List of Famous Comedians
Here is a list of famous comedians who have made us laugh and contributed to the popular genre of comedy!
Comedy keeps the heart sweet. ~ Mark Twain
Comedians do what they do best - make people laugh out loud. From silent black and white films that got crowds roaring with laughter, to colored movies with a hilarious script in place, we've seen centuries of amazing talent in the world of comedy. There are so many budding comedians making their way into Hollywood, with old ones that still know how to get an audience to roll over in a fit of laughter. Let's take a look at some of the most famous, and sought after comedians of all time.
List of Famous Comedians
*images can be enlarged once clicked on
Andy Kaufman: Andy Kaufman was never labeled as a 'comedian' because he himself wanted to be known as more than just just that. He usually referred to himself as a song and dance man. It is said that his performances were more like avante-garde theater and could not be included in the same genre as stand-up comedy. He is well-known for his impersonation of Elvis Presley and his famous stint as an immigrant auto-mechanic in Taxi.
Andrew Dice Clay: Andrew "Dice" Clay is a famous American comedian, who 's plagued by controversy owing to his verbally abusive and sexual content in his routine. He performed his first HBO Special in Philadelphia, which was called The Diceman Cometh. He got his first starring role in a feature film titled The Adventures of Ford Fairlane in 1990. Although his popularity diminished in the nineties, he made a comeback in 2007 with the reality TV series Dice: Undisputed.
Adam Sandler: After starting his career with Saturday Night Live, this extremely talented comedian went on to be one of the most adored comedians in Hollywood. Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Fifty First Dates, Mr. Deeds, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Punch-Drunk Love, Spanglish, Reign Over Me, and fairly recent work You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Just Go with It, Funny People and Grown Ups to a name a few, are some of his most memorable works.
Albert Brooks: Albert Brooks is not just a comedian, but also an Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, voice actor, and director. He began his career as a stand-up comedian. You'll find him in animation as well, featuring as the clownfish in search of his son, in Finding Nemo.
Alan King: Alan King was a Jewish comedian, who was famous for his ability to pass off as funny through angry outbursts with a knack for being hilarious all at once. Being a high-school dropout, he started with stand-up for a dollar a night, progressed to television with The Ed Sullivan Show, and then, earned the status as one of the most popular entertainers of his time.
Benny Hill: A man who started out doing ordinary day jobs like being a building operator, to even a milkman, Hill finally landed himself in the industry by working as an assistant stage manager that slowly led him on his way to comedic stardom. He was a popular comedian, who is most remembered for his television show called The Benny Hill Show. Although, many of his critics have labeled his humor to be sexist and smutty, the comedian still remains to be a favorite for many around the world. Charlie Chaplin his idol, was known to have been a big fan of Hill.
Bill Cosby: A veteran actor, television producer, activist, musician and author, Bill Cosby had started his career as a stand-up comedian by performing at various clubs. The sitcom entitled The Cosby Show saw ratings hit the roof with its success during the 90s, where later shows A Different World and Cosby also saw a loyal fan base of the comedian.
Bob Newhart: Comedian Bob Newhart is an American stand-up comedian and actor, who is always remembered for his trademark stammer, one-sided telephone conversations and hysterical what if routines. His renowned monologues landed him at the number one spot in the Billboard's chart, bringing him much acclaimed fame. These two albums made it big in 1960s The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, and The Button-Down Strikes Again!
Bob Hope: Bob Hope was an American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, in addition to his performances on radio, television as well as movies. He's well-known for his theatrical appearances; The Ghost Breakers, Some Like It Hot, Beau James, The Paleface, and The Seven Little Foys to name a few. His list of honors is commendable, like being bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in the armed forces through USO, by being of service to men and women; he has four stars to his name in the Hollywood Walk of Fame; he was ranked as one of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of all Time, positioned at number 25.
Billy Crystal: He will always be remembered Billy Crystal as the endearing and quirky Harry from the movie When Harry Met Sally. He's been nominated for a Golden Globe award, and has won the Tony Award and the Emmy Award, including a notable award for his work, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Bill Maher: Bill Maher is a popular American stand-up comedian, television host, actor, and author who is known for his shows like Politically Incorrect and is currently, the host of the HBO show called Real Time With Bill Maher. Surprising facts about the comedian is his stance of the legalization of the drug marijuana, and same-sex marriage. He's covered a myriad of topics from bureaucracies and mass media, to religion and politics.
