Line #31 Main/LeslieNielsenSyndrome


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[Creator/LeslieNielsen https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leslienielsentake2_7545.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:There has to be a perfectly rational explanation. Surely there's more than one Leslie Nielsen in Hollywood![[note]]Top: ''Film/NightTrainToParis'', ''Film/Snatched1973'', ''Film/ProjectKill''; Bottom: ''Film/SurfNinjas'', ''Film/SpyHard'', ''Film/ScaryMovie3''.]][[/note]]
6
7	->''"Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."''
8	-->-- '''Edmund Kean'''
9
10	The casting opposite of TomHanksSyndrome. With this trope, a successful actor with a history of dramatic roles plays against type and stars in a comedy, [[PlayedForLaughs playing it for laughs]] and generally acting silly. And it works. Unlike Tom Hanks Syndrome, the change will rarely be permanent: the actor will still dip into serious roles, and may even bounce back and forth from comedy to drama like a rubber ball. But sometimes, the actor finds a new niche (and a new career) as a comedic performer.
11
12	Named after actor Creator/LeslieNielsen, who, after a long career in the fifties, sixties, and seventies as a dramatic lead, turned to comedy in the 80s and thereby rejuvenated his career to the point that, these days, more people know him for his work in ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' and ''Series/PoliceSquad'' than they do for any of his prior dramatic or romantic roles.
13
14	Often related to TheComicallySerious. See also PlayingAgainstType. Note that this trope is not about serious performers who have done comedic work here and there. It is about people who once were well known for serious work, and now are primarily doing comedy. If the previous TypeCasting is sufficiently exploited, AdamWesting may apply as well.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	* The TropeNamer is Creator/LeslieNielsen. Prior to ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', Nielsen had a long dramatic career that spanned television and film. He often played military commanders and police detectives, with the occasional medieval king or Roman senator thrown in for good measure. Offers of leading roles had pretty much petered out by the 1980s, so he deliberately branched out into comedy with ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', playing TheComicallySerious. After that, he experienced a career renaissance as a comedic actor.
20	* Like Nielsen, Creator/LloydBridges ended his career better known for his roles in ''Airplane!'', the ''Film/HotShots'' movies and other comedy films than for his earlier dramatic work.
21	** In an interview, Creator/JeffBridges said the producers of ''Film/BlownAway'' were hesitant to cast Lloyd as his uncle in the film, thinking he was a solely comedic actor as a result of the above.
22	* Believe it or not, Creator/JimCarrey sort of qualifies. While he did appear in a short-lived sitcom in TheEighties (''The Duck Factory''), auditioned to be an ''SNL'' cast member (which he didn't get), and had an ongoing stand-up career, most of his early film roles were serious rather than comic (i.e., the alcoholic son in ''Film/DoingTimeOnMapleDrive'' and the ill-fated rocker in ''Film/TheDeadPool''). Ironically, Carrey's later serious roles like ''Film/TheTrumanShow'' were seen as PlayingAgainstType.
23	* Creator/TerryCrews first tried building a career in action films like ''Film/TheSixthDay'' but turned towards comedic roles after stealing the show in ''Film/WhiteChicks''.
24	* Back in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood Creator/JeanHarlow first got famous for playing MsFanservice roles in ''Film/HellsAngels'', ''Film/ThePublicEnemy1931'', ''The Secret Six'' etc. After UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode cracked down on sexual content in movies, Harlow switched up her image to be more of a DumbBlonde - and she appeared as such in all subsequent films.
25	* Creator/CharlieSheen was first known for roles in ''Film/WallStreet'' and ''Film/{{Platoon}}''... and then landed the role of Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn in ''Film/MajorLeague.'' ''Film/HotShots'', ''Series/SpinCity'', the ''Film/ScaryMovie'' franchise, ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'', and ''Film/AngerManagement'' would all follow.
26	* Creator/ChristopherWalken won an Academy Award for a dramatic role (1978's ''Film/TheDeerHunter''), but nowadays seems to do more comedies and [[OneSceneWonder gimmicky comedic cameos]] more often than not. He's even got his own ''Best of Series/SaturdayNightLive'' collection, despite never being an official cast member (notably, it's ''SNL'' itself that Walken credits this for; saying his Memetic appearances on the show are what helped create this career second wind he got.) Basically, his onscreen persona has experienced so much MemeticMutation that he's decided to embrace it, and his career is now largely based around SelfParody (but none the worse for it).
