50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time. From old-school nightclub veterans to alt-comedy legends, Patton Oswalt to Pryor, our picks for the greatest to ever grab a mic
Katt Williams believes Chappelle to be the greatest stand-up comedian alive, while Kevin Hart considers Chappelle to be the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. In 2009, his show was the subject of a book of critical essays, The Comedy of Dave Chappelle, edited by University of Maryland doctoral student K. A. Wisniewski.
16 Best Stand-Up Comics Turned Filmmakers Why Do So Many Comedians Wind Up Self-Destructing? Chris Rock on 'SNL': 3 Sketches You Have to See Toronto 2014: The Best of the Fest All Stories Chris Rock hasn’t put out a special since 2008, but in a way, it hardly matters: He's one of the best comics in history because he found a way to not only infiltrate fans' heads but take up permanent residency there.
View all comments about Bill Burr in our top ten list of Top 10 Funniest Stand-up Comedians or add a new comment about Bill Burr
William Henry Cosby Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, and author. His start in stand-up comedy began at the hungry i in San Francisco; he then landed a starring role in the 1960s television show I Spy.
Gaffigan filmed his 2014 comedy special titled Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed at Boston's Wilbur Theater on January 18, 2014. Obsessed premiered on Comedy Central on April 27 becoming the most watched stand-up comedy special of the year for the network.
Richard Pryor was the first hardcore comedian to bless the stage and the big screen. He should be #1. At the time of this writing Richard is #3. I think he deserves the #1 spot. He may have been crude in his comedy, but he CHANGED stand up comedy for generations to come. Everybody should watch him before voting to others.
George Carlin is the one the only the true legend of stand up comedy, with him the stand up comedy evolved in something pure something good something we all like to sit and laugh, number two..
Sarah Kate Silverman (born December 1, 1970) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, producer, and writer. Her comedy addresses social taboos and controversial topics, such as racism, sexism, politics, and religion, sometimes having her comic character endorse them in a sarcastic or deadpan fashion.
Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create the wildly successful TV series "Seinfeld." The comedian's latest project is "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," which started as a web series and is currently on Netflix.
Eddie Murphy though, he's the truth. Made Delirious and Raw. In my opinion the most famous and quoted stand up gigs of all time. Shaped the way for comedians such and Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. Eddie Murphy is veteran comedian simply one of the most funniest comedian that's been doing it for a while you can't tell me he shouldn't be in the top ten.
Maria Bamford - Paula Deen (Stand Up Comedy) 28 - Her Paula Deen suicide note bit remains one of my favorite bits of all time. Of all the times I've laughed the hardest in my life, first time I heard that is in the top 10. Comedy Central Presents Maria Bamford: 6 - Lady Dynamite is easily my favorite show of 2016. It is amazing.
Hicks is the subject of the 2000 tribute song "Bill Hicks" by fellow Texan Ed Hamell of Hamell on Trial. In 2014, Bill Hicks Bar, a dive rock bar located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada was opened in his honor. Film and documentary. Annex Houston (1986) was a video of an early stand up performance live at Texas.
Mathilde "Tig" O'Callaghan Notaro (born March 24, 1971) is an American stand-up comic, writer, radio contributor, and actress. She is known for her deadpan comedy. Her acclaimed album Live was nominated in 2014 for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
Oswalt has appeared in six stand-up specials and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special and a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his Netflix special Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping (2016).
Kirkman performs stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, California, appearing regularly at the Hollywood Improv, The Laugh Factory, Largo and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. She has performed with comedians Maria Bamford, Greg Behrendt, ...
John Edmund Mulaney (born August 26, 1982) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live and as a stand-up comedian with stand-up specials The Top Part, New in Town, The Comeback Kid, and Kid Gorgeous.
Paste doesn’t just own the world’s largest collection of live music recordings. Our archives are deep with stand-up from some of the best comedians of all time.
David Cross (born April 4, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, and writer, known primarily for his stand-up performances, the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show, and his role as Tobias Fünke in the sitcom Arrested Development.
Hannibal Amir Buress (/ ˈ h æ n ɪ b əl ˈ b ʌr ɪ s /; born February 4, 1983) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, activist, writer, and producer. He embarked on a comedy career in late 2009, gaining recognition after being featured in Comedy Central's The Awkward Comedy Show. This enabled him to release his first comedy album, My Name is Hannibal.