Billy Connolly: Connolly is a Scottish comedian, who is also a popular musician, presenter, and actor. Many of you will remember him from the X-files: I Want to Believe movie adaption of the long time series, where he plays a priest who sees visions of women in distress and captivity. He's played many roles, and is known for his versatility to step out of his comedian shell and portray other characters. Other movies featuring the comedian - Muppet Treasure Island, Open Season 2, Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties, and Mrs. Brown, to name a few.
Buddy Hackett: Buddy Hackett was an American comedian and actor, who referred to himself as a saloon comic. Buddy Hackett always kept his performance very interactive and was popular for getting the people from the audience on stage with him. Disney movie fans will remember his memorable performance as the eccentric seagull in The Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.
Charlie Chaplin: One of the greatest comedians of the world. Charlie Chaplin remains to be the king of silent comedy. His films brought joy to those who were going through a time of great peril during World War 1, and the reign of Hitler.
Cheech and Chong: They say that the best things come in pairs! Cheech and Chong are a popular comedic duo, consisting of Richard 'Cheech' Marin and Tommy 'Chong'. Together, Cheech and Chong found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their stand-up routines, which were based on hippie themes like free love, and the use of recreational drugs. Successful movies that the duo starred in that brought them much praise, were Up in Smoke, Cheech & Chong's Next Movie, and Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers. They were also musically talented, with hit songs like Basketball Jones and Sister Mary Elephant, from comedy albums that did well during their time. A game was released on Facebook, titled Cheech & Chong's Animated Game back in 2011, with an animated film of the funny twosome in the pipeline.
Carl Reiner: A nine-time Emmy Award winner, Carl Reiner is not just a famous comedian, but also an American actor, film director, producer and writer. His famous television plays include Your Show of Shows, Sid Caesar Invites You and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Must-see films of the comedy legend; The Jerk and Where's Poppa?.
Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes: He was popularly known for his film and stage persona as Cantinflas. He is a Mexican comedian who is considered as the pioneer of Mexican cinema. His popular stage and film persona Cantinflas, usually portrayed as an impoverished campesino slum dweller of pelado origin, came to be associated with the national identity of Mexico. Charlie Chaplin had once called him the greatest comedian in the world.
David Chappelle: A screenwriter, comedian, actor, and film producer, Chapelle is a household name in the comedy business, and is most noted for his stand-up performances worldwide. Movies he's appeared in; Con Air, Screwed, Half Baked, Def Comedy Jam and Undercover Blues to name a few. His show the Chappelle's Show has been titled as one of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, positioned at number 43.
David Cross: Remember Michael Bluth's twisted brother-in-law from Arrested Development? That's David Cross, who is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian. He is also known for his television series Mr. Show. He started performing at the tender age of 17, where he dropped out from college to pursue a career in acting. Comedy albums released by the comedian; Bigger and Blackerer, Shut Up, You F**king Baby! (nominated for the Grammy's as Best Comedy Album), and It's Not Funny.
Don Rickles: Popularly known as an insult comic, Donald Jay Rickles has enjoyed a sustained career in insult performance. He is known for his habit of apologizing to his victims at the end of every performance and conveying the fact that the performances are meant only for harmless humor. He's made guest appearances in movies like Get Smart, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Addams Family.
Dana Carvey: Dana Thomas Carvey is an Emmy-award winning American comedian, who is best known for his work in Saturday Night Live and the movie Wayne's World. He's widely known for his impersonations, which have brought him worldwide fame as quite the imitator.
Denis Leary: Denis Leary is known for his angry comedic style. He is currently the co-creator and the star of the television show called Rescue Me. He's played the role of Diego in the animated movie Ice Age and the dragon, Flame in the series The Agents. He's won awards like the CableACE Awards for best direction (comedy) in National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins, and the BBC Festival Recommended award for No Cure for Cancer.
Dick Gregory: Dick Gregory is popular as one of the first comedians who could perform for both black and white audiences. Hugh Hefner hired Geogory to work at the Chicago Playboy Club, when he heard him performing his material to a white audience that perked his interest level, getting him to replace Irwin Corey, the white comedian Professor.
