Jeff Danielsis celebrated for his dramatic performances as aWestern outlawinGodless, a counter-terrorism expert inThe Looming Tower, a brazen news anchor inThe Newsroom, and currently as lawyer Atticus Finch inTo Kill a Mockingbirdon Broadway. But sometimes, Daniels just wants a laugh.So in 2013, after winning his first Emmy for his starring role on Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama, the actor jumped right into filming something a little, well, dumber.“I won the Emmy for the first season ofNewsroomon Sunday night and was on the set ofDumb and Dumber Toin Georgia on Tuesday morning [for the] first day of shooting,” Daniels, 64, tells PEOPLE inthis week’s issue.Martin SchoellerREX/ShutterstockAs he reveals to PEOPLE, Daniels’ agents weren’t thrilled at first about his choice to joinJim Carreyinthe 1994 original,and advised him against originally taking the role.“It was a rare time when I didn’t take their advice,” Daniels says. “But their position was, ‘We are trying to turn you into a serious, dramatic actor. You can do a comedy, but you can’t do a dumb comedy that’s aimed at 12-year-old boys with the guy who just didAce Ventura.’ ”RELATED VIDEO: Mary Badham Visits To Kill a Mockingbird on BroadwayFor more on Jeff Daniels, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on stands FridayBut the three-time Tony nominee went for the part because he wanted to flex his comedy muscles.“I had done some indies that didn’t make money because I loved the scripts and I knew I could do more and I knew I could do comedy,” he says. “I figured if I could doDumb and Dumberand stay with [Carrey], all the dramas I was doing and then have done subsequently, that’s range.”The film would go on to become a huge hit for the actor, grossing over $247 million worldwide.To Kill a Mockingbirdis now playing on Broadway.
Jeff Danielsis celebrated for his dramatic performances as aWestern outlawinGodless, a counter-terrorism expert inThe Looming Tower, a brazen news anchor inThe Newsroom, and currently as lawyer Atticus Finch inTo Kill a Mockingbirdon Broadway. But sometimes, Daniels just wants a laugh.
So in 2013, after winning his first Emmy for his starring role on Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama, the actor jumped right into filming something a little, well, dumber.
“I won the Emmy for the first season ofNewsroomon Sunday night and was on the set ofDumb and Dumber Toin Georgia on Tuesday morning [for the] first day of shooting,” Daniels, 64, tells PEOPLE inthis week’s issue.
Martin Schoeller
REX/Shutterstock
As he reveals to PEOPLE, Daniels’ agents weren’t thrilled at first about his choice to joinJim Carreyinthe 1994 original,and advised him against originally taking the role.
“It was a rare time when I didn’t take their advice,” Daniels says. “But their position was, ‘We are trying to turn you into a serious, dramatic actor. You can do a comedy, but you can’t do a dumb comedy that’s aimed at 12-year-old boys with the guy who just didAce Ventura.’ ”
RELATED VIDEO: Mary Badham Visits To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway
For more on Jeff Daniels, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday
But the three-time Tony nominee went for the part because he wanted to flex his comedy muscles.
“I had done some indies that didn’t make money because I loved the scripts and I knew I could do more and I knew I could do comedy,” he says. “I figured if I could doDumb and Dumberand stay with [Carrey], all the dramas I was doing and then have done subsequently, that’s range.”
The film would go on to become a huge hit for the actor, grossing over $247 million worldwide.
To Kill a Mockingbirdis now playing on Broadway.
source: people.com