27	* Creator/AlecBaldwin has seldom been seen near dramatic works as of late, thanks to ''Series/ThirtyRock'' and his frequent hosting gigs on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (hosting so many times that he dethroned Creator/SteveMartin as the show's most frequent host, and essentially becoming a FakeGuestStar in Season 42 when Creator/DonaldTrump, whom he'd been portraying in skits surrounding the presidential election, actually ''won''). Heck, he's even doing comedy commercials.
28	* Creator/ChrisHemsworth hit the mainstream as the stoic Film/{{Thor}} and built his initial career on dramatic roles. But supporting appearances in films like ''Film/{{Vacation}}'' and ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'' showed the world that he is actually downright hilarious and adept at improv. Thus, ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' made the character more comedic and won rave reviews for the new direction.
29	* Creator/AnneHathaway surprisingly qualifies, and even went through this more than once in her career. Before she was famous she was in a short-lived drama series called ''Get Real'', with a smattering of other dramatic roles, before her StarMakingRole in ''Film/ThePrincessDiaries'', which typecast her as a GirlNextDoor comedy star. Then in 2005 ''Film/BrokebackMountain'' marked a departure back into drama while establishing her as a reliable actress for OscarBait, leading up to a Best Actress nomination for ''Film/RachelGettingMarried''. Then a 2008 guest-host appearance on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' reminded people that she could still do comedy, and since then she's specialized in comedy, particularly [[RomanticComedy Romantic Comedies]], and has even done voice acting in animated films and on shows like ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. And oddly, the trend became more pronounced after she actually [[Film/LesMiserables2012 won an Oscar]]. These days it's almost feels like she's PlayingAgainstType when she appears in a drama.
30	* Creator/RobertDowneyJr started out doing comedies (and he was a cast member on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' in the mid-1980s[[note]]on an all-star cast that was deemed so mediocre that Creator/{{NBC}} nearly had the show canceled[[/note]]), then went into dramatic work before falling victim to his drug problems. He relaunched his career with a comedy buddy movie (''Film/KissKissBangBang''), and now juggles between doing comedies and doing action films. Hell, [[DeadpanSnarker he's at his funniest]] in [[Film/IronMan his serious roles]].
31	* Creator/WilliamShatner is best known for the overly dramatic [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Captain Kirk]], as well as his intense performances in several episodes of the ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'', a supporting role in ''Film/JudgmentAtNuremberg'' and other serious roles. These days, however, he has made a name for himself as a loveable comedic actor, through things like the iconic Priceline commercials, ''Series/BostonLegal'', and ''Series/ShitMyDadSays''.
32	* Creator/JoannaLumley was famous for playing dramatic roles until she played the outrageous Patsy in ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''. She commented that her fan mail went from retired colonels telling her she was the perfect EnglishRose to drag queens asking her where she got her clothes.
33	* Creator/JohnCena initially attempted to branch out from [[Wrestling/JohnCena wrestling]] with the usual collection of action movies many pro wrestlers use to try and achieve mainstream success to diminishing returns. Then, he played a wannabe tough guy in a TransparentCloset in ''Film/{{Trainwreck}}'' and people realized he had a flair for comedy. This allowed him to try out different roles and bring his physicality and comedic skills together in roles such as ''Film/{{Blockers}}'', ''Film/DaddysHome'', and ComicBook/{{Peacemaker}} in DCEU features like ''Film/TheSuicideSquad'' and [[Series/Peacemaker2022 the eponymous series]].
34	* Creator/JohnCReilly was mostly known for serious roles, but had a hard time getting lead roles due to his unconventional looks. Then he got mixed up with Creator/WillFerrell (''Film/TalladegaNightsTheBalladOfRickyBobby'' and ''Film/StepBrothers'') and Creator/JuddApatow (''Film/WalkHard'') and experienced a career jolt as a successful comedic actor. Still to this day, he regularly drifts between comedic and serious projects and is one of the few actors alive who can get away with it (case in point: ''Film/WeNeedToTalkAboutKevin'' was filmed concurrently with episodes of ''Series/CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule'').
35	* Kitty Carlisle made her career as an operetta soprano (she was the female romantic lead in ''Film/ANightAtTheOpera''), but lasted longest as a panelist on the GameShow ''Series/ToTellTheTruth''.
36	* Attempted by Creator/DeborahKerr. As she moved into the 1960s, she starred in far more comedic roles in comparison to her earlier dramatic ones. These days however her more dramatic roles - ''Film/TheKingAndI'', ''Film/FromHereToEternity'', ''Film/TheInnocents'' etc. - would be far more remembered.
