7 Comedians Who Have Successfully Gone Dark

4) Marlon Wayans – Requiem For A Dream (2000)

Best known for his comedic roles in the television shows In Living Color and The Wayans Bros, Marlon Wayans had previously appeared in the sport drama Above The Rim. However, it was festival favourite Requiem For A Dream that really demonstrated his dramatic abilities, as he took on the role of drug addict Tyrone C. Love in Darren Aronofsky’s second feature length film.

As one of the four main characters in the movie, Tyrone C. Love plays a large part in this exploration of ambition and addiction. While the main connection lies between Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) and her son Harry (Jared Leto), it is Tyrone’s relationship with Harry and Marion Silver (Jennifer Connelly) that provides the backbone of the narrative. In the tale, Sara becomes addicted to amphetamines used for weight loss, thinking that she will have the opportunity to appear on her favourite game-show. Her son and his friends, Marion and Tyrone, are addicted to heroin, and become drawn into increasingly destructive and dangerous activities in order to fund their craving.

It is Tyrone that suggests the three launch their own heroin distribution enterprise, and it is initially successful. However, when Tyrone is incarcerated, Harry and Marion use their entire capital to post his bail. As a result of their finances slipping into freefall, Marion is pressured into prostitution, and the three descend into further tension and violence. Eventually, Harry and Tyrone are arrested and, while Harry loses an arm to an infection, Tyrone is faced with prison-based drug withdrawal and racist wardens.