Doug Stanhope. Douglas Stanhope (born March 25, 1967) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author known for his cynical and controversial comedy style.
Comedian George Carlin's eighth HBO stand-up comedy special, Jammin' in New York, was dedicated to Kinison's memory. At the beginning of the broadcast, the words "this show is for SAM" appeared on the screen.
Most comedians have to swear to make a joke funny or they have to poke fun at people but Eddie Izzard can make anything funny with the need to swear or make fun of people. Also his randomness makes the world a funnier place.
Alexandra "Ali" Wong (born April 19, 1982) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and writer. She is noted for her Netflix stand-up specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, as well as her television appearances in American Housewife, Are You There, Chelsea?, Inside Amy Schumer, and Black Box.
In 2006 Wright produced his first stand-up special in 16 years, Steven Wright: When the Leaves Blow Away, originally aired on Comedy Central on October 21, 2006. Its DVD was released April 23, 2007.
John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show From 2010 to 2013, Oliver hosted John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, a stand-up series on Comedy Central that featured sets from himself and other stand-up comedians.
Producer Judd Apatow reconnects with his first love, standup comedy, in Netflix special. The producer of 'Trainwreck' and 'Girls' is also busy with HBO's 'Crashing,' Avett Brothers film and Garry Shandling documentary.
So, we'd go into the pub and someone would say, 'Billy Connolly was in.' 'Oh? Big Billy or Wee Billy?' 'The Big Yin.' 'Oh, Wee Billy.' ... Stand-up comedy
Marc Maron is a popular American stand-up comedian. He rose to prominence with his podcast in which he has interviewed many celebrities including the then President, Barack Obama. Marc has hosted shows like ‘Morning Sedition’ and ‘Breakroom Live’.
Geoff James Nugent (born 14 February 1977), known professionally as Jim Jefferies (and previously Jim Jeffries), is an Australian stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, and writer.
Russell Dominic Peters (born September 29, 1970) is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actor of Anglo-Indian descent. He began performing in Toronto in 1989 and won a Gemini Award in 2008. In 2013, he became the first comedian to get a Netflix stand-up special.
Lenny Bruce: The Comedian as Social Critic & Secular Moralist (Monad Press, 1974) Kringas, Damian. Lenny Bruce: 13 Days In Sydney (Independence Jones Guerilla Press, Sydney, 2010) A study of Bruce's ill-fated September 1962 tour down under.
Beginning on June 12, 2017, Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy hosted the first class of The Rodney Dangerfield Institute of Comedy. The class is a stand-up comedy class which is taught by comedienne Joanie Willgues, aka Joanie Coyote.
Roseanne Cherrie Barr (born November 3, 1952) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and television producer. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the hit television sitcom Roseanne (1988–1997; 2018).
Hasan Minhaj is an American comedian and actor. He is currently a senior correspondent on The Daily Show, which he joined in 2014. Minhaj was the featured speaker at the 2017 White House Correspondents' Dinner. His first stand-up comedy special, Homecoming King, debuted on Netflix on May 23, 2017, and received positive reviews from critics.
Stand-up comedy. Gervais began his stand-up career in the late 1990s; his first successful show took place at the Cafe Royal, as part of the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Titled Rubbernecker, the show also featured Jimmy Carr, Robin Ince and Stephen Merchant. Gervais later toured the UK in 2003 with his stand-up show Animals.
For a long time, Joan RIvers defined women in stand-up comedy, opening it up even further after Phyllis Diller. She marked for the path for later female comics like Sarah Silverman and Kathy Griffin to follow. Rivers was born as Joan Molinksy, daughter of Russian immigrants.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon features hilarious highlights from the show including: comedy sketches, music parodies, celebrity interviews, ridiculous games, and, of course, Jimmy's Thank You Notes and hashtags! You'll also find behind the scenes videos and other great web exclusives.
Martin Lawrence is an American actor, producer, stand-up comedian, and a writer. He was at the peak of his career in the 1990s, with lead roles in several successful films and TV series. He was born in West Germany, where his father was stationed as a member of the American military.