best comedic actors/characters of all time

[Nuzzolese]

Will Farrell
Christopher Guest
Bill Murray
Richard Pryor
Lily Tomlin
Steve Martin
Mike Myers
Chevy Chase
Peter Sellers
John Cleese

that's 10

Woody Allen can go between actor and character since he basically plays himself.

Characters:

Groucho Marx in just about any Marx Bros movie
Austin Powers
'The Tramp'
Eddie and Patsy on Absolutely Fabulous
Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther
Lucy on I Love Lucy
Nigel Tufnel from This is Spinal Tap
Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Vacations
The Jerk

[na§tee]

will ferrell as ron burgundy in anchorman. a small work of genius.
i love scotch. scotchyscotchscotch. brian, i gotta be honest with you; that smells like pure gasoline. i'm in a glass case of emotion! oh, it's so hot. milk was a bad choice! what? you pooped in the refridgerator? and you ate the whole.. wheel of cheese? sweet lincoln's mullet! san diego - a whale's vagina.

phew. i just thought i'd get that all out there. it really can make me laugh hard. so hard my ribs hurt. yeah, that hard, baby.

steve carell is also pretty awesome.

oh and i saw school of rock last night. i love jack black. i love the way he says "they WORSHIP ME!"

oh and peter sellers. on your list. put him there. [scrolls down]. fuck. so he is. ignore me then.

michael palin.

[paul jones]

Steve Coogan
Chevy Chase
Richard Pryor
Simon Pegg
Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy
Rik Mayall
Ronnie Barker
Peter Sellers
Leslie Neilson

Characters:

Alan Partridge
Basil Fawlty
Clark Griswald
Inspector Cleuseu
Frank Drebbin
Laurel & Hardy
Father Ted
Arkwright in Open All Hours
Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses
Trigger in Only Fools and Horses


there's so many I can think of after 10 though but it's Nuzz's rules so I'll stop at 10

[marsdaddy]

Chris Elliot.

[abcdefz]

Will Farrell
Christopher Guest
Bill Murray
Richard Pryor
Lily Tomlin
Steve Martin
Mike Myers
Chevy Chase
Peter Sellers
John Cleese

that's 10

Woody Allen can go between actor and character since he basically plays himself.

Characters:

Groucho Marx in just about any Marx Bros movie
Austin Powers
'The Tramp'
Eddie and Patsy on Absolutely Fabulous
Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther
Lucy on I Love Lucy
Nigel Tufnel from This is Spinal Tap
Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Vacations
The Jerk



There's some good stuff on there. Special props for Lily Tomlin. (y)

Robert DeNiro (Rupert Pupkin) in The King of Comedy. Incredibly funny in a train wreck kind of way. Arguably his best performance.

Barbara Stanwyk in The Lady Eve.

Raymond Walburn in Hail the Conquering Hero. His dictation scene alone would put him in the pantheon.

Leslie Neilson in The Naked Gun. That's truly an amazing performance.

Yeah -- Jack Black is a force of nature, but I'd say he's best in High Fidelity.

Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie. Just that stairway monolgue he uses to reveal himself and get off the soap is genius. Not to mention his turn in Wag the Dog.

[synch]

Bill Murray
Richard Pryor
John Cleese
Billy Chrystal
John Belushi

Bill Murray in anything but a special mention for Venkman, Zissou and the guy from the man who knew too little
Brewster from Brewsters Millions
Tim the Enchanter
Lawyer person from A Fish Called Wanda
The not-so-black guy from Running Scared
Jake Blues

Will probably think of a billion more.

[abcdefz]

I forgot Albert Brooks.

Defending Your Life is a classic. And the quaalude monologue from Modern Romance is amazing.

[Nuzzolese]

Special attention to Christopher Walken who isn't primarily a comedic actor but is HILARious when he does do funny.

What about Jim Carey? I'm leaning to no. He is funny but it's just like BLAH OVERTHETOPALLLLRIGHTEYTHEN contortionism and the same reason Jerry Lewis isn't on my list.

What about Martin Short or Eugene Levy?

I used to laugh my little head off at THE MONKEES when I was a kid.

[abcdefz]

Jim Carrey = not funny. He's too desperate.

If Buster Keaton weren't so amazing, he'd probably be funnier. Kind of hard to laugh with your jaw dropped, ya know?

