The 20 Best Serious Movie Performances By Comedians

They might crack a smile but ain't a damn thing funny.

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It's always jarring to see your favorite funnyman in a role that is decidedly anything but side-splitting, but we personally love it when actors switch up their flow once in awhile. Brad Pitt can do Burn After Reading, so why can't Will Ferrell in turn play an alcoholic divorcee in Everything Must Go, right?

With Chris Rock shifting gears to more dramatic fare in the upcoming Julie Delpy flick 2 Days in New York, we thought we'd celebrate his career experimentation by highlighting the other definitive moments in Hollywood history when a comedian decided to button it up. Click through for The 20 Best Serious Performances By Comedians.

Written by Frazier Tharpe (@The_SummerMan)

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20. Dane Cook as Mr. Smith

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19. Vince Vaughn as Peter Novak

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18. Chris Tucker as Skip

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17. Jack Black as Carl Denham

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16. Robin Williams as Walter Finch

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15. Seth Rogen as Kyle Hirons

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14. Chris Rock as Mingus

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13. Jonah Hill as Peter Brand

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12. Zach Braff as Andrew Largeman

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11. Steve Martin as Ray Porter

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10. Ben Stiller as Jerry Stahl

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9. Steve Carell as Frank Ginsburg

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8. Bill Murray as Bob Harris

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7. Will Ferrell as Nick Halsey

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6. Adam Sandler as Charlie Fineman

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5. Jamie Foxx as Max

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4. Eddie Murphy as James 'Thunder' Early

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3. Jim Carrey as Joel Barish

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2. Robin Williams as Dr. Sean Maguire

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1. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

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