David Steinberg: David Steinberg is a famous Canadian comedian who is also an actor, director and author. He appeared on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 140 times and has also directed episodes of many successful television sitcoms like Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad About You and Friends. He's been awarded the CableACE award for his stand-up comedy performances in Cats, Cops and Stuff. He's also won the Playboy Humor Award for Ragtime.
Eddie Izzard: Edward John, popularly known as Eddie Izzard, is a stand-up comedian of British origin. His famed performances span movies like Shadow of the Vampire, Ocean's Twelve, and Valkyrie to name a few. He was voted by The Comedian's Comedy, as one of the greatest comedy acts ever.
Ellen DeGeneres: With two of her own shows under her belt, The Ellen Show and Ellen, DeGeneres has climbed her way to the top winning 13 Emmy awards among others, for performances in her career and charitable works accredited to her name. She first started out as a stand-up comedienne in small joints, that later snowballed to find her as Showtime's Funniest Person in America after she started to tour nationally.
Eddie Murphy: Bestowed the title of one of the Greatest Stand-ups of All Time, placed at number 10, Murphy found his way to celebrity status by starting out as a regular on the show Saturday Night Live. He's been nominated for his role James in the hit movie Dreamgirls, and also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his acting in Trading Places, 48 Hrs, and Beverly Hills Cop the series. Memorable performances of the comedian are from the Nutty Professor, and as Donkey from the Shrek movie installments.
Freddie Prinze: Freddie Prinze was an American who started his career as a stand-up comedian in New York. Some of the popular nightclubs where he performed were The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. He often introduced himself to audiences as a Hungarican, which referred to the fact that he was part Hungarian and part Puerto Rican. He is best remembered for his work in Chico and the Man. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, years later after his demise.
Flip Wilson: Clerow Wilson Jr., who is popularly known as Flip Wilson, was an American comedian who was a regular at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and was also a part of many shows like The Tonight Show, Laugh In, and The Ed Sullivan Show. He also had his own show called The Flip Wilson Show, in which he greeted all his guests with the trademark Flip Wilson Handshake which started with hand slaps and ended with hip-bumps. He's won two Emmy's and a Golden Globe for the running series The Flip Wilson Show.
Groucho Marx: Julius Henry Groucho Marx was an American comedian and actor, who is known as a master of wit. He is known for his radio and television game show titled You Bet Your Life. In collaboration with his siblings the Marx Brothers, he went on to make films that were successful and applauded for unique delivery, and memorable work.
George Carlin: George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor as well as an author. He is noted for his black humor as well as insights on psychology, politics, English language, religion and also various taboo subjects. He is considered as one of the best comedians and has won four Grammy Awards for his comedy albums.
George Burns: George Burns was an American comedian and actor whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio and television. Some of his trademarks that are still popular are his arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation. He was known as being an active comedian even in old age, and was regarded as one of the industry's best makes. He was bestowed the Kennedy Center Honors, and was booked at the Caesar's Palace and London Palladium during his 100th birthday.
Jack Benny: Jack Benny was among the most beloved American entertainers of the twentieth century. Jack Benny was best known for his amazing comic timing and his ability to get laughs from the audience with either a deliberate pause or a single expression, such as 'Well!'. His popular radio and television programs were a great influence in pioneering the genre of situation comedy.
Jim Carrey: Fans the world over will agree that Carrey can still pull off an appearance that is both funny, and quite memorable. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical for his role in The Mask, and as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber. Performances worth looking into are from The Cable Guy, Bruce Almighty, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Yes Man, and Batman Forever. Carrey was able to bag the People's Choice Award for favorite TV guest star in the hit sitcom The Office.
Jerry Seinfeld: American stand-up comedian, film producer, writer, and actor Seinfeld gained popularity for his hit sitcom Seinfeld, which he co-created with Larry David, and then later co-executive-produced. In the 90s he was the highest earning celebrity as of 1998, with a whooping $267 million as his annual earnings from the show Seinfeld. Seinfeld is a known car enthusiast and owns an impressive collection of cars, featuring his Porsche Carrera GT in Automobile magazine.
