining role as Mr. Bean. Almost every fan of Atkinson’s can name four or five Mr. Bean sketches that count as their very favorite. He’s an extraordinary comedian and physical actor! Even in roles featuring a lot more dialogue, Atkinson really steals the show. As the titular character of Edmund Blackadder, Atkinson shows off how straight-laced he can be while still delivering excellent comedy.
Even when he’s not the punchline, he still has a way of making people giggle. It doesn’t even matter if the moment is full of serious tones and war! Somehow though, it all works in a way only Atkinson can make happen.
One-Note Actor: Danny Trejo
Being a tall and gruff force of muscle and no-nonsense used to be a tall order for a lot of entertainers. Then Dany Trejo macheted his way to the front of the pack and showed everyone how easy that role was. He then proceeded to sit on that throne for his entire career. It doesn’t matter the context or plot.
Trejo always played the tough-guy with a soft side in nearly every project. It also always works out for him to the point that that’s all he does these days. You can’t hate on someone for being consistent, especially in the movies when he’s always consistently good.
Genre Jumper: Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler has proven time and again that he’s more than just a hilarious guy. He also has great taste in successful films. His company, Happy Madison Productions, has put out some of the funniest and most memorable films around. Despite Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and Billy Madison being Sandler’s classics, there are others that put him in even greater lights.
Dramedy smash-hit The Meyerowitz Stories would have been nothing without Sandler’s Danny Meyerowitz. Even with the occasional joke, Sandler cemented his legacy as a great multi-genre actor. Besides, have you even seen Click? It’s another great film that lets Sandler conjure up some more serious emotions in audiences.
One-Note Actor: Ryan Reynolds
Being a wise-cracking, smart, and handsome leading man that just so happens to be hilarious AND a good guy isn’t enough for some people. When you’re Ryan Reynolds, some people expect you to be more than that! Ignore them. That’s clearly what Reynolds has been doing for years. Despite already being an agent with a sassy mouth on Earth, Reynolds is known for playing some way out-there characters.
The singular thread connecting them all is that it’s basically Reynolds playing himself. Sometimes he’s in tights, or in makeup, or with swords, or as a spy, or something else, but he’s always just himself. People know that they’ll go to the movies just for him, so nobody has to do much more characterization when that’s the point.
Genre Jumper: Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill burst onto the scene in a hilarious and cloudy way. Despite his obvious charisma and charm, many thought he’d stay firmly rooted in comedy forever. As soon as Hill appears on a screen, you know the laughs aren’t far away. While his humor has gotten him far, many people are realizing the actor can do more than make people laugh.
His performance in the sci-fi drama Maniac cemented what people have been saying for years: Jonah Hill is an all-around incredible actor. Hill’s delivery of Owen Milgrim wasn’t just great, he also played off incredibly well with co-star Emma Stone!
One-Note Actor: Denzel Washington
Not every great actor is able to forever embody the roles that made them great. Sometimes, the sheer power emanating from someone is enough to erase any pretense of them playing someone else. Instead, some stars are just cast because they’re themselves, and nothing anyone can do can fix that. Denzel Washington is one such Hollywood giant.
He’s so accomplished and celebrated that his name alone is enough to bump up a film’s take-home. He’s a great actor, but it seems that most production company’s aren’t even trying when they book him for a movie. He just shows up, acts like himself, grabs his check, and heads home.
Genre Jumper: John Goodman
Who doesn’t love John Goodman? That’s right. Nobody. Despite being a mainstay and loveable character on Roseanne, Goodman also shines brightly in supporting and non-comedic roles! His performances in Coyote Ugly, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and The Big Lebowski showcase not just his range, but his ability to surprise people time and time again.
Goodman’s a powerful actor that has no problem stealing the spotlight. The fact that he can do it in both serious and horrifying projects as well as light-hearted sitcoms is pretty impressive. It’s also a testament to the legacy he’s built for himself during his time in front of the camera.
One-Note Actor: Liam Neeson
If there were ever to be a great kidnapping caper to befall Los Angeles, no real police would be called. Instead, everyone would shine a beacon in the sky and wait for Liam Neeson to take the case. Any time Liam Neeson is on the news, we know a new movie involving him running around the world hunting other humans is around the corner.
He’s either playing a former FBI/CIA/Black-Ops/some acronym agent looking to right a wrong in his own special way. Everyone eats it up too because we all like to think Neeson would likely do the same for us if we were ever kidnapped in some Eastern European country somewhere. He could also take on a superhero in a fight and win just because he’s Liam Neeson.
Genre Jumper: Ashton Kutcher
If we could turn back time, we’d go back to the late 90s/early 00s and place a big lump of cash on Ashton Kutcher’s career. This goofy and loveable actor surprised everyone when he went from Dude Where’s My Car and That ’70s Show to The Butterfly Effect. While Kutcher has always been a great performer, his role in the sci-fi drama was unprecedented.
His lack of his general humorous atmosphere was applauded after stretching his dramatic skills for the world to see. People realized soon after that Kutcher wasn’t just a rising comedic star. He was a powerhouse performer that would eventually have all of Hollywood, from every nook and genre, clamoring to get a piece of his power.
