Stand-ups on screen

Make 'em laugh

Blame the constant search for a fresh face or the appeal of cheap acting talent. Whatever the reason, Hollywood execs have long been eager to place a popular stand-up comedian at the center of a major movie.

And while we all have personal favorites still waiting on their big-screen break (Daniel Tosh)—as well bad memories of the ones that came too soon (Andy Samberg; Andrew “Dice” Clay)—there’s no sign of this trend stopping anytime soon. Case in point: the seemingly unstoppable career of Dane Cook, whose latest movie “My Best Friend’s Girl,” opens Sept. 19. Take a look at a few of the biggest names in the legacy of screen-to-stage phenoms. —S. James Snyder, Special to Metromix