
Emma Thompson isn't just an Academy Award-winning actress. She's also really funny. The Sense and Sensibility actress started her career as a stand-up comedienne. Thompson isn't the only big-name actor who rocked open mic night before switching to the silver screen.
Some of Hollywood's biggest names got their start as stand-up comics. Check out which of your favorite stars went the stand-up route before making blockbusters.
Image via Zhang Fan/Xinhua Press/Corbis
-
Jamie Foxx
1Image via Jenna Blake/Corbis
Friends pushed Foxx to do an open mic night at a comedy club during college. He was a hit, and ended up on laugh-out-loud show In Living Color soon after. The triple threat (he can sing too!) nabbed an Academy Award in 2004 for his performance in Ray, and has wowed in other films including Django Unchained, Jarhead, and Dreamgirls.
-
Eric Bana
2Image via Byron Purvis/AdMedia/Corbis
-
Steve Buscemi
3Image via Joe Stevens/Retna Ltd./Corbis
-
Amy Schumer
4Image via Byron Purvis/AdMedia/AdMedia/Corbis
Once a no-name stand-up comedian, Schumer showed off serious acting (and writing) chops in 2015's Trainwreck. She earned a Golden Globe best acting nod for her performance.
More from The Stir: 9 Stars Who've Bared It ALL for the Movies (PHOTOS)
-
Mo'Nique
5Image via Terrence Jennings/Retna/Retna Ltd./Corbis
-
Seth Rogen
6Image via Byron Purvis/AdMedia/AdMedia/Corbis
-
Kevin Spacey
7Image via Katy Winn/Corbis
-
Whoopi Goldberg
8Image via Dennis Van Tine/Geisler-Fotopres/dpa/Corbis
Goldberg's stand-up routine was so good that she had her own HBO special and one-woman show before heading to the big screen. The funny lady quickly earned acclaim for her acting as well. She gave fans goosebumps in 1985's The Color Purple and won an Oscar for 1990's Ghost.
More from The Stir: 14 Stars Who Were Fired From A Movie (PHOTOS)
-
Jim Carrey
9Image via Dennis Van Tine/Geisler-Fotopres/dpa/Corbis
Carrey landed his first stand-up gig at 15, and went on to open for comedic legend Rodney Dangerfield. A physical comedian with a knack for mimicry, Carrey segued his fame into starring roles in hit movies such as The Truman Show, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Bruce Almighty.
-
Michael Keaton
10Image via Pacific Press/Corbis
-
Emma Thompson
11Image via Zhang Fan/Xinhua Press/Corbis
-
Eddie Murphy
12Image via Jared Milgrim/The Photo Access/The World Access/Corbis
Murphy's stand-up routine as a teen helped land him a spot on Saturday Night Live. His comedic chops served as a springboard into acting. Norbit aside, the Oscar-nominated actor has carried great movies, including Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming to America.
More from The Stir: 13 Movie Stars Who Were Almost Unrecognizable Onscreen (PHOTOS)
-
Woody Allen
13Image via Hubert Boesl/dpa/Corbis
-
Robin Williams
14Image via Xavier Collin /Retna Ltd./Corbis
As a stand-up comedian, Williams was known for his improv and his speed -- both of which continued to benefit him when he took up acting. Williams aced countless films including Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Hook, and Mrs. Doubtfire. He won a best supporting actor Oscar for Good Will Hunting in 1998.
-
Chris Rock
15Image via Paul A. Hebert/Press Line Photos/Corbis
-
Ron Perlman
16Image via Byron Purvis/AdMedia/AdMedia/Corbis
Perlman's been banking on the big (and small) screen for nearly 40 years, including on hit show Sons of Anarchy. His attempt at stand-up comedy earlier in his career wasn't nearly as successful.
More from The Stir: 20 Stars Who Dissed Their Own Movies (PHOTOS)
-
Billy Crystal
17Image via Paul A. Hebert/Press Line Photos/Corbis