One-Note Actor: Sam Elliott
Back in the days of cowboys and shoot-em-ups, almost everyone, man, woman, and child, looked like Sam Elliott. It was just handlebar mustaches, slow-talking metaphors, and iconic imagery that will forever be remembered as the voice of Family Guy. Sam Elliott is one of those actors that seem to act as though the camera is just following him through another day in his own life.
There’s absolutely no other characterization in anything Elliott does aside from acting more like himself. It’s kind of brilliant when you think about it. Who’s better at playing Sam Elliott in something than Sam Elliott himself? He was practically born for the job!
Genre Jumper: Benedict Cumberbatch
There’s just something about Benedict Cumberbatch that makes people weak in the knees. Maybe it’s his alluring good looks. Perhaps it’s his charming accent and witty delivery of his lines. Maybe, just maybe, it’s his innate ability to master any role he’s given but with a slightly unstable tilt to the delivery. Cumberbatch is an incredible actor.
There’s no denying that. He can do almost anything he sets his mind to! He also seems to shine especially bright when he allows his characters, and himself, to go a bit off the deep end. Think about it. He rarely has a bad role. However, his best performances are always slightly unhinged in the best of ways.
One-Note Actor: Michael Cera
We’re not sure if he stopped halfway through growing up, or just decided he would maintain his youthful appearance for life, but Michael Cera is frozen in a time capsule. The guy hasn’t changed his looks for twenty years and shows no sign of ageing for another twenty. He also hasn’t changed the core set of roles he takes to fund his lifestyle of relaxed awkward guy.
In every movie, commercial, and interview he’s in, Cera seems to play the dude that says the wrong thing because his social anxiety got the best of him. Through a series of odd events, he turns out to be an integral player in a slightly ridiculous story. That’s his entire career and nobody seems to talk about it enough.
One-Note Actor: Keanu Reeves
It’s not always an actor’s fault when typecasting defines their entire image. Keanu Reeves just so happens to play the same incredible character in every single movie. It just so happens to be a great role, so why not? Despite his deadpan delivery in…everything, he always plays a leading hero with a questionable set of deadly and highly-useful skills.
Let him mumble his way through a script, scream something once or twice, and just kick butt for a while. Bam. An instant hit and millions for everyone. While Reeves has expanded a bit past that, his tried and true favorite and go-to will always be a low-talking savior with a kung-fu edge.
Genre Jumper: John C. Reilly
It may come as a surprise to some, but John C. Reilly is more than just a quirky comedy actor with some serious sci-fi chops. He’s been around a lot longer than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reilly got his start in action and war movies! This guy has been all across the board when it comes to the types of movies being put out by Hollywood.
Reilly’s ability to be a witty and goofy character actor didn’t hold back his options. They were bolstered by the unique spin he’s able to bring to every role he takes, regardless of whether they’re comedic roles or not! He also has one of those faces that can be unforgettable as well as completely transformed into something new.
One-Note Actor: Mel Gibson
When an actor goes overboard with their personal antics their career doesn’t just suffer, it becomes indistinguishable from their fictitious life. Mel Gibson was once the king of the entertainment industry. He starred in some incredibly acclaimed films that are still talked about to this day. He’s also talked about his headline-making personal life that he loves to vocalize, drunkenly, to anyone who will listen.
Gibson’s ability to look like he’s on the verge of tears, while still staying a complete sociopath is unprecedented among his peers. He always appears to be three frames away from losing his sanity on whoever or whatever is sharing a scene with him. It also always plays into whatever character he’s getting paid to take his neurosis out on.
Genre Jumper: Emily Blunt
It’s always interesting to see the trajectory of major stars and how they ended up at the top of their respective lists. Emly Blunt has had a wild ride of a time. From romantic comedies to sci-fi action thrillers, she’s seen and done it all. That’s probably why she’s able to transition across genres so easily. That’s not a new trick she’s had to learn!
She also has the charisma and charm to not only land a diverse set of roles but deliver them in a way that’s undeniably her own. Blunt is frequently at the top of many people’s must-have actors. The best part is, it’s not just for the classic rom coms that she starred in in the beginning! She can do everything!
One-Note Actor: Tommy Lee Jones
Are you looking for a grizzled no-nonsense cop that has no time for silliness but gets mired in it? Tommy Lee Jones is the only actor available throughout the history of time to get those parts. He’s a great guy and seems to do a good job with everything he does.
What doesn’t make sense is why he doesn’t do more than just set up a perimeter and let others steal the glory. As long as the project is filming with some sort of police theme, he’ll be there. There is one other thing that’s a constant in a Tommy Lee Jones picture: he’ll always get his target.
Genre Jumper: Harrison Ford
When you’ve been in the business for as long as Harrison Ford, it can be fun to look back and see what roles you really shined in. The thing with Ford is, almost all of his movies were hits in their own right. It didn’t matter if he was in space or fighting NAzis in a cave, Ford’s ability to command a scene defies genre-limiting expectations!
