15 of the unlikeliest action heroes in movie history

When comedy and drama stars turn to fist fights and shoot-outs

By Chris Eggertsen, Gregory Ellwood, Dan Fienberg, Dave Lewis Saturday, Aug 25, 2012 10:51 PM

Hollywood action movies have long been a place where comedians can go to mix things up and "serious" performers can go to have a little fun and kick a little ass. But for every Bruce Willis and Will Smith -- whose move into action territory seemed like a natural career transformation -- there's a Jonah HIll or a Helen Mirren, whose presence in a shoot-'em-up makes audience do a double-take. Here are 15 unexpected action stars that tried to prove the naysayers wrong.

Do you agree? Disagree? Who did we miss? Sound off in the comments section below.

Ewan-mcgregor-star-wars-episode-1--the-phantom-menace

15 of the most unlikely action heroes in movie history

Launch Gallery ►

Next Article - Box Office: 'Expendables 2' remains the champ as 'Premium Rush' can't keep up
Previous Article - 'The Apparition' star Ashley Greene talks horror movies and video games

Trending Now on HitFix Boards

Topic	Started By	Latest Post	Replies
Female Directors	sandylewis90	2 months ago	1
Do we really want to look "Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III" ?	sandylewis90	3 months ago	1
Discuss Movies General on HitFix Message Boards »

CalistanWay

Great list! What about James McAvoy in WANTED?
August 25, 2012 at 11:28PM EST Reply to Comment
jcregg

Billy Crystal in Running Scared?
August 26, 2012 at 4:12PM EST Reply to Comment
Matty

Daniel Day Lewis in LOTM, coming off of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and My Left Foot.
August 26, 2012 at 9:54PM EST Reply to Comment
Conny conway

You forgot Duncan Mac cleod
August 27, 2012 at 2:27PM EST Reply to Comment
- Perplexio By the time of Highlander: Endgame, Adrian Paul had established himself as an action star on the Highlander TV show...
  
  Unless you're referring to Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in the original 1986 "Highlander" movie that spawned the TV series... I'd agree that Lambert was/is an unlikely action star.
  November 27, 2012 at 4:37PM EST
Conny conway

Duncan Mac Leod!
August 27, 2012 at 2:28PM EST Reply to Comment
Conny conway

The highlander Duncan Mac Leod
August 27, 2012 at 2:31PM EST Reply to Comment
DougK

Even though the movie was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.
August 31, 2012 at 10:28PM EST Reply to Comment
DougK

Even though the film was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.
August 31, 2012 at 10:29PM EST Reply to Comment
Biff

Several of those are far from iconic performances. But Die Hard created Bruce Willis. He was only known for Honeymooners, I believe, and was so unmarketable as an action star that they didn't even put his name on the posters.
November 11, 2012 at 11:35PM EST Reply to Comment
- Perplexio Don't you mean "Moonlighting?" "Honeymooners" was the 50s sitcom with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. "Moonlighting" was an 80s crime dramedy with Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis.
  November 27, 2012 at 4:39PM EST
Jack

joseph gordon-levitt would definitely be in this list now after inception and Looper
November 12, 2012 at 3:02PM EST Reply to Comment

News From Our Partners

Follow HitFix:

Follow @HitFix

Get Instant Alerts on Breaking News

HitFix.com

Event Calendar

Movies

TV

Music

Videos

Photos

Awards

Riot

In Theaters

New to DVD

On Demand

New Music

15 of the unlikeliest action heroes in movie history

When comedy and drama stars turn to fist fights and shoot-outs