[ericlee]

Marty Feldman
Eddie Murphy
Charlie Murphy
Dave Chappelle
Mike Meyers
David Spade
Phil Hartman:(
Jon Lovitz
Jimmy Kimmel
Dave Attell
Adam Sandler
George Bush
Vince Vaughn
Ben Stiller
Andy Kaufmann
Richor Pryor
Tracy Ullman
Bill Murray
Woody Harrelson

[enree erzweglle]

I think they've all been mentioned:

Dave Chappelle
Michael Palin
Peter Sellers
Christopher Guest
Bill Murray
Christopher Walken
Woody Allen

[Nuzzolese]

There's some good stuff on there. Special props for Lily Tomlin. (y)


I worship her. She's not a huge name these days but everything she did she was perfect in. She was demure and smart and daffy and she just had it all. I just love her in BIG BUSINESS when she's playing the meek NEW YORK sister, talking to the ambitious Jupiter Hollow Bette Midler who says "we're gonna set things RIGHT!" and she says it like "rat" in her southern accent and meek Tomlin gets into the idea but she's not sure yet and she just says, thoughtfully, hopefully "set things...'rat'?"


Leslie Nielson, I could just look at him making a straight face and crack up. That's when you know someone's really funny; when they don't have to do anything at all because it's an auto response, you just look at them and you can't help laughing. Airplane. He could have me auto response laughing just for Airplane.

You know he used to be a serious actor, he played the handsome leading man type roles. He was in Tammy and the Bachelor with Debbie Reynolds. I like all those Tammy movies; Tammy Tell me True, Tammy and the Doctor, Tammy and the Millionare. I don't know why.

[Nuzzolese]

Joey on Friends
Elaine on Seinfeld
John Lithgow in 3rd Rock from the Sun
Robin Williams made me laugh in Good Morning Vietnam but usually not

I can't pick one character from Cheers though I want to. Carla, Cliff, Norm.
Same with Frasier and the brothers Niles and Frasier and their dad.



And I wanted to say Eddie Murphy but ehhh I don't know. He did all those characters in COMING TO AMERICA. Could anybody else have done those? I never saw much of the Beverly Hills Cop movies.

[JBernas]

National Lampoon's Vacations

Probably one of the funniest movies ever.
*Pictures the Wagon Queen Family Truckster (in metallic pea)*

[abcdefz]

Yeah -- Leslie used to play it straight. I think that casting people misread that bass voice as "gravitas."

Lily's great. I was so glad to see her join West Wing for a little while. And she's a great actress, all 'round -- heartbreaking in Nashville.

[abcdefz]

Meryl Streep is really underrated as a comedy actor, too. Postcards from the Edge -- she was incredible.

[ericlee]

shit, can't forget a fellow Ohioan. Jamie Farr.

[abcdefz]

Jamie Farr.


I taught an acting class with McLean Stevenson's neice.

True, unimpressive story.

[synch]

John Lithgow

Dick Solomon

Sheer brilliance.

[MagicCowboy]

A lot of good ones have been mentioned. But what about this guy: Louis C. K.?
Awesome stand-up comedian
Oh! And Dylan Moran.

[ericlee]

I taught an acting class with McLean Stevenson's neice.

True, unimpressive story.

impressive enough and he also played a good role in M*A*S*H.

Honestly though, I don't know much of Jamie Farr outside of the show and that I've cruised past his house numerous times while traveling through Toledo.

[Friis gal]

I am almost in love with Andy Samberg and Woody Allen...

[Nuzzolese]

Maryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are both funny.

[abcdefz]

Woody Allen -- for just flat out funny, there are few movies as hilarious as Love and Death.


I also deeply regret not mentioning Joan Cusack before this. She's brilliant.

[abcdefz]

I can't pick one character from Cheers though I want to. Carla, Cliff, Norm.
Same with Frasier and the brothers Niles and Frasier and their dad.





Norm. Niles.

George Wendt is just comedy genius -- that Second City training, I guess. And the guy who plays Niles is, to me, the only real reason to watch that show, since John Mahoney is kind of wasted.

[alexandra]

Michael Richards. KRAMER. <2.8
I am almost in love with Andy Samberg
"almost"? dude, check my signature. :p

it's okay tho', i have a crush on all of them. especially Jorma.

[Nuzzolese]

I also deeply regret not mentioning Joan Cusack before this. She's brilliant.

She's never cracked me up, she could never carry a movie on her own she's too much of an oddball.

[Nuzzolese]

Norm. Niles.

George Wendt is just comedy genius -- that Second City training, I guess. And the guy who plays Niles is, to me, the only real reason to watch that show, since John Mahoney is kind of wasted.