Even when he’s not the star, Ford is able to make a role memorable (just look at Working Girl). His filmography is a diverse list of roles from minor to major that brought people laughs, screams, and to tears on multiple occasions. We’re excited to see where he ends up appearing next!
Genre Jumper: Jennifer Lawrence
There’s a reason Jennifer Lawrence was once the highest paid actor in all of Hollywood. It also isn’t because she survived the Hunger Games. J-Law is a hilarious, down-to-Earth, hyper-talented actor who managed to get a slew of genre-hopping roles fairly early in her career. She capitalized and took hold of every task and challenge that came across her desk.
With that wherewithal and drive, there’s no wonder at all how she can be the perfect fit for nearly any movie that’s come out in the last ten years. Her range will also continue to be celebrated for decades to come! On top of all that, she’s humble and doesn’t take herself too seriously.
One-Note Actor: Helena Bonham Carter
Do you need a spooky actor? We’ve got just the one. Are you looking for someone to have the ability to turn into a swamp witch with the moral compass of the evilest demon from the fifth circle of Hell? Yup, we still have a name in mind. Even without the financial backing of Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter is an accomplished and talented actor who has built a dynasty of great films to her name.
Carter has always known just what gives her that special edge to nab a role. Part of that just happens to be cast in a slightly creepy film that has macabre and memeable tones. The other part just so happens to be that Hollywood has put her into a niche that she not only shines in, but essentially defines.
Genre Jumper: Gary Oldman
Gary Oldman is one of those people that has been in nearly every single movie in the world, and yet, nobody can agree on what his best role is. That’s because they’re all so freakishly good. Oldman has been a villainous space CEO, Commissioner of Gotham, and even Harry Potter’s godfather! This guy has the ability to transform everything that makes him who he is into something completely detached and devoted to another character.
Oldman’s talents have been enjoyed and praised for decades. He also doesn’t seem to age in any way that is explainable for a human being. Plus, with the way he maintains the wisdom and swagger of someone around for eons, we’re sure he’ll be entertaining fans in every genre possible for quite a while.
One-Note Actor: Vince Vaughn
It doesn’t matter if you’re playing dodgeball, going to a wedding, or interning at a major tech company, we all need a wise-cracking wingman that’s a bit too loud. Whenever we need that specific dude, Vince Vaughn is always the first on our list of people to call. He’s a talented actor that somehow always fell into the exact same role for over a decade.
Vaughn himself has even admitted to doing the same role in different situations for so long that he got burnt out. When an actor steps back from their job because they were doing too much of the same thing, that’s the sign to finally pick up and do something new. That or nothing at all for a while.
Genre Jumper: Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Phillip Seymour Hoffman had the gravitas, skill, and chameleon-like ability to be a Hollywood staple for decades. The man could perform any role with an ease and gentleness that not many A-list actors are able to command. Despite his time in Hollywood, and on Earth, being cut short, Hoffman showcased such a genre-jumping range that he could be everywhere and still have it make sense.
From The Hunger Games to Doubt, Hoffman always had the ability to shine. It didn’t matter the role or genre! His talent highlights what true acting ability looks like. He will definitely be missed among his colleagues and fans, but will always be a shining star for generations to come.
One-Note Actor: Jennifer Coolidge
Say what you will about her, but Stifler’s mom kind of changed the cultural landscape there for a while. Jennifer Coolidge herself admits the role forever changed her personal life. What makes the role so fascinating isn’t just Coolidge’s ridiculous comedic delivery. It’s the fact that she’s been playing the same role for decades and absolutely killing it.
It doesn’t matter the show or movie, Jennifer Coolidge can deliver her iconic somewhat unstable, and boozily funny persona effortlessly. While it doesn’t do her many favors for showcasing her range, it sure has cemented her place in the zeitgeist of great Hollywood performances. Any project featuring already knows what they’re getting, and it’s always fantastic.
One-Note Actor: Jeff Goldblum
Being typecast isn’t always the worst thing that can happen to an actor. Sometimes, when you’re an iconic entertainer just for the fact that you’re you, it can be nice to not have to try super hard to expand your role list. While Jeff Goldblum has had a rich and storied career, some of his best moments span decades but are all played by the same character.
Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ian Malcolm is a sarcastic, no-nonsense, and slightly annoying chaos theorist who likes to have the last word. Even throughout the length of time of the Jurassic Park universe, Dr. Malcolm has had zero growth. He also happens to be the best character in every film he’s in, solely because Goldblum just acts like himself the entire time.
Genre Jumper: Meryl Streep
There’s no way, in any imaginable universe, that someone can talk about genre-fluid actors and not discuss Meryl Streep. We’re fairly certain that there are dictionaries out there with her picture next to the words “Hollywood”, “Acting”, and “Professionalism”. We can’t verify that, but it seems plausible. She can sing, she can act, she can joke, she can do it all.
Streep has been on stages and screens entertaining generations of people in a timeless and exhausting way. Whenever the Oscars roll around, we’re honestly shocked that her name isn’t included at least in one set of nominations just by default. It seems to be the fairest option possible since she’s been in almost every great movie ever made.