Liam Neeson wasn’t always Hollywood’s go-to action guy.
The Irish actor used his more subtle acting gifts to enhance movies like “Rob Roy,” “Schindler’s List” and “Michael Collins.”
Now, he’s a box office draw in knuckle-busting films like “Taken” and “Unknown.”
He’s simply the latest actor to reinvent himself to fit the industry’s needs and public appetites. Here are five more who did the same with positive results.
- Leslie Nielsen – Movie goers today know Nielsen for his supremely silly turns in “The Naked Gun” and “Airplane!” But the actor came of age as a very straight man in films like “Forbidden Planet.” The moment he teamed up with the Zucker brothers for “Airplane!” his career took a turn for the absurd. He still played things straight, but his deadpan demeanor only made us laugh harder.
- Alec Baldwin – This film fan couldn’t believe the husky-voiced actor wasn’t tapped to play Batman in Tim Burton’s 1989 smash. Who looked more like Bruce Wayne than Baldwin? Then, a not so funny thing happened. He got older – and heavier. And suddenly those leading man roles went to younger, thinner stars. So he changed gears, embracing his funny side in “Along Came Polly” and his inner menace with “The Cooler.” Who knew a character actor lurked beneath that movie star mug?
- Jamie Foxx: This Julliard graduate seemed destined for forgettable comic roles in movies like “Booty Call” and “Breakin’ All the Rules.” Then “Ray” hit Hollywood, and the comic actor’s career transformed overnight. He hasn’t always used his talent wisely, but there’s no doubt he can conquer any dramatic role that comes his way.
- Johnny Depp: The future Jack Sparrow seemed the ultimate indie film warrior. His resume defied convention, and mainstream audiences weren’t sure what to think of him. Then, he slapped on some eyeliner and stole Keith Richards’ mojo in three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. Now, he’s one of Hollywood’s most bankable, albeit conventional, stars headline films like “Rango” and the upcoming “Lone Ranger” film.
- Watcher’s Choice: Which actor or actress do you think did the best “Presto, change-o” act on their careers?
(Photo art: Leslie Nielsen changed the course of his career when he took the role of a doctor stuck on a doomed flight in “Airplane!”)
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d nominate Kathy Bates as someone who has followed (to some degree) in Baldwin’s shoes in terms of turning her dramatic Hollywood movie persona into a good comedic television one (“The Office”, “Harry’s Law”).
See I disagree with the Neeson example, he hasnt changed his persona he has always been an action guy, they simply werent offering him the roles he deserved.
Easy question, Ronald Reagan.
In light of the whole Charlie Sheen thing, I’m surprised nobody said Robert Downey Jr. With Iron Man and Sherlock, he’s now in the action hero, but can still dabble in comedy. The career change is that he’s no longer a “risk” for studios wondeing if they need to budget in bail money to any picture he signs on for.
I think you could argue that Christopher Walken was destined to be nothing but a great serious actor with roles in Annie Hall, Deer Hunter, The Dogs of War, etc., but he really didn’t capture our attention until he let his true freaky personality fly in goofy movies like Balls Of Fury, Joe Dirt, Pulp Fiction and Click.
Mickey Rourke’s career reinvention in the ’00s was pretty amazing, especially after he ruined both his career and his ’80s prettyboy good looks in the wrestling ring.
Sorry, I meant BOXING ring.
Great choice with Walken … he’s now a Walken parody and, apparently, having a blast.
I think Rourke is a case of resurrection, not reinvention. Although his mug feels reinvented!
John Travolta anyone?
Nic Cage could use one
Shatner, Shatner, Shatner.
Bill Murray graduated from SNL to so many smart-a** guy movie roles, but in the last decade he has been great in several serious roles in ‘Lost in Translation’ and ‘Broken Flowers’.
I’d have to say the *worst* reinvention has to be Robin Williams in serious films, though actually his comedic acting tends to annoy me too.
Disagree, Tom. Seeing Williams in his buddy Bobcat Goldthwait”s movie, “World’s Greatest Dad,” was a treat. He was wonderful in that role, and that movie was seriously undervalued.
Tom Hanks certainly has to be up there in reinventing himself, or evolving, however you want to look at it – from Bosom Buddies on tv, to a start in movies in such things as Volunteers and Bachelor Party, and on to Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan, Gump, etc. I think Jim Carrey may have been trying to pull off a similar change but didn’t completely make the transition.