Overacting doesn't always have to be a bad thing; some actors have managed to make a career despite it, or maybe even because of it. From exaggerating expressions, to over-the-top displays of sadness, joy, anger, happiness, and everything in between, we present to you an over the top list of the top TV actors who overact.
Jerry Seinfeld was clearly a comedian with less refined acting chops as his costars, yet he managed to have his own show despite his tendency to constantly overplay scenes. William Shatner is a notoriously cringeworthy actor, known particularly for his roles where he overreacts to, well, nearly everything. Zooey Deschanel, as Jessica Day on New Girl, is either endearing in her overacting or the epitome of annoying, depending on who you ask. Sofia Vergara also has a polarizing effect - obnoxious or endearing in her overreactions on Modern Family, it's your call.
No matter the network, no show is immune to overacting actors. Check out the actors below, and be sure to vote up the television stars who need to seriously take a chill pill.
Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood has dramatic events happening to her left and right... which she broadcasts, employing every single part of her face for as long as possible to show her distress (often to unintended comical effect).
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Friends arguably wouldn't be complete without Ross over-reacting to something, whether it's Rachel dating Fabio or Phoebe not believing the theory of evolution. Yet David Schwimmer manages to overplay nearly each and every moment, leaving us wondering, at times, which cry face Ross is going to make this time - and how long it's going to last.
Credits (TV): Friends, Band of Brothers, Joey, Little Britain USA, Monty
Birthplace: Flushing, New York City, New York, USA
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Oh, Deb! The eye rolls, the eyebrow raises, the open-mouthed gasps, the three-emotions-in-one-face. You've gotta give it to Carpenter as Deb in Dexter - she might be an over-acting actress, but she's a damn good face contortionist.
Credits (TV): Dexter
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America
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Over the top expressions and oddly pitched lines that didn't quite play were more common than not when Seinfeld was on screen. This, combined with the occasional clunky delivery, and you could easily tell that Seinfeld himself had the least acting chops out of the entire cast of Seinfeld.
Credits (TV): Seinfeld, Live! with Kelly and Michael, One Night Stand, The Marriage Ref, Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
