Most actors, when they’re young and hungry to perform, will take any part that gets offered to them, regardless of how comfortable they may be playing the part. As they get a little older, more experienced, and more successful, however, some thespians slip into a comfortable groove; they’ve realized the kind of actor they are and the kinds of qualities they’re good at bringing to life, and they don’t really care to break the mold. While many thespians are skilled men and women with a thousand faces and souls behind their performances, this list is dedicated to those folks who know what they’re good at and (generally) stick to it.

Will Ferrell

Character: An oblivious, loud-mouthed buffoon who revels in his own ignorance.

Examples: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Blaze of Glory, Semi-Pro, Step-Brothers, The Campaign.

In his years since leaving SNL Ferrell’s made quite the name for himself in the comedy field. After several successful (and not-so-successful) films he’s returning to the role that made him a star— Ron Burgundy. Whether this sequel will live up to the legend of its predecessor remains to be seen, but either way there’ll probably be more than a few good laughs to be found there.

Exception that proves the rule: Stranger than Fiction

Owen Wilson

Character: A smart, smooth-talking, down-to-Earth guy who just wants to kick back with everyone and let the good times flow.

Examples: Zoolander, Meet the Parents, Wedding Crashers, The Internship

Like Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson has a penchant for starring in comedies as the same character— and why shouldn’t he? Comedies are about collaboration, and an easy way to find the punchline is to find what you’re best at and stick to it so everyone else can play off of you. Wilson’s home-brewed charms may wear thin for some, but his frequent collaborations with Wes Anderson have shown that he’s not afraid to do something different.

Exception that proves the rule: The Darjeeling Limited

Bruce Willis

Character: A sarcastic, rough-around-the-edges hero with a smart mouth and a bald heart of gold.

Examples: Die Hard, The Fifth Element, Armageddon, RED, GI Joe: Retaliation, The Whole Nine Yards

If anyone has made a career out of not breaking out of their comfort zone, it’s Willis. He’s been a Hollywood powerhouse for over three decades, churning out hit movie after hit movie, but time and time again he falls back on playing John McClane, sometimes only in spirit, sometimes literally. But he’s so damn good at playing McClane/McClanesque characters that audiences eat it up, and he always manages to bring something fun to the screen.

Exception that proves the rule: The Sixth Sense

Michael Cera

Character: A fast-talking, quick-witted guy with a tendency towards being really, really twitchy.

Examples: Arrested Development, Superbad, Juno, Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist

Now, while it’s popular to point at young actors like Michael Cera or his frequent co-star, Aubrey Plaza, and belittle the fact that they’re always playing the same character, here’s something you need to remember: they’re young, and relatively new to Hollywood. When people hire actors it’s generally so they can do the same thing they’ve successfully done before; only later in their lives do actors usually get a chance to break away and do something different. Plus, when you’re as good as being twitchy and witty as Michael Cera is, seeing him do it repeatedly isn’t that big of a deal.

Exception that proves the rule: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, This is the End

Will Smith

Character: A fast-talking, streetwise guy who is good at what he does and looks good doing it.

Examples: Men in Black, Wild Wild West, Independence Day, I Robot, Hitch

For a while, there, Will Smith was the undisputed king of the box office, with most of his projects easily breaking the $300 million dollar mark in sales. Lately his films haven’t been doing so well, but that doesn’t tarnish his long history of starring in big-budget movies that appeal to pretty much everyone (and to star as the same guy in every one of them, and he’s almost always named James, for some reason.) He’s got plenty of dramatic chops to go along with his box office success, however, and has proven himself as a thespian more than any of the other fellows on this list.

Exception that Proves the Rule: Ali, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Pursuit of Happyness, I am Legend, and whatever the hell was going on with him in After Earth, not that I saw that piece of crap.