Comingsoon.net is so scared to compile the best horror performances from comedians that it’s actually scary. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
With the high stakes and suspenseful thrills that go hand-in-hand with the horror genre, there’s almost always going to be a bit of comic relief somewhere in a scary movie. Naturally, the best person to handle the comic relief is an actual comedian. This is especially true as of late, with filmmakers like Jordan Peele and Danny McBride making the switch from comedy to horror.
That’s not to say that movies from before the 2010s can’t qualify, though. In fact, there are a few performances from the late 20th and early 21st centuries that paved the way for these types of performances we see today. Let’s laugh along with the best horror performances from comedians in both film and television.
comedian horror movies
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Billy Eichner, American Horror Story (2017-2018)
Known best for yelling obscure pop culture references as the eccentric people of New York City, comedian Billy Eichner has recently begun shifting toward other (less in-your-face) performances. FX’s hit series American Horror Story has utilized him twice now, first in season seven and then in season eight.
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Glenn Howerton, The Strangers (2008)
In the early years of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Glenn Howerton was still relatively unknown. Now, over a decade later, its hard to imagine the beloved comedian picking up a supporting role like he did with The Strangers in the late 2000s. Still, it’s a crazy little role within an even crazier little film.
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Kathryn Hahn, The Visit (2015)
Some might try and argue that the old M. Night Shyamalan isn’t coming back anytime soon. Others—especially those who’ve seen The Visit—will argue that he’s been here the whole time. Kathryn Hahn is often hilarious across film and TV, but films like The Visit show that she’s capable of taking her comedic acting and channeling it into other performances.
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LilRel Howery, Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s first horror film Get Out amazed both critics and audiences alike. Part of what makes the movie so impressive is Peele’s obvious knack for comedy, which manifests itself in LilRel Howery’s performance throughout the film. Not only did Get Out cement Peele’s status as a bona fide director, but it allowed Howery to be launched into the mainstream, as well.
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Tim Heidecker, Us (2019)
Heidecker has been a champion of the small screen for years now—from his many collaborations with Eric Wareheim to his side endeavors like On Cinema at the Cinema and Decker, the comedian seems unable to do any wrong. Naturally, Jordan Peele putting him in his sophomore film Us makes for the very best performance by a comedian in a horror film to date.
