Top 10 Greatest Comedians of All Time

Great comedy does more than make you laugh so hard your drink escapes through the wrong exit. On this list, you are weighing the artists who pushed the form forward, sharpened jokes into arguments, and turned stages, screens, and silent glances into places where absurdity could expose something true.

Vote for the comedians who changed what comedy could say, not just the ones who stacked up the loudest punchlines. That might mean fearless social commentary, political bite, religious satire, surreal invention, physical precision, or a level of intelligence that makes the laugh arrive a half second after your brain catches up. The funniest pick is welcome, of course, but the greatest pick should feel like someone who made comedy bigger, stranger, braver, or smarter than it was before.

1. Robin Williams

   

   Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Starting as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, he helped lead a comedy renaissance in San Francisco. He passed away in August 2014 and is remembered for his improvisational genius, charity work, and heartfelt... read more

   He was without a doubt the king of classic comedies. He made the world laugh, and he was the funniest actor on Earth. His roles in Aladdin as the Genie, as well as Hook, Jumanji, and many more were gold. We still can't get over the fact he committed suicide, and his loss has changed entertainment and the world forever. He was 63. R.I.P. to an irreplaceable legend.

   Greatest natural comedian of all time. His talent has never been repeated or recreated.

   Watch him and Jonathan Winters bounce off each other, and you're going to need some clean britches.

2. George Carlin

   

   George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects. His Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television routine played... read more

   Well, obviously he's up here. He was the first comedian to make rants about things that he hated funny.

   George has no line, and he is partying in a pub beyond the line!

   He could pick the simplest subject and kill it. One of a kind.

3. Rowan Atkinson

   

   Rowan Sebastian Atkinson, is an English actor, comedian, and screenwriter best known for his work on the sitcoms Blackadder and Mr. Bean.

   There are a lot of people on the list that most non-English-speaking people have never heard of. But when it comes to Mr. Bean, everyone knows him. He's made people of every generation laugh. I can't think of anyone else topping him.

   He is the best of all times, debating about this matter is a waste of time! I wonder why Robin tops the list. Is it because he is dead? Because people tend to be extremely redundant when it comes to the deceased.

   He made the world laugh without even saying much and he's also good with funny dialogues in his other movies. This guy just defines comedy more than anyone else on this list.

4. Louis C.K.

   

   Louis Székely, known professionally as Louis C.K., is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, and editor. He is known for his dark humor and for creating and starring in the television series Louie. He has won multiple Emmy Awards for his writing and performance.

   He words the great ideas he has for jokes perfectly to make them as funny as possible. He is a "comic's comic," and he is just so down-to-earth and can talk about any subject. I don't agree with 100% of what he says, but still, he is highly intelligent and just a true professional comic. Louie is a great show as well.

   Comedic genius. Top 3 stand-up comedians of all time, and a prodigious T.V. writer to boot. Along with Dave Chappelle, he's the only comedian guaranteed to make me laugh or think hard whenever I see anything they produce, from stand-ups to T.V.

5. Charlie Chaplin

   

   Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (April 16, 1889 - December 25, 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent film era. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. Chaplin is best known for his iconic character... read more

   Charlie Chaplin and Rowan Atkinson are two great comedians who are capable of making everyone laugh by talking little or none at all!

   He was the first great comedian in the world! We should respect him for his tramp character! His greatest film, The Gold Rush, is worth watching and enjoying.

   Chaplin was a genius on at least three different levels of entertainment.

6. Jim Carrey

   

   James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian and American actor, comedian, impressionist, screenwriter, and producer. He's well known for comedic roles in films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Cable Guy, Liar Liar, How the Grinch Stole Christmas... read more

   My all-time number one favorite comedian is Jim Carrey because he makes me laugh constantly. My stomach hurts and my sides split as well. I am a big, huge, number one fan of Jim Carrey.

   Jim Carrey is the absolute best at roasting in Liar Liar, and I fall down laughing. I really love his sense of humor so much. Also, Jim Carrey is amazing in How the Grinch Stole Christmas with his incredible comedic style.

   When he gets an award, he gives the most hilarious speeches. I cannot stop laughing at all. I get tears in my eyes from laughing.

   The king of comedy, the king of the best sense of humor. I absolutely love Jim Carrey so very much. Jim Carrey is best known for Ebenezer Scrooge in The Christmas Carol and also for The Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. My stomach hurts from laughing and my sides split as well. I'm a huge Jim Carrey fan.

   Jim Carrey is my personal favorite comedian. I would really love to meet him. It would be a dream come true.

7. Steve Martin

   

   Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, playwright, author, and musician. He first gained public attention in the 1960s as a writer for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" and later became a popular stand-up comic. Martin is also known for his roles in films such... read more

   His physical comedy is hysterical, and for a bonus, he plays a wicked banjo.

8. Bill Burr

   

   William Frederic "Bill" Burr is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He is best known for his stand-up comedy specials, including Let It Go and Paper Tiger. Burr also created and voiced the main character in the animated Netflix series F Is for Family.

   Just... Just watch his opinion of Yoko Ono and you will see why this guy is amazing. Haha.

9. John Cleese

   

   John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, voice actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report.

