What actors can you think of that were traditionally cast in dramatic or action roles earlier in their careers, but later known for comedy? I thought of:

Cloris Leachman

William Shatner

Leslie Nielson

ed asner dolph sweet and kurtwood smith all come to mind

Like Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges also was a lot more likely to do comedy after "Airplane" than he had been before.

The one that comes immediately to my mind is Robert Reed.

Vince Vaughn

When Rock Hudson started in movies, it was dramas and melodramas (Giant, Written In The Wind), but after his succesful turn in "Pillow Talk", he became a light comedy star.

George Lindsey was primarily a dramatic actor before he landed the role of Goober Pyle and did very little drama after that.

Patrick Duffy dramatic for Man From Atlantis and Dallas switched to comedy with Step By Step.

alec baldwin