37	* Creator/JamieLeeCurtis first established herself as a horror movie UsefulNotes/{{Scream Queen\|s}}, playing the FinalGirl in films like ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'', ''Film/PromNight1980'', ''Film/TerrorTrain'' and ''Film/RoadGames''. Ever since ''Film/TradingPlaces'', however, she's been best known for comedies like ''Film/AFishCalledWanda'', ''Film/FierceCreatures'', ''Film/FreakyFriday2003'' and ''Film/TrueLies'' (which, while a [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Schwarzenegger]] action vehicle, also had strong comedic overtones). This is reflected in her starring role in the show ''Series/ScreamQueens2015'' - a horror comedy.
38	* Creator/GeneWilder had an abbreviated version of this trope. Although he considered himself a serious actor when he started out in live theatre (and appeared in a television staging of ''Theatre/DeathOfASalesman''), he only got one such film role, a supporting part in ''Film/BonnieAndClyde'', before co-starring in ''Film/TheProducers'' and launching himself as a comedic actor.
39	* Creator/RobertDeNiro had already cemented his legacy as an acting legend by the end of the 1990s thanks to his collaborations with Creator/MartinScorsese. He closed the millennium with ''Film/AnalyzeThis'', a comedy that sent up his mob archetype. Next year came ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRockyAndBullwinkle'' and ''Film/MeetTheParents''. With the blockbuster success of ''Analyze'' and ''Parents'', [=DeNiro=] found a second wind in his career as a comedic actor.
40	* Creator/PatrickTroughton: The second actor to play the lead in ''Series/DoctorWho'' was known for dramatic roles both before, during, and after his role as The Doctor. He was television's first Myth/RobinHood, a radio version of 1984's Winston Smith, as well as the priest from ''Film/TheOmen1976''. And he played UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler on stage. He played his Doctor as more of a clownish hobo figure in comparison to his more serious predecessor and successor, both of whom, in a way, qualify for TomHanksSyndrome.
41	* In a rare instance of an example being applied to a writer/director, Creator/BlakeEdwards got his start with "private eye" material -- on radio, TV and film -- before he directed the war comedy ''Film/OperationPetticoat''. This wasn't a big catalyst, but after ''Film/ThePinkPanther1963'', the majority of his output was comedic, although he continued to do drama here and there.
42	** His radio scripts for ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' are early examples of his comedic wit, while being very good detective stories as well.
43	* Creator/SpencerTracy gradually shifted to comedy with ''[[Film/FatherOfTheBride1950 Father of the Bride]]'', but ''Film/AdamsRib'' really provided a bigger catalyst for the shift. Though also well respected for his dramatic works, he rounded off his career with ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'' and ''Film/GuessWhosComingToDinner''.
44	* Alan Reed first played supporting roles on radio dramas but shifted largely to comedy by the 1950's. By the way, ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' is a comedy.
45	* Creator/FredMacMurray had both this ''and'' TomHanksSyndrome; he was known for "nice guy" roles in movies like ''Literature/AliceAdams'' and ''Trail Of The Lonesome Pine'', [[PlayingAgainstType played against type]] as a "heavy" in movies like ''Film/TheCaineMutiny'', ''Film/TheApartment'' and ''Film/DoubleIndemnity'', then switched over to often Creator/{{Disney}}-connected family-friendly roles like ''Film/TheAbsentMindedProfessor'', ''Film/TheShaggyDog'' and as a TV dad in ''Series/MyThreeSons''.
46	* Creator/RoseByrne was best known as a dramatic actress at the outset of her career, notably with ''Film/{{Troy}}'', ''Film/TwentyEightWeeksLater'', and the lead in sleeper hit ''Film/{{Insidious}}'' and FX drama ''Series/{{Damages}}''. She's gained a lot more recognition as of late as she's gone into more comedic work, with well-received turns in the smash hit ''Film/{{Bridesmaids}}'', along with ''Film/GetHimToTheGreek'', ''Film/{{Neighbors\|2014}}'', and ''Film/{{Spy}}''. Her role as Moira [=McTaggart=] in the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' keeps her in some drama however.
47	* Creator/JamesMarsden gradually shifted to comedy during the late part of the TurnOfTheMillennium. At the beginning of said decade, he is known playing the OnlySaneMan in action and heavy drama films (''Film/XMen1'', ''Film/TheNotebook'', ''Film/SupermanReturns''). Starting the late 2000s, he's mostly seen in romantic comedies or dramedies (''Film/{{Hairspray\|2007}}'', ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'', ''Film/TwentySevenDresses''), along with being foil to animated characters (''Film/{{Hop}}'', ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'').