But the way they all play off each other is great! It wouldn't be the same with other actors. Niles is adorable though. He kept Down with Love afloat and that was a sinking ship if I ever saw one. Yeah, I don't really talk like that. Why is it there are words or phrases that I will use when talking about movies, that I would never say when talking about anything else?

[abcdefz]

Wow -- Joan Cusack is a comedic genius, to me. She can take perfectly nothing lines (School of Rock) and make 'em work. And when she actually HAS a good part, she gets right in there. Man, I love that woman. (y)

[Nuzzolese]

Woody Allen -- for just flat out funny, there are few movies as hilarious as Love and Death.


Definitely some of the best quotable lines in comedy. So clever. But I haven't liked his latest movies.

Oh god, in Take the Money and Run, when he was talking about about how he played the cello in the marching band and they showed him having to jump up every few seconds and run ahead with his chair. :D

I love how many times he would do that, toss out a little gag or a little throwaway jooke or idea, just something that was clever on its own and it would flesh out his stories and he totally underplayed it and sold it which made it so much funnier than if he had forced it out like "badum ching" style.

[Nuzzolese]

Wow -- Joan Cusack is a comedic genius, to me. She can take perfectly nothing lines (School of Rock) and make 'em work. And when she actually HAS a good part, she gets right in there. Man, I love that woman. (y)

I like her a lot, I just don't think she's a comedic genius or anything.

[Nuzzolese]

Jason Schwartzman is funny but he's always in similar quirky "dramedies" so I wouldn't call him a comedic actor. He has potential I guess.


Michael Keaton is really funny and I think slightly underrated, I guess because he's not wacky. He even made Batman kind of funny.

[DandyFop]

Jim Carrey in The Cable Guy (so many people are going to hate this answer, I'm just waiting for it). I watched it again recently, and his timing in that movie is just so so good. Actually, Owen Wilson's small part is pretty fantastic also, he's just such an asshole.

David Cross as Tobias Funke.
Okay, yeah the whole entire cast of Arrested Development, except George Sr. and Maybe, the only two characters I've never really connected with.

Amy Poehler is one of my all-time favorite women comedic actresses. She totally owns every part she is in and makes it hilarious. Even in Duece Bigelow she is awesome.

Both Elaine and George from Seinfeld are incredible.

Steve Martin in The Jerk.

Tom Hanks in League Of Their Own.

I love the Robin Williams/Nathan Lane/Hank Azaria characters in The Birdcage.

Steve Carrel in The Office. And the guy who plays Creed is amazing in that show also.

Of course I have to say Stephen Colbert, in Strangers With Candy for my favorite comedic role of his. You can't beat the floppy hand.

[TimDoolan]

Chevy Chase :(

[synch]

I love the Robin Williams/Nathan Lane/Hank Azaria characters in The Birdcage.
Almost forgot about Mork!

[DandyFop]

Oh yeah, Joe Flaherty as Sam's dad in Freaks and Geeks. Martin Starr (Bill) is also hilarious.

[Documad]

Oh yeah, Joe Flaherty as Sam's dad in Freaks and Geeks. Martin Starr (Bill) is also hilarious.
Amen.


I think this should be actors who are good at comedic roles, not comedians who happen to be in movies. Most comedians suck at playing anyone but themselves (i.e. virtually everyone who was ever on SNL including the sacred cows). The funniest movies are ones like Tootsie where real actors work with a good script.

I hate bad comic actors more than anything (Robin Williams / Martin Short). Also there is nothing as difficult as making comedy work, so I don't know what to do with actors like Steve Martin (who is absolutely perfect in Parenthood but has sucked in 90% of his movies). Do you give him credit for the good stuff and forget all the bad?

Carrie Fisher is usually good for a giggle in thankless roles. And all the supporting actors in School of Rock were better than Jack Black.

My favorite comic actor of all time is Jean Arthur, but I love any of the fast talking dames of her era.

[Justin]

conan obrien: He has always been funny, even back in the snl days.

Ed Oneal: "Al" in married with children. His facial expressioins was untouchable. Although that cop show he done for primetime tv fucking killed him.

[MagicCowboy]

Amy Poehler was mentioned. Why not everyone else from the Upright Citizens Brigade? (y)

[Tzar]

i watched Old School today - god damnit, will farrell is hilarious.

BLUE, YOU'RE MY BOY!

[Sentry21]

Kramer from Seinfeld.

[Nuzzolese]

conan obrien: He has always been funny, even back in the snl days.

