The primary role of both actors and comedians is to entertain. Whether the actor is an unpaid performer at a community playhouse or a multimillion-dollar Hollywood star, his job is to entertain the public either on stage, on television or in movies. Likewise, a comedian at a comedy bar has just as much desire to entertain the public as a comedian at an international comedy festival.
Actors and comedians often appear in many of the same locations. Television shows and movies are full of actors, but they're also often a home for comedians. Many television shows, especially those in prime time, are of the comedy genre, and their casts are comprised of comedians who have become actors. Likewise, comedy can also appear on the big screen. Eddie Murphy's "Raw" and "Delirious" are examples of comedy shows that were turned into movies, while "The Original Kings of Comedy" was a comedy show motion picture.
A chief similarity between comedians and actors is that they often move from one discipline to the other. Hollywood actor Adam Sandler, for example, began his career as a stand-up comedian on the club scene. After achieving success at that level, he moved to Saturday Night Live, a TV show, and eventually into movies. Excelling at comedy can often lead to a career as an actor, but the opposite is also true. Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on Saved by the Bell, has worked as a stand-up comedian since his acting career ended.
Actors and comedians have similar backgrounds in terms of education. Though it's possible to take courses in both disciplines, experience is the best factor for these professions. Actors can take drama courses in high school and at the post-secondary level, while comedians can belong to improv groups in school and take night courses on comedy. Getting into the industry, learning from others and having minor setbacks along the way, however, can be just as important in the education of actors and comedians.