Jerry Lewis: Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, producer, writer and director, who is highly recognized for his dual performance with Dean Martin on their show Martin and Lewis. He's won the Governor's Award which is the highest under the Emmy's, and also the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Kathy Griffin: Kathleen "Kathy" Griffin is an Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedienne, television personality, and an actress as well. Her climb to fame was her supporting role on NBC's Suddenly Susan. She's been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, and has won two Emmy awards for the show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, as executive producer.
Larry David: Larry David is an American Emmy-winning actor, writer, comedian, producer and film director. He was the one who along with Jerry Seinfeld, co-created the television series Seinfeld. He also created the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was an improvised sitcom, in which he starred as a fictionalized version of himself.
Moliere: Moliere was a French playwright and actor, who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among his best-known dramas are The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe or the Hypocrite, The Bourgeois Gentleman, The Miser and many more.
Mitch Hedberg: He was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor, unconventional comedic delivery and hilarious one-liners. His style of comedy was observational comedy and his on-stage persona gained him such a cult following that the audience members sometimes shouted out the punch lines to his jokes before he could finish them!
Moms Mabley: Moms Mabley was an African-American comedienne, who was one of the most successful entertainers of the black vaudeville stage. She tackled topics too edgy for many other comics of her time, including issues like racism. She was acclaimed as The Funniest Woman in the World.
Phyllis Diller: Phyllis Diller is an American comedienne, considered to be one of the pioneers of female stand-up comedy. She is best known for her stage-persona that was a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife, who made jokes about a fictional husband named Fang.
Ray Romano: The funny man plays Raymond on Everybody Loves Raymond, as a father of three kids, who's a mama's boy with a brother that despises the fact. Ray Romano is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who is also known for his voice-overs in the Ice Age movie installments as Manny the mammoth.
Russell Peters: Russell Peters is a Canadian stand-up comic, and actor of Indian descent, whose routine focuses largely around his Canadian upbringing and racial stereotypes. Much of his material is related to the cultural divides between many different ethnicities and upbringings and it includes many impressions. He's won awards like the Gemini Award in 2008 for 'Best Performance in a Variety Program or Series', and the Asian Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts award.
Comedians do what they do best - make people laugh out loud. From silent black and white films that got crowds roaring with laughter, to colored movies with a hilarious script in place, we've seen centuries of amazing talent in the world of comedy. There are so many budding comedians making their way into Hollywood, with old ones that still know how to get an audience to roll over in a fit of laughter. Let's take a look at some of the most famous, and sought after comedians of all time.
List of Famous Comedians
*images can be enlarged once clicked on
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         designed and scripted - Suhrud Potdar |
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Andy Kaufman: Andy Kaufman was never labeled as a 'comedian' because he himself wanted to be known as more than just just that. He usually referred to himself as a song and dance man. It is said that his performances were more like avante-garde theater and could not be included in the same genre as stand-up comedy. He is well-known for his impersonation of Elvis Presley and his famous stint as an immigrant auto-mechanic in Taxi.
Andrew Dice Clay: Andrew "Dice" Clay is a famous American comedian, who 's plagued by controversy owing to his verbally abusive and sexual content in his routine. He performed his first HBO Special in Philadelphia, which was called The Diceman Cometh. He got his first starring role in a feature film titled The Adventures of Ford Fairlane in 1990. Although his popularity diminished in the nineties, he made a comeback in 2007 with the reality TV series Dice: Undisputed.
Adam Sandler: After starting his career with Saturday Night Live, this extremely talented comedian went on to be one of the most adored comedians in Hollywood. Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Fifty First Dates, Mr. Deeds, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Punch-Drunk Love, Spanglish, Reign Over Me, and fairly recent work You Don't Mess With The Zohan, Just Go with It, Funny People and Grown Ups to a name a few, are some of his most memorable works.
Albert Brooks: Albert Brooks is not just a comedian, but also an Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, voice actor, and director. He began his career as a stand-up comedian. You'll find him in animation as well, featuring as the clownfish in search of his son, in Finding Nemo.
Alan King: Alan King was a Jewish comedian, who was famous for his ability to pass off as funny through angry outbursts with a knack for being hilarious all at once. Being a high-school dropout, he started with stand-up for a dollar a night, progressed to television with The Ed Sullivan Show, and then, earned the status as one of the most popular entertainers of his time.