Ed Oneal: "Al" in married with children. His facial expressioins was untouchable. Although that cop show he done for primetime tv fucking killed him.

I never thought he was much of a comedic actor, Conan I mean. I think of him just as a comedian, like David Letterman or Dave Chappelle.

Oh but definitely Al Bundy is one of the best comedic characters.
The Parents on Malcolm in the Middle were good too.
George Costanza and Jerry Stiller playing his dad.


Documad are you insane in the membrane? Steve Martin sucked in 90% of his work? I disagree. The Jerk, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, his stuff on SNL...all wonderful I think. I mean, he doesn't always play the clown he sometimes plays the straight man but that's not easy to do and make it funny.

[avignon]

John Candy

[voltanapricot]

John Cleese - "You lucky, LUCKY bastard!"
Harry Enfield - "It's only meeee!"
Paul Whitehouse - "Were you with a lady last night sir? Did she want it sir? Ooh, suit you!"

These are comedy actors responsible for the many phrases to have circulated around in everyday conversations between my friends and family. Yes we are very, very sad people, but it's still important.

I haven't seen Steve Carrel in The Office but he absolutely made Anchorman in my opinion.

Maryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are both funny.
I can see right through yooooou!

[fucktopgirl]

John Candy

fuck yea, he was funny and canadian:cool:

[mickill]

Lots of good ones already mentioned. I strongly agree with Vince Vaughn and Christopher Walken.

I didn't see him on any of the other posts, but Gene Wilder should be considered (Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Woman in Red).

Parker Posey makes me laugh a lot. Her performance in House Of Yes was brilliant. She's great in all of the Christopher Guest movies as well.

I don't normallly think of him as funny, but John Goodman is awesome in most Coen brother films (Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).

Owen Wilson is great. Especially in Bottle Rocket.

Ben Stiller is kinda hit or miss. More hit than miss, though, I think.

I also think Aries Spears is pretty funny. His impressions crack me up.

Adam Sandler can be funny even though he can also suck tremendously and just be irritating too. But when he is in good form, he can be hilarious.

Reese Witherspoon has also given some great comedic performances. Think about it before you disagree with me. I'm not referring to anything she's done in the last 5 or 6 years, though.

[mickill]

Definitely some of the best quotable lines in comedy. So clever. But I haven't liked his latest movies.
Match Point is good. Not funny at all, though. Unless you're evil.

[na§tee]

katharine hepburn in bringing up baby.
carole lombard in my man godfrey. she was hilarious!

[Justin]

I never thought he was much of a comedic actor, Conan I mean. I think of him just as a comedian, like David Letterman or Dave Chappelle.

Oh but definitely Al Bundy is one of the best comedic characters.
The Parents on Malcolm in the Middle were good too.
George Costanza and Jerry Stiller playing his dad.


Documad are you insane in the membrane? Steve Martin sucked in 90% of his work? I disagree. The Jerk, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, his stuff on SNL...all wonderful I think. I mean, he doesn't always play the clown he sometimes plays the straight man but that's not easy to do and make it funny.


Jerry Stiller is hilarious.

[DandyFop]

Reese Witherspoon has also given some great comedic performances. Think about it before you disagree with me. I'm not referring to anything she's done in the last 5 or 6 years, though.
Election (y)

[mickill]

That's the first one I thought of. And Freeway was another. And the one or two episodes of Friends that she was on. She's also pretty good in Overnight Delivery, which wasn't the best movie or anything, but it didn't suck.

[buddylee]

Red Fox- even in life he was funny never paid his Income tax just signed them.

cheech and chong

rodney dangerfield

Gabe Kaplan -Welcome Back, Kotter

[DIGI]

Rick Moranis

[abcdefz]

We haven't mentioned Charles Grodin or Alan Arkin yet, so hat's off to those two. (y)

[Nuzzolese]

booo to Alan Arkin.

[abcdefz]

C'mon, Nuzz. Your questionable taste is already firmly established; you don't need to press further. :)


Alan Arkin is a comedy diety. Are you kidding me?

[Nuzzolese]

He makes ME want to go on a comedy diet-y, that's for sure.

[abcdefz]

Next thing, you're gonna start dissing Bob Newhart. (!)

[Nuzzolese]

Never! He's the Bob to end all Bobs. Did you ever see his spoof of Braveheart? He was in the role of William Wallace giving a motivational speech to the army of Scotsman facing a wall of British offense. The horse kept trotting around and turning like in the movie and it was comedy precious gems.

