The deep, dark, realms of horror are populated by several talented individuals who have brought horrific stories to life on screen. It takes a special sort of gift to continuously portray the monster, villain, or even the final girl time and time again. As memorable as their horror roles are, these performers aren't one-trick-ponies.
On the contrary, many famous faces of fear have lent their talents to various projects outside the genre, sometimes even going on to play staple characters or win award nominations without the need for guts and gore. While the genre will always be what put them on the map, sometimes a genre-breaking role can be a pleasant surprise.
Boris Karloff (The Grinch)
Although his career will forever be defined by his portrayal of Frankenstein's Monster, his vocal chops were also something to behold. Roles like Ardeth Bey allowed Karloff to show off that hypnotic and tranquil tone of his, but no role made better use of his voice acting than the original How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
The Grinch is one of the first villainous characters most modern audiences are introduced to at a young age, so it makes sense that a gifted villain actor would be picked to play the part. But while the Grinch isn't as monstrous as some of his other roles, Karloff will always be a holiday favorite when Christmas comes around.
Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick)
Warwick Davis is a man of many talents, and he's had more than his fair share of roles across genres. Although he's played a variety of beings from Ewoks to androids, the most repetitive role in his career is that of the evil imp in the extraneous Leprachaun series. That being said, his gift for playing magical creatures hasn't gone unnoticed, especially by the Wizarding World.
It's one thing to be a permanent fixture in the horror genre, but it's another type of honor to become a member of Hogwarts's distinguished faculty. The half-goblin wizard is the charms master, choir leader, and head of Ravenclaw House, and Davis's distinct figure and portrayal make him a fan favorite amongst Muggle fans the world over.
Brad Dourif (Billy Bibbit)
Brad Dourif One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Chucky might have kickstarted Dourif's horror status, landing him other villain roles like the Gemini Killer and Grima Wormtongue, but it's interesting to consider what would have happened if he stuck to the drama genre. If he had won the Oscar, he might have had a completely different career.
Richard Brake (The Night King)
With frequent collaborations with Rob Zombie decorating his filmography, Richard Brake has already incorporated an intimidating persona in his film career. His portrayal of the terrifying Doom-Head of 31 is certainly a fine example of what he can do with a horror-driven monologue, but sometimes the best characters can leave lasting impressions by saying nothing at all.
Although the genres tend to overlap, fantasy villains require a different set of skills. That being said, the Night King on Game of Thrones will arguably be Brake's standout character, despite his frequent horror contributions. From his icy stare to his eerie undead aura, Brake is the definition of the word "chilling" in this fantasy epic.
Jamie Lee Curtis (Tess Coleman)
Forever known as the queen of final girls, Jamie Lee Curtis has done more than enough to earn her place in the horror hall of fame. From continuously dodging the knife of Michael Myers to surviving an equally harrowing prom night, Curtis knows how to handle slashers better than most. But while horror might have given her a big break, Curtis is truly an underrated comedic performer as well.
While she's had several comedy roles in films like Freaky Friday. Seeing the actress go from a no-nonsense therapist to a teen in a grownup body is one of her most entertaining ventures. It's certainly a different side her fans love to see.
Doug Jones (Jerry Arthur)
Doug Jones's role as Jerry Arthur in the film My Name is Jerry earns a very special mention. Not because it necessarily gave the actor some major breakthrough that changed his career, but because it's one of the few non-horror-movie roles that had Jones completely be himself.
Known mainly for roles like Billy Butcherson of Hocus Pocus or the Faun/Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth, Jones has an impeccable gift for playing creatures and characters with tons of prosthetics. While he would go on to star in the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water, his role as a door-to-door salesman on a journey of self-discovery displayed that he could do more than monsters.
Robert England (The Riddler)
While he would be more appropriately cast as the Scarecrow in that universe's version of The Riddler.
The more gothic take on Gotham's prince of puzzles was certainly an original approach, and Robert Englund practically vanishes in the role. His soft-yet-sinister approach to the otherwise comedic character is a sharp right turn away from his Freddy Krueger days. Plus, seeing him in an animated series for younger viewers is a breath of fresh air compared to some of his more unsettling roles.
Tim Curry (Long John Silver)
Tim Curry's villains are some of the most beloved evil characters to grace the screen. From the weird and wild Dr. Frankenfurter to the devilish Lord of Darkness to his iconic portrayal of Pennywise, Curry is simply one of those actors who has an unquestionable knack for playing enjoyable villains. But out of all the different versions of Long John Silver that have come and gone, it's the one featured in Muppet Treasure Island that puts all of the actor's talents on display.
He can be creepy, he can be charming, he can be scary, and he can be silly all over the course of one role. It's hard to find someone who can be more outlandish than the Muppets, but Tim Curry was easily one of the best casting choices the Jim Henson Company ever made.
Anthony Hopkins (C.S. Lewis)
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic movie villains in or out of the horror genre, largely impart thanks to Anthony Hopkins's flawless portrayal of the infamous cannibal serial killer. But while Dr. Lecter might be the role most viewers and moviegoers associate with him, the actor has never been above showing his more tender side.
Howard's End, Meet Joe Black, and Legends of the Fall are all highly-praised pictures, but his leading role as C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands is an underrated masterpiece. The film explores the relationship between Lewis and Joy Gresham, and it's a character-driven romantic piece that many literary scholars will enjoy.
Vincent Price (The Inventor)
Vincent Price has often been considered the Master of Horror, having legions of iconic horror movies under his belt including The Fly, and a legion of Roger Corman movies inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. However, as talented as Price was in his villainous and horror roles, he did branch out on occasion.
Price knew how to do romance, thriller, and adventure movies, but his final role as the inventor in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands let him show off a more heartfelt performance. While he will ultimately be ed as an elegant villainous type, his final screen portrayal allowed the actor to show he was always capable of breaking the acting mold.