48	* Creator/CandiceBergen got her start as a dramatic film actress, working very hard at trying to crawl from under her famous father Edgar Bergen's (think the '50s version of Creator/JeffDunham here) formidable comedic shadow by sticking to serious dramas. Playing Sydney Biddle Barrows in the TV movie ''The Mayflower Madam'' led to a second time hosting SNL. Her performance that night got her cast as the eponymous protagonist in ''Series/MurphyBrown''.
49	* Creator/JackieChan early in his career deliberately went for funny movies and adopted a comedic fighting style to [[BruceLeeClone differentiate himself]] from Creator/BruceLee.
50	* Roy Atwell dove headfirst from a dramatic actor into a comedic one when he nervously flubbed a line during his first time on Broadway (he was supposed to say, "It is spring and all the little birds are twittering in the tree tops," but it came out as: "Tis ting and the twits are birdering in the tree flops." ). From then on, stumbling over words became his trademark.
51	* Creator/VinceVaughn's first few roles were in the likes of ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'', the remake of ''{{Film/Psycho\|1998}}'' and ''Return to Paradise''. In the 2000s he became far more famous for comedies - ''Film/DodgeballATrueUnderdogStory'', ''Film/Film/MrAndMrsSmith2005'', ''Film/WeddingCrashers'', ''The Break Up'', ''Couples Retreat'' etc. While he does flirt with the occasional dramatic role - ''Film/IntoTheWild'', ''Series/TrueDetective'' - he's known primarily as a comedian.
52	* Creator/KateHudson's first film was a light-hearted drama ''Film/AlmostFamous''. Afterwards she became associated with romantic comedies - with the exception of ''[[Theatre/NineMusical Nine]]'' (musical) and ''Film/TheSkeletonKey'' (horror). As of ''Good People'' and ''Film/DeepwaterHorizon'' she seems to be approaching drama again.
53	* Creator/JenniferGarner debuted as an action heroine in ''{{Series/Alias}}'' and ''{{Film/Elektra}}''. After ''Film/ThirteenGoingOnThirty'' proved a surprising hit, she moved onto romantic comedies. While some of the films are dramatic, with the exception of ''Film/DallasBuyersClub'' they're still quite light-hearted - such as ''{{Film/Juno}}''. WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick even commented on how much better suited she was to comedy when reviewing ''Elektra''.
54	* Music/JenniferLopez got her start in dramatic roles such as ''Film/{{Selena}}'', ''{{Film/Enough}}'', ''{{Film/Anaconda}}'' etc. After her music career took off, she found a lot more success in romantic comedies such as ''Film/TheWeddingPlanner'', ''Film/MaidInManhattan'', ''Film/MonsterInLaw'' etc. She's far more likely to do comedy than drama these days.
55	* Creator/AlysonHannigan's StarMakingRole was as Willow on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. While light-hearted at times, ''Buffy'' was known for its TearJerker moments, and Hannigan's character was a huge [[TheWoobie Woobie]]. After ''Buffy'' she found success in out and out comedies ''Film/AmericanPie'' and ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
56	* Creator/TerenceHill started his career in dramas like ''Film/TheLeopard'' and straightforward Spaghetti Westerns like ''Ace High'' and a ''Django'' sequel. Then he was cast alongside Bud Spencer in the Western spoof ''[[Film/{{Trinity}} They Call Me Trinity]]'', redefining Hill as a comedian.
57	* Creator/JackElam had one of those faces that made it guaranteed he'd end up playing a lot of villains, and he did just that for most of his early career. But in 1969, he was cast as the BumblingSidekick in ''Film/SupportYourLocalSheriff''. His comedic timing and his ability to [[FacialDialogue deliver entire pages of dialogue with nothing more than his facial expressions]] meant that he was almost never cast as a villain ever again -- unless it was a bumbling incompetent villain in a comedy. According to his good friend Creator/JamesArness, at first Elam hated only being offered comedies, but soon realized he was becoming more famous as a comedian than he ever had been as a heavy, and started intentionally seeking out comedic roles.
58	* Creator/ChanningTatum first got into films doing either gritty indie projects (''Film/CoachCarter'', ''Film/AGuideToRecognizingYourSaints'', ''Film/StopLoss''), action films (''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'', ''Film/{{Haywire}}'') or romantic leading roles (''Film/StepUp'', ''Dear John'', ''The Vow''). With the successes of ''Film/MagicMike'' and ''Film/TwentyOneJumpStreet'' he has carved out a niche as a comedic actor - and delights in playing his tough guy image for as much laughs as possible. That being said, he also flirted with TomHanksSyndrome in the dark drama ''{{Film/Foxcatcher}}''.
