1. Jim Carrey - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This movie is actually so heartbreaking. Jim Carrey showed a completely different side to himself in this film. He wasn’t cracking jokes, making funny faces, or anything like that. If anything, Kate Winslet was the funny one in the film! Either way, Jim Carrey tops my list of best dramatic performances by comedians.

2. Steve Carell - Little Miss Sunshine

Steve Carell can do no wrong in my eyes. Although he is a comedic genius, he can also do some serious acting. In Little Miss Sunshine, he plays a man who is recovering from a suicide attempt. He doesn’t really do or say do much, but when he does, it sticks with you. He’ll also be showing off his dramatic skills in his film, “Foxcatcher,” which will be released next year. I’m very excited for it!

3. Mo’Nique - Precious

If you haven’t seen this movie, what are you doing with your life?! This movie is a must-see. The acting is A+, especially for Mo’Nique. The actress erased every trace of her comedic ways in this film. It was a performance that made you just sit back and say “wow.” She definitely earned a lot of respect for this role.

4. Adam Sandler - Reign over Me

This isn’t Adam Sandler’s first dramatic performance, but it is my favorite. He plays a man who's lost his family in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He tries to recover from his grief by rekindling an old friendship. In my opinion, Sandler played the grief-stricken man perfectly. You can tell he that really cared about the storyline and the performance definitely showed it.

5. Bill Murray - Lost in Translation

Groundhog Day’s Bill Murray took on a very dramatic role in 2003’s Lost In Translation. He was nominated for a lead actor Oscar and SAG award for this role. He won a Golden Globe and the movie received a bunch of other honors! The film was made for $4 million, and went on to gross over $100 million worldwide at the box office. Not too shabby, huh?

6. Will Ferrell - Stranger than Fiction

Ferrell stars as Harold Crick, a man whose lonely life is transformed when he hears a voice narrating his life. In a desperate attempt to save his life, Harold must find the woman who’s narrating it (an author who has written Harold as her main character, only to figure out a way to kill him off). Ferrell has a few funny moments in this film, but overall his dramatic performance was very good!

7. Robin Williams - Dead Poets Society

For this incredible performance, Robin Williams was nominated for a lead actor Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG Award. He played the role of John Keating, an English teacher, in this 1989 classic. Worldwide, the film earned $236 million at the box office. This isn’t Robin’s only dramatic performance! Watch “One Hour Photo,” you’ll understand how great of an actor he really is.

This sums up my list for the best dramatic performances by comedians. Keep in mind, this list is limited to just 7! I know there a lot more comedians that deserve to be recognized. Who do you think should make the next list?