Chris Rockis one of the most well-known and recognizable names in the world of entertainment. Having started out as a standup comedian, Rock has also enjoyed an extremely fruitful career on the big and small screen as an actor, and hasinfamously hostedthe Academy Awards on multiple occasions. It is hard to deny the well-rounded talent of Chris Rock and his work ethic is seemingly second to none in Hollywood. He knows who he is, he knows who he is not, and it is this self-awareness that has made him such a beloved (for the most part) public personality.
One art form that Rock has dipped his toes into ever so slightly is that of the dramatic performance. The actor has featured in a handful of dramatic roles throughout his career, and the small sample size we have thus far has fans asking for more drama from the performer, as the talent for it seems to be there. Let’s take a closer look at why Chris Rock should do more dramatic roles.
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Comedy & Drama - Different Sides of the Same Coin
They say comedy and tragedy, or in this case, drama, go hand in hand. Numerous comedians have openly admitted that their humor and passion for comedy stems from some dramatic event in their past. Perhaps this is why comedic actors have had a long history in Hollywood of playing both genres so well. This is sometimes jokingly considered asTom Hanks Syndrome. Whether it be Jim Carey, Bill Murray, Robin Williams, Adam Sandler, Melissa McCarthy, Eddie Murphy, or countless others. Audiences have marveled at the transition some of their favoritecomedic actors have made to the darkest depths of dramatic roles. Movies likeEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,Uncut Gems, Dead Poets Society,and theexistential crisis focusedLost in Translation,have enjoyed tremendous success because of the performances given in the films.
There was indeed a time in Hollywood when entertainers cautiously stayed in their own lane. Comedians did comedy, dramatic actors did dramas, movie stars would never be seen on television, and TV stars were never given opportunities to star on the big screen. As society and technology changed, so did the entertainment industry. With a never-ending list of streaming services nowadays, actors and entertainers platform and genre hop all the time. The opportunities are present for any and all artists to explore any and all canvases of art. Entertainment has benefited from this, despite the perceived congested airwaves of programming the masses can access.
Movie and television writers are also less constrained than they have ever been. They are bold in their visions to bring real and raw emotional dramas to life and willing to take chances on actors that audiences may not have previously envisioned in these roles. Jason Sudeikis inTed Lasso, Jason Segel inShrinking, and Adam Scott inSeveranceare more recent examples of how this ever-growing trend is succeeding. All three of those shows are produced by Apple TV+, a platform that has shown a willingness for these new and inventive projects from unsuspecting creators.
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Proven Success
Dramatic roles, while something new to Chris Rock, are something that the actor has excelled at recently. Starring in the upcoming biographical film,Rustin, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama. Rock has also featured inSpiral: From the Book of Saw, and season four of the hit FX show,Fargo,all within a two-year span. The actor is showing Hollywood that he is a bankable name when put into dramatic projects. SomethingFargocreator,Noah Hawley, could seewhen casting Rock.
Fargoin particular should be closely analyzed as it is the actor’s biggest body of dramatic work thus far. Starring in season four of what is considered to be one of thebest TV anthologies of all time. Rock plays the head of a crime organization in 1950s Kansas City, his character of Loy Cannon is as devoted a father and husband as he is a ruthless leader in his organization, the Cannon Limited. Rock’s range as an actor is on full glorious display in this season of the series. Through victories, losses, love, tragedy and bloodshed in this series, the actor shows that given the opportunity he can shine as bright as any star in Hollywood.
The proven success from Rock on television and in the movies is there to see. Audience’s desire to see the comedian take on more serious and dramatic roles is there to see. Opportunities that may not have been there ten years ago are no seemingly there in spades. Chris Rock in dramatic roles is as fertile soil as there is in Hollywood, and well worth cultivating.