I hear that Bob Hope is funny but I never was exposed to much of his work.


Did we mention Jack Lemon?

[mickill]

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.

[synch]

I thought Bob Saget was the Bob to end all Bobs.

[paul jones]

Police Academy, the first one is on TV in a sec........

that's a bit of a classic that should have never made any sequels too(y)

[thegoodmrbrodie!]

i can watch owen wilson in pretty much anything. and john goodman.

[synch]

John Goodman, major points for Walter in The Big Lebowski and the Cyclops in Oh Brother Where Art Thou.

Oooh, "The Dude".

[Documad]

Gene Wilder should be considered (Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Woman in Red).

Parker Posey makes me laugh a lot. Her performance in House Of Yes was brilliant. She's great in all of the Christopher Guest movies as well.

Reese Witherspoon has also given some great comedic performances. Think about it before you disagree with me. I'm not referring to anything she's done in the last 5 or 6 years, though.
I worship Gene Wilder. I have a big huge soft spot for Silver Streak. Young Frankenstein may be the best comedy ever.

You remind me that Madeline Kahn was the funniest woman of the 70s. I could watch her scenes over and over again. My friend friend sometimes comes up to me and he says "taffeta darling!"

House of Yes and Freeway are two movies I saw in the theater and will never forget. I had no idea who those women were at the time but I knew I'd remember them.

[Documad]

Nuzz, I have to produce the evidence.

Movies Steve Martin has made since Parenthood:

The Pink Panther (2006)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
Shopgirl (2005)
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
Bringing Down the House (2003)
Novocaine (2001)
Joe Gould's Secret (2000)
Bowfinger (1999)
The Out-of-Towners (1999)
The Prince of Egypt (1998) (voice)
The Spanish Prisoner (1997) good but not funny
Sgt. Bilko (1996)
Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
Mixed Nuts (1994) I forgot this one -- possibly the worst movie I ever saw in a theater
A Simple Twist of Fate (1994)
And the Band Played On (1993) Aids isn't funny
Leap of Faith (1992)
HouseSitter (1992)
Grand Canyon (1991)
Father of the Bride (1991)
L.A. Story (1991)
My Blue Heaven (1990)

I hadn't realized until now that his career is at least 50% remaking movies that weren't that good in the first place. :rolleyes:

[DandyFop]

Bringing Down the House (2003)


I can't believe I saw this travesty. Watching Queen Latifah and Steve Martin dry humping on a couch might be the most horrifying thing I've ever seen.

[Nuzzolese]

But if he had died after Parenthood, would he be recognized? If so I think that means that he might as well have died. But L.A. Story was kind of funny. And I liked Father of the Bride and Housesitter. Not especially because of him but he was in them and I didn't hate him and I factor that into the issue of his hypothetical death.

[abcdefz]

i can watch owen wilson in pretty much anything. and john goodman.


(y)

[abcdefz]

Steve Martin's latest writing -- the New Yorker stuff and "Shopgirl" -- are really good. Some of Pure Drivel is laugh-out-loud funny.

[P of R]

All the pythons + their characters.

[na§tee]

all of the league of gentlemen.

[abcdefz]

Dick Van Dyke was pretty awesome in his day.

Did we already say Lucille Ball?

[mickill]

But if he had died after Parenthood, would he be recognized? If so I think that means that he might as well have died. But L.A. Story was kind of funny. And I liked Father of the Bride and Housesitter. Not especially because of him but he was in them and I didn't hate him and I factor that into the issue of his hypothetical death.
Yeah, it's like saying that Michael Jackson was always an untalented white woman.

I enjoyed Shopgirl a lot.

[abcdefz]

Yeah, it's like saying that Michael Jackson was always an untalented white woman.





:D














































:(

[Bob]

Never! He's the Bob to end all Bobs. Did you ever see his spoof of Braveheart? He was in the role of William Wallace giving a motivational speech to the army of Scotsman facing a wall of British offense. The horse kept trotting around and turning like in the movie and it was comedy precious gems.

I hear that Bob Hope is funny but I never was exposed to much of his work.


Did we mention Jack Lemon?

my ears were burning for a second there.

my braveheart spoof is much better, by the way

[Nuzzolese]

Yeah, it's like saying that Michael Jackson was always an untalented white woman.


He's like Gollem. I do pity him.

[Nuzzolese]

my braveheart spoof is much better, by the way

I wish I could see it!

[abcdefz]

Wasn't Mickey Rourke in Chickenheart?