Benny Hill: A man who started out doing ordinary day jobs like being a building operator, to even a milkman, Hill finally landed himself in the industry by working as an assistant stage manager that slowly led him on his way to comedic stardom. He was a popular comedian, who is most remembered for his television show called The Benny Hill Show. Although, many of his critics have labeled his humor to be sexist and smutty, the comedian still remains to be a favorite for many around the world. Charlie Chaplin his idol, was known to have been a big fan of Hill.
Bill Cosby: A veteran actor, television producer, activist, musician and author, Bill Cosby had started his career as a stand-up comedian by performing at various clubs. The sitcom entitled The Cosby Show saw ratings hit the roof with its success during the 90s, where later shows A Different World and Cosby also saw a loyal fan base of the comedian.
Bob Newhart: Comedian Bob Newhart is an American stand-up comedian and actor, who is always remembered for his trademark stammer, one-sided telephone conversations and hysterical what if routines. His renowned monologues landed him at the number one spot in the Billboard's chart, bringing him much acclaimed fame. These two albums made it big in 1960s The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, and The Button-Down Strikes Again!
Bob Hope: Bob Hope was an American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, in addition to his performances on radio, television as well as movies. He's well-known for his theatrical appearances; The Ghost Breakers, Some Like It Hot, Beau James, The Paleface, and The Seven Little Foys to name a few. His list of honors is commendable, like being bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work in the armed forces through USO, by being of service to men and women; he has four stars to his name in the Hollywood Walk of Fame; he was ranked as one of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of all Time, positioned at number 25.
Billy Crystal: He will always be remembered Billy Crystal as the endearing and quirky Harry from the movie When Harry Met Sally. He's been nominated for a Golden Globe award, and has won the Tony Award and the Emmy Award, including a notable award for his work, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Bill Maher: Bill Maher is a popular American stand-up comedian, television host, actor, and author who is known for his shows like Politically Incorrect and is currently, the host of the HBO show called Real Time With Bill Maher. Surprising facts about the comedian is his stance of the legalization of the drug marijuana, and same-sex marriage. He's covered a myriad of topics from bureaucracies and mass media, to religion and politics.
Billy Connolly: Connolly is a Scottish comedian, who is also a popular musician, presenter, and actor. Many of you will remember him from the X-files: I Want to Believe movie adaption of the long time series, where he plays a priest who sees visions of women in distress and captivity. He's played many roles, and is known for his versatility to step out of his comedian shell and portray other characters. Other movies featuring the comedian - Muppet Treasure Island, Open Season 2, Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties, and Mrs. Brown, to name a few.
Buddy Hackett: Buddy Hackett was an American comedian and actor, who referred to himself as a saloon comic. Buddy Hackett always kept his performance very interactive and was popular for getting the people from the audience on stage with him. Disney movie fans will remember his memorable performance as the eccentric seagull in The Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.
Charlie Chaplin: One of the greatest comedians of the world. Charlie Chaplin remains to be the king of silent comedy. His films brought joy to those who were going through a time of great peril during World War 1, and the reign of Hitler.
Cheech and Chong: They say that the best things come in pairs! Cheech and Chong are a popular comedic duo, consisting of Richard 'Cheech' Marin and Tommy 'Chong'. Together, Cheech and Chong found a wide audience in the 1970s and 1980s for their stand-up routines, which were based on hippie themes like free love, and the use of recreational drugs. Successful movies that the duo starred in that brought them much praise, were Up in Smoke, Cheech & Chong's Next Movie, and Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers. They were also musically talented, with hit songs like Basketball Jones and Sister Mary Elephant, from comedy albums that did well during their time. A game was released on Facebook, titled Cheech & Chong's Animated Game back in 2011, with an animated film of the funny twosome in the pipeline.
Carl Reiner: A nine-time Emmy Award winner, Carl Reiner is not just a famous comedian, but also an American actor, film director, producer and writer. His famous television plays include Your Show of Shows, Sid Caesar Invites You and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Must-see films of the comedy legend; The Jerk and Where's Poppa?.
Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes: He was popularly known for his film and stage persona as Cantinflas. He is a Mexican comedian who is considered as the pioneer of Mexican cinema. His popular stage and film persona Cantinflas, usually portrayed as an impoverished campesino slum dweller of pelado origin, came to be associated with the national identity of Mexico. Charlie Chaplin had once called him the greatest comedian in the world.
David Chappelle: A screenwriter, comedian, actor, and film producer, Chapelle is a household name in the comedy business, and is most noted for his stand-up performances worldwide. Movies he's appeared in; Con Air, Screwed, Half Baked, Def Comedy Jam and Undercover Blues to name a few. His show the Chappelle's Show has been titled as one of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, positioned at number 43.
David Cross: Remember Michael Bluth's twisted brother-in-law from Arrested Development? That's David Cross, who is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian. He is also known for his television series Mr. Show. He started performing at the tender age of 17, where he dropped out from college to pursue a career in acting. Comedy albums released by the comedian; Bigger and Blackerer, Shut Up, You F**king Baby! (nominated for the Grammy's as Best Comedy Album), and It's Not Funny.
Don Rickles: Popularly known as an insult comic, Donald Jay Rickles has enjoyed a sustained career in insult performance. He is known for his habit of apologizing to his victims at the end of every performance and conveying the fact that the performances are meant only for harmless humor. He's made guest appearances in movies like Get Smart, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Addams Family.
Dana Carvey: Dana Thomas Carvey is an Emmy-award winning American comedian, who is best known for his work in Saturday Night Live and the movie Wayne's World. He's widely known for his impersonations, which have brought him worldwide fame as quite the imitator.
Denis Leary: Denis Leary is known for his angry comedic style. He is currently the co-creator and the star of the television show called Rescue Me. He's played the role of Diego in the animated movie Ice Age and the dragon, Flame in the series The Agents. He's won awards like the CableACE Awards for best direction (comedy) in National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins, and the BBC Festival Recommended award for No Cure for Cancer.
Dick Gregory: Dick Gregory is popular as one of the first comedians who could perform for both black and white audiences. Hugh Hefner hired Geogory to work at the Chicago Playboy Club, when he heard him performing his material to a white audience that perked his interest level, getting him to replace Irwin Corey, the white comedian Professor.
David Steinberg: David Steinberg is a famous Canadian comedian who is also an actor, director and author. He appeared on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 140 times and has also directed episodes of many successful television sitcoms like Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad About You and Friends. He's been awarded the CableACE award for his stand-up comedy performances in Cats, Cops and Stuff. He's also won the Playboy Humor Award for Ragtime.
Eddie Izzard: Edward John, popularly known as Eddie Izzard, is a stand-up comedian of British origin. His famed performances span movies like Shadow of the Vampire, Ocean's Twelve, and Valkyrie to name a few. He was voted by The Comedian's Comedy, as one of the greatest comedy acts ever.
Ellen DeGeneres: With two of her own shows under her belt, The Ellen Show and Ellen, DeGeneres has climbed her way to the top winning 13 Emmy awards among others, for performances in her career and charitable works accredited to her name. She first started out as a stand-up comedienne in small joints, that later snowballed to find her as Showtime's Funniest Person in America after she started to tour nationally.
Eddie Murphy: Bestowed the title of one of the Greatest Stand-ups of All Time, placed at number 10, Murphy found his way to celebrity status by starting out as a regular on the show Saturday Night Live. He's been nominated for his role James in the hit movie Dreamgirls, and also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his acting in Trading Places, 48 Hrs, and Beverly Hills Cop the series. Memorable performances of the comedian are from the Nutty Professor, and as Donkey from the Shrek movie installments.
Freddie Prinze: Freddie Prinze was an American who started his career as a stand-up comedian in New York. Some of the popular nightclubs where he performed were The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. He often introduced himself to audiences as a Hungarican, which referred to the fact that he was part Hungarian and part Puerto Rican. He is best remembered for his work in Chico and the Man. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, years later after his demise.
Flip Wilson: Clerow Wilson Jr., who is popularly known as Flip Wilson, was an American comedian who was a regular at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and was also a part of many shows like The Tonight Show, Laugh In, and The Ed Sullivan Show. He also had his own show called The Flip Wilson Show, in which he greeted all his guests with the trademark Flip Wilson Handshake which started with hand slaps and ended with hip-bumps. He's won two Emmy's and a Golden Globe for the running series The Flip Wilson Show.
