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While we seem to drown in a sea of celebrities these days, real stars -- creative, innovative, endearing -- do not come along that often. Stand up comedy has given us many wonderful talents, but those who started by doing stand up, with some exceptions, never quite seem to mature as actors. Many of those who did were vaudevillians (Bert Lahr, Ed Wynn), but there were also those who resolutely refused to change their personas one whit (Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns). There was a time when actors could easily handle comedy (Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, even Jimmy Cagney) but they were actors first, equally capable of doing dramatic parts.
Those who came from stand up too often appear to think that maturing as dramatic actors requires taking on stories awash in sentimentality and treacle ("Patch Adams," anyone?). No matter how much you like a comedian, a quick perusal of IMDB often shows how little of their film work is watchable or enjoyable. Perhaps it is the struggle between maintaining an edge and achieving mainstream success, i. e., becoming a movie star. Here's a test, of sorts: if you're asked to participate in the Academy Awards for any reason or in any role, you are no longer cutting edge. You've made it; let mediocrity ensue!
