Jack Blackhas been a predominant figure in the film industry, casting in blockbuster films such asSchool of Rock(2003),High Fidelity(2000),Tropic Thunder(2008), andKung Fu Panda(2008).School of Rock,in particular,inspired a generationof young movie fans and musicians alike. However, his extensive contributionas a comedianis why he has been a renowned onscreen staple for the past four decades. Over his extensive career,he has won many awards, including, but not limited to, the CinemaCon, BTVA Feature Film, Blockbuster Entertainment, and DVDX Awards.
There is no doubt that Black is a once-in-a-lifetime endowment, evident not only through his acting prowess but also his musical ability. He has also collaborated with superstars such as Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Nick Jonas, and Kevin Hart. Recently, Black has hinted that he is planning to take it a notch down or retire, “I’ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. But not too many. I’m looking to wrap it up pretty soon. Ride off into the sunset.” That said, many people don’t know that Black has featured in non-comedic roles. Below are five of the most iconic ones that you should definitely try out.
4King Kong (2005)
Black’s character in the 2005 filmKing Kongis probably his standout non-comedic role over the years. He acts as Carl Denham, a film director who embarks on an epic journey with his crew to Skull Island to record a movie. However, they encounter a prehistoric gorilla,Kong,which proves to be a barrier to his ambitions. A romantic tale ensues betweenKongand the lead actress, Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts). In the end, Black brings the beast to New York, proclaiming it is the “8th wonder of the World.”
In aninterview with NBC’s Stone Phillips, the journalist first describes Black’s role as a dramatic U-turn from comedy. Black himself was surprised that he landed the role, stating that he had to pinch himself hard to ensure that he was really awake. He also admits that the character was different from what he was accustomed to since the script had darker elements.
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3Bernie (2011)
Bernieis based on true life events, whereBlack plays Bernie Tiede – a mortician. He is an all-around nice guy with a huge fan base around the town, primarily because he supports theatre groups and youths. He also goes the extra mile to organize funeral events for various families, taking note of even the tiniest details. Black later develops a friendship with Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), and the resulting relationship yields some terrible events.
The film depicts Black as a serious character who has everyone fooled until the end. In fact, take your eyes off the screen, and you may end up missing the whole essence of the movie. For someone who had spent most of his time making comedy, Black does justice to this role. It is arguably one of his standout performances in the film industry.
2Goosebumps (2015)
When you become accustomed to a comedy character, it becomes hard to adapt to the change of scenery when they adopt more serious roles. For instance, a shift from comedy to horror is really super weird, right? Well, it is not the case for Black. In the filmGoosebumps, Black plays the role of R. L. Stine,an authorwho keeps an extensive range of monster creations locked away using magic. However, the zombie-like monsters and dummies are released accidentally, setting the scene for thrilling drama and action.
Black later revealed that he decided to take the role because everyone sees him as a snuggly and lovable character. He decided to focus on the dark play andstated during an interview, “everyone has a creepy side, everyone has a dark side and a light side.” Although the film also features some comic relief, the dark and scary role showcases that Black has diverse abilities to play various characters regardless of genre.
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1The Jackal (1997)
The Jackalis another film where Black has proven that he can play various roles, even in select drama roles. This particular film is significant in his career because it proved that he is a versatile actor. Black takes the role of Ian Lamont – a gunsmith who creates a weapon for the lead character, The Jackal (Bruce Willis). He gets killed as he tries to run away after trying to take over Willis’character. Although the role was brief, it helped build his reputation as a diversified actor. Not many people expected that he would feature in an action movie. Ultimately, he landed a lead role in the blockbusterKing Kong, which helped cement his status as a leading actor in Hollywood.