Groucho Marx: Julius Henry Groucho Marx was an American comedian and actor, who is known as a master of wit. He is known for his radio and television game show titled You Bet Your Life. In collaboration with his siblings the Marx Brothers, he went on to make films that were successful and applauded for unique delivery, and memorable work.
George Carlin: George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor as well as an author. He is noted for his black humor as well as insights on psychology, politics, English language, religion and also various taboo subjects. He is considered as one of the best comedians and has won four Grammy Awards for his comedy albums.
George Burns: George Burns was an American comedian and actor whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio and television. Some of his trademarks that are still popular are his arched eyebrow and cigar smoke punctuation. He was known as being an active comedian even in old age, and was regarded as one of the industry's best makes. He was bestowed the Kennedy Center Honors, and was booked at the Caesar's Palace and London Palladium during his 100th birthday.
Jack Benny: Jack Benny was among the most beloved American entertainers of the twentieth century. Jack Benny was best known for his amazing comic timing and his ability to get laughs from the audience with either a deliberate pause or a single expression, such as 'Well!'. His popular radio and television programs were a great influence in pioneering the genre of situation comedy.
Jim Carrey: Fans the world over will agree that Carrey can still pull off an appearance that is both funny, and quite memorable. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical for his role in The Mask, and as Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber. Performances worth looking into are from The Cable Guy, Bruce Almighty, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Yes Man, and Batman Forever. Carrey was able to bag the People's Choice Award for favorite TV guest star in the hit sitcom The Office.
Jerry Seinfeld: American stand-up comedian, film producer, writer, and actor Seinfeld gained popularity for his hit sitcom Seinfeld, which he co-created with Larry David, and then later co-executive-produced. In the 90s he was the highest earning celebrity as of 1998, with a whooping $267 million as his annual earnings from the show Seinfeld. Seinfeld is a known car enthusiast and owns an impressive collection of cars, featuring his Porsche Carrera GT in Automobile magazine.
Jerry Lewis: Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, producer, writer and director, who is highly recognized for his dual performance with Dean Martin on their show Martin and Lewis. He's won the Governor's Award which is the highest under the Emmy's, and also the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Kathy Griffin: Kathleen "Kathy" Griffin is an Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedienne, television personality, and an actress as well. Her climb to fame was her supporting role on NBC's Suddenly Susan. She's been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, and has won two Emmy awards for the show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, as executive producer.
Larry David: Larry David is an American Emmy-winning actor, writer, comedian, producer and film director. He was the one who along with Jerry Seinfeld, co-created the television series Seinfeld. He also created the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was an improvised sitcom, in which he starred as a fictionalized version of himself.
Moliere: Moliere was a French playwright and actor, who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among his best-known dramas are The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe or the Hypocrite, The Bourgeois Gentleman, The Miser and many more.
Mitch Hedberg: He was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor, unconventional comedic delivery and hilarious one-liners. His style of comedy was observational comedy and his on-stage persona gained him such a cult following that the audience members sometimes shouted out the punch lines to his jokes before he could finish them!
Moms Mabley: Moms Mabley was an African-American comedienne, who was one of the most successful entertainers of the black vaudeville stage. She tackled topics too edgy for many other comics of her time, including issues like racism. She was acclaimed as The Funniest Woman in the World.
Phyllis Diller: Phyllis Diller is an American comedienne, considered to be one of the pioneers of female stand-up comedy. She is best known for her stage-persona that was a wild-haired, eccentrically dressed housewife, who made jokes about a fictional husband named Fang.
Ray Romano: The funny man plays Raymond on Everybody Loves Raymond, as a father of three kids, who's a mama's boy with a brother that despises the fact. Ray Romano is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian, who is also known for his voice-overs in the Ice Age movie installments as Manny the mammoth.
Russell Peters: Russell Peters is a Canadian stand-up comic, and actor of Indian descent, whose routine focuses largely around his Canadian upbringing and racial stereotypes. Much of his material is related to the cultural divides between many different ethnicities and upbringings and it includes many impressions. He's won awards like the Gemini Award in 2008 for 'Best Performance in a Variety Program or Series', and the Asian Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts award.
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