Comedians have long entertained as host of the Oscars, but how often have they been recognized by the Academy for their acting chops? This year, three of the five best actor nominees who have roots in comedy are vying for an Oscar for their dramatic turns in film. But before them, a slew of other actors – some who got their start in stand-up and others who are now Saturday Night Live veterans – traded laughs for more serious roles. The nominees in the Best Actor Category for the 2015 Oscars: Michael Keaton, Steve Carell and Bradley Cooper, all got their start in comedy before eventually branching out