10. Ricky Gervais

    

    Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, producer, writer, and former singer and music manager, born in 1961. He co-created and starred in the original UK series The Office before going on to create Extras and After Life. Gervais has hosted the Golden Globe Awards five times and is... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Cantinflas

    

    Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes (August 12, 1911 - April 20, 1993), known by the stage name Cantinflas, was a Mexican comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is considered one of the most accomplished and influential Mexican comedians in history and remains well known throughout Latin America and Spain... read more

12. ?

    Nipsey Russell

    

    Julius "Nipsey" Russell (September 15, 1918 - October 2, 2005) was an American entertainer best known for his appearances as a panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, including Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth, and Pyramid. His appearances were often distinguished... read more

The Contenders

13. Eddie Murphy

    

    Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and producer. Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. He gained fame through hit films such as Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and The Nutty Professor, and has received numerous awards... read more

    Eddie was the first comedian to reach the apex of celebrity. Raw and Delirious are both among the greatest stand-up specials of all time. Eddie is top 5 hands down.

14. John Oliver

    

    John William Oliver is an English comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the United Kingdom before gaining recognition in the United States. He is best known for hosting the HBO series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver... read more

15. Norm MacDonald

    

    Norman Gene Macdonald (October 17, 1959 - September 14, 2021) was a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his signature deadpan style.

    Early in his career, he wrote for the sitcom Roseanne and made guest appearances on The Drew Carey Show and NewsRadio. He then spent five years... read more

    The greatest by miles for me. Of ALL time. He matched my sense of humor perfectly. Every other comedian misses frequently with me. Not Norm.

    This list has no credibility. Norm, Rickles, Dangerfield, Cosby, Murphy and Pryor are all out of the top 10. This old chunk of coal has my vote as #1.

    Put Norm in the room with any other comedian, and he always comes out on top.

16. Andy Kaufman

    

    Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman (January 17, 1949 to May 16, 1984) was an American entertainer and performance artist. He is sometimes described as an "anti-comedian."

    Kaufman disdained telling jokes and engaging in comedy as it was traditionally understood. In an interview, he stated, "I am not a comic... read more

    He brought ideas for comedy into the mainstream and defined a lot of what comedy is today. Good number one.

17. Bill Hicks

    

    William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist. He was known for his dark humor and thought-provoking commentary on politics, religion, and popular culture. Hicks also incorporated music into his performances and often played guitar during his sets.

    I always consider Hicks, Carlin, and Stanhope to be the big three of intelligent, critical thinkers who should be president. It's too bad that Hicks's career was cut short and he didn't survive long enough to see his predictions about the current world we live in be right.

    Best comedian alongside Carlin.

18. Dave Chappelle

    

    David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an African American stand-up comedian, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He gained widespread fame for his sketch comedy television series, "Chappelle's Show," which aired from 2003 to 2006. Chappelle has won multiple Emmy Awards and a Mark Twain Prize for American... read more

    The fact that he isn't at least in the top 10 is a farce. Chappelle is a comedic god. He's on the Mount Rushmore of comedy.

19. Jerry Seinfeld

    

    Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. He was born on April 29, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York.

    He is best known for playing a fictional version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld, which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David. Comedy... read more

    The greatest while using the simplest material!

20. Chris Rock

    

    Christopher Julius Rock III is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. He gained fame as a cast member of Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s. Rock has also starred in several successful comedy specials and films and is known for his sharp wit and social commentary.

    This guy is so famous that I don't really have to describe why he is so good, but I will anyway. His voice is one of the greatest voices ever, and his ideas are just so true. His punchlines can make an audience of thousands of people go psycho. This is because he builds up to his punchlines for so long that it creates the perfect amount of suspense and anticipation that would make anything he says funny.

21. Larry the Cable Guy

    

    Daniel Lawrence Whitney, known professionally as Larry the Cable Guy, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, former radio personality, and author. He gained fame as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, and Ron White. His catchphrase, Git-R-Done, became widely... read more

    That's funny right there, I don't care who ya are!

22. Rodney Dangerfield

    

    Rodney Dangerfield was an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He was known for his catchphrase, I don't get no respect! and for his self-deprecating monologues on that theme. Dangerfield starred in several comedy films, including Caddyshack and Back to School.

    No one makes me laugh like Rodney.

23. Kevin Hart

    

    Kevin Darnell Hart (born July 6, 1979, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He won several amateur stand-up comedy competitions across New England before landing his first television role in 2001 on Undeclared, cast by Judd Apatow. He has since released... read more

24. Woody Allen

    

    Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg. November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing material for television in the 1950s, primarily for Your Show... read more

25. Richard Pryor

    

    Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and social critic. He was known for his uncompromising examinations of racism and contemporary issues, using profanity and racial epithets to underscore his commentary. Pryor is widely regarded as one of the most influential... read more

    He should be no lower than #2. Richard Pryor is the god of stand-up. He was Chappelle and Murphy before Chappelle and Murphy.

    Pryor is so far beyond anyone else on this list, it's hard to give any merit to a list putting him so low.

26. Don Rickles

    

    Donald Jay Rickles (May 8, 1926 - April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was known primarily for his style of insult comedy. His film roles include Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), Enter Laughing (1967), Kelly's Heroes (1970), and Casino (1995).... read more

    Laid the platform. His personality was the act!

27. Larry David

    

    Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American comedian, writer, actor, playwright, and television producer. He co-created the hit television series Seinfeld, in which he also served as head writer and executive producer.

    David later created and stars in Curb Your Enthusiasm, a semi-autobiographical... read more