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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 LewisSaturday, 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

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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

15 of the unlikeliest action heroes in movie history

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CalistanWay Great list! What about James McAvoy in WANTED?

jcregg Billy Crystal in Running Scared?

Matty Daniel Day Lewis in LOTM, coming off of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and My Left Foot.

Conny conway You forgot Duncan Mac cleod

Conny conway Duncan Mac Leod!

Conny conway The highlander Duncan Mac Leod

DougK Even though the movie was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.

DougK Even though the film was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.

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.

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.

Jack joseph gordon-levitt would definitely be in this list now after inception and Looper

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CalistanWay

Great list! What about James McAvoy in WANTED?

jcregg

Billy Crystal in Running Scared?

Matty

Daniel Day Lewis in LOTM, coming off of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and My Left Foot.

Conny conway

You forgot Duncan Mac cleod

Conny conway

Duncan Mac Leod!

Conny conway

The highlander Duncan Mac Leod

DougK

Even though the movie was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.

DougK

Even though the film was a major flop, Geena Davis in Cutthroat Island.

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.

Jack

joseph gordon-levitt would definitely be in this list now after inception and Looper

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