59	* Creator/HaleyJoelOsment shot to fame as a child actor in dramatic films like ''Film/ForrestGump'', ''Film/TheSixthSense'', and ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence''. As he grew up, he transitioned to working primarily in comedic roles in works like ''Film/SexEd'', ''Film/{{Entourage}}'', and ''Series/SiliconValley''.
60	* Creator/AnnetteCrosbie was mostly known for highbrow drama, until she was cast as Margaret Meldrew in ''Series/OneFootInTheGrave'' which became her signature role and led to a lot more comedic parts.
61	* Creator/EmmaThompson started shifting from drama to comedy in the 2000s - transitioning from ''Film/TheRemainsOfTheDay'', ''Film/InTheNameOfTheFather'' and ''Literature/SenseAndSensibility'' to ''Film/LoveActually'', ''Film/NannyMcPhee'', ''Film/StrangerThanFiction'' etc. These days she's more likely to show up as "that funny English lady" in various films. Even in ''Film/SavingMrBanks'' - which is a drama biopic - she's playing TheComicallySerious.
62	* Creator/LeightonMeester got famous for a TeenDrama like ''Series/GossipGirl'' but pursued comedy films and sitcoms afterwards.
63	* Creator/GaryCole mainly did drama roles before ''Film/OfficeSpace'' (and before that, ''Film/TheBradyBunchMovie'', kind of) brought him into the comedy genre that he now does alongside his drama roles. His character on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' has comedic moments as well.
64	* Creator/MeloraHardin generally did drama until she took the role of Jan Levinson on ''Series/{{The Office\|US}}''. While Jan began as a ComicallySerious character, Hardin received praise for her performance once Jan started turning into more of {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, and since then she's added a lot more comedy to her resume.
65	* Creator/GerardDepardieu had this starting with ''Film/InspectorBlunder'' (he played in about forty movies before that, with starring roles in about fifteen of them since ''Film/LesValseuses''). He's played an even mix of comedies and dramatic roles ever since.
66	* Brazil offers a musical case: Utopia was a rock band whose dreams of fame fit well with their name. They noticed the jokey stage banter was earning bigger responses than their songs, reinvented themselves as the outright comedy rock group Mamonas Assassinas and had a meteoric rise to fame, being ubiquitous best-sellers [[ShortLivedBigImpact for six months before dying in a plane crash]]. It even led to them delivering some vengeance, as once their hometown who declined Utopia a concert in the municipal arena now was begging for Mamonas to play there, the eventual gig had as an opening act... the band doing a serious set as Utopia!
67	* Creator/PatrickStewart was primarily known as a dramatic Shakespearean actor who further ventured into science fiction with his portayal of Capt. Jean Luc Picard in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Since the 2000's, he's successfully transitioned into comedic roles, most notably Deputy Director Avery Bullock in ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''
68	* Creator/FrankLaunder (half of the Creator/SidneyGilliatAndFrankLaunder duo) was primarily known as a dramatic ''auteur'', with powerfully dramatic films like ''Film/ISeeADarkStranger'' and ''Film/TheBlueLagoon1949''. But after ''The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950), he eventually focused entirely on comedy, culminating in the triumph of ''Film/TheBellesOfStTrinians'' (1954).
69	* Creator/IchiroMizuki, known as "the Emperor of Anime Songs", had a long career as a singer having being active since the 1960s. However, after an appearance on ''Series/GakiNoTsukaiYaArahende'''s 2006 "24-hours No Laughing Police" special, he learned he quite enjoyed being a large ham (his appearance being especially effective due to PlayingAgainstType) and so began doing more variety show appearances alongside his still active singing career. His "ZETT!" catchphrase and wearing of a red scarf came from his appearance on that special.
70	* Creator/DavidAlanGrier was initially known as a dramatic actor in his early career in works such as ''Film/{{Streamers}}'', ''Theatre/{{Dreamgirls}}'', ''Theatre/ASoldiersPlay'' (as well as [[Film/ASoldiersStory its film adaptation]]), among others. Then he would become a cast member on the sketch comedy series ''Series/InLivingColor''. This would ultimately redefine Grier as a comedic actor, in which he's done more light-hearted work ever sense.

Context Main / LeslieNielsenSyndrome