Be they a blast of jocularity in an action-adventure, or comic relief in a truly heavy piece, these iconic characters added a bevy of chuckles to every scene they graced. Whether typically cast in comedic roles or otherwise, the actors behind each of these memorable characters dove deep into the very fundamentals of comedy to bring them to sidesplitting life. While even the most gut-wrenching dramas need some moments of levity, these performers brought their characters to dazzling heights of hilarity.

The List: Iconic Comic Relief

From Joe Pesci’s iconic role in the mostly true crime drama Goodfellas, to Barbara Stanwyck’s deliriously snarky take on the femme fatale archetype in the classic film noir Double Indemnity, these thespians all left an indelibly riotous mark on the history of cinema.

10. Bill Paxton as Private Hudson in 'Aliens'

Bill Paxton was well-known for his comedic skills, evidenced by his role as Chet in Weird Science. However, in James Cameron’s action-horror Aliens, he’s at his best, delivering a barrage of unforgettably glorious one-liners. His unguarded delivery of “Game over, man, game over!” is so memorably funny because it’s so real; the visceral terror in his voice really drives home his conviction that he and the other soldiers are, indeed, toast.

As Private Hudson, Paxton is perpetually hyper-charged, smug, and electrifying. He uses his signature wide grin with aplomb, popping his eyes huge, and spitting out his dialogue with snarky glee. The real genius of his performance comes, however, when he’s scared to death and the wisecracks cease.

9. Fairuza Balk as Nancy Downs in 'The Craft'

There is a ferocity to Fairuza Balk that was unrivaled in 90s cinema. On full display as Nancy Downs in The Craft, her piercing blue eyes and unwaveringly intense demeanor truly anchor this slyly clever film. The way she handles the absurdity of possessing otherworldly powers is tremendous, hitting every note with avaricious jubilation — often resulting in genuinely funny and highly memorable moments.

Her manic laughter when driving through red lights, followed by the softer quip “That was actually pretty close,” perfectly encapsulates her ability to go from borderline hysteric to wryly sardonic.

8. Claude Rains as Captain Louis Renault in 'Casablanca'

Comedy is often about timing, and one performance that illustrates this perfectly is Claude Rains’ Captain Louis Renault in Michael Curtiz's Casablanca. The film is rife with stellar performances, including Humphrey Bogart’s iconic portrayal of Rick Blaine. However, Rains is the humorous stand-out.

Rains’ strict military man persona is often undercut by his own actions, to the elation of audiences. When he states, “I’m shocked, shocked, to find that gambling has gone on in here,” and then immediately pockets his winnings, it’s perfectly-timed comedic gold. No other role showcased his knack for comedy as much as the ever-contradictory Captain Renault.

7. Rosie Perez as Gloria Clemente in 'White Men Can’t Jump'

While White Men Can’t Jump deals with racially-charged and emotionally heavy topics, Rosie Perez amps up the comedic factor every time she’s onscreen. Her no-nonsense, fast-talking Gloria Clemente was a breakout role for her, showcasing her comedic finesse with dialogue.

Leaning heavily into her Bronx accent, Perez lets her lines fly in rapid succession. When she informs Billy Hoyle that “Sometimes when you win, you really lose…” the message is clear: she’s not only funny, but wise beyond her years.

6. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Scotty J. in 'Boogie Nights'

Philip Seymour Hoffman was lauded for his dramatic magnitude and expansive range. In Boogie Nights, his thick Californian accent and subtly befuddled expressions steal the show. As Scotty, Hoffman exudes a good-natured likability and wide-eyed innocence.

He croaks out seemingly banal lines that become trailer moments. His physicality is also remarkable, as he whips his hair around in a practiced, and failed, attempt at being coquettish.

5. Wesley Snipes as Nino Brown in 'New Jack City'

Wesley Snipes gives wings to the punchy zingers and witticisms in Mario Van Peebles’s New Jack City. His emphatic dispatching of lines like, “Sit your five-dollar a** down before I make change,” leaves a fantastically funny impression.

As Nino Brown, a ruthless drug kingpin, he commands the screen and demands attention. His one-liners are countless, each executed with mellifluous intensity.

4. Jack Nicholson as The Joker in 'Batman'

Jack Nicholson’s take on The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman was wildly divergent from previous depictions. Nicholson, a master of playing different versions of himself, fully transformed for this role.

Given the freedom to let his inner lunatic flag fly, Nicholson’s Joker is a master class in clowning. From manic to deadpan in a millisecond, his face alone tells a delightfully demented tale.

3. Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in 'Goodfellas'

Joe Pesci delivers one of the most quoted performances of all time in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. A character who would likely be diagnosed as a sociopath, Pesci’s depiction of Tommy DeVito somehow leaves us simultaneously scared and heartily giggling.

“Funny how? Funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you?” he inquires to a petrified Ray Liotta. Pesci is a diminutive terror as Tommy, and his dark wit is both brutal and hilarious.

2. Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson in 'Double Indemnity'

Barbara Stanwyck expressed double-entendres with alluring grace as Phyllis Dietrichson in Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity. Her conveyance of lines that only got past the sensors because they contained such complex word-play was remarkable.

When she purrs, “Drive it around the block,” with just a hint of a smirk, it’s game over for the protagonist. Her turn as Phyllis cemented her into the minds and hearts of every film buff.