Comedyfilms are one of the oldest film genres in cinema history, with some of the earliest silent films featuring slapstick comedy relying on visual depictions. Withthe best comedies, there’s no end to how the fun can go, whether it’s slapstick, a rom-com, action comedy, sitcom, or even spoofs and parodies. While their approaches may be different, all these genres have one thing in common: they will make the audience laugh.
The best comedy actors have come from all different walks of life. Some began as dramatic actors who found they could easily make audiences burst with laughter. Others were stand-up comedians who got a few movie roles and went on to become great stars. When talking about great comedy actors, many think of Robin Williams, Steve Carell, or Jim Carrey. It’s impossible to mention them all, but here are the 20 greatest comedy movie actors of all time.
Catherine O’Hara
Known for her work onSecond City TelevisionandSchitt’s Creek,Catherine O’Harais a Canadian-American actress and comedian. Born in Toronto, O’Hara is a celebrity impersonator, a gifted voice actor as well as a singer/songwriter. Besides her television work, she has also starred in films such asAfter Hours, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice,and the first two installments in theHome Alonefranchise. O’Hara’s regular appearance in film and television has endeared her to generations of fans.
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Mel Brooks
20th Century Studios
Mel Brooksis a quadruple-threat actor, comedian, filmmaker, and songwriter with a career spanning over seven decades. He has received numerous accolades and is one of 18 entertainers towin the EGOT, which is the Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Academy Award, and Tony Award. Brooks is known best for his comical parodies and farces, blooming first in television before moving on to film and Broadway productions. His most known credits includeSpaceballs, Blazing Saddles,andThe Producers.
Leslie Nielsen
Appearing in over 100 films and a 150 television programs,Leslie Nielsenwas a legendary Canadian actor and comedian who portrayed more than 220 characters across 60 years. Before getting into acting, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and served until the end of World War II. He made his acting debut in 1950, then his film debut in 1956. Nielsen’s notable performances include his roles inForbidden Planet, The Poseidon Adventure, and Airplane!.His comedy roles were often characters who were oblivious to their complicity in their absurd surroundings.
Will Ferrell
The actor, comedian, writer, and producerWill Ferrellfirst established himself in the mid-90s as a cast member onSaturday Night Live. He is considered a member ofthe “Frat Pack,“a generation of comedians who emerged during the late-90s and 2000s. Other members of the Frat Pack include Jack Black and Steve Carrell. Ferrell is known for his roles in comedy films such asElf,Talladega Nights, Step Brothers,and, most recently,Barbie.
Bill Murray
Bill Murrayis a comedic actor and voice actor known for his deadpan delivery in all his roles. He frequently collaborates with directors Wes Anderson, Harold Ramis, Sofia Coppola, Ivan Reitman, and Jim Marmusch. Murrary has also earned numerous accolades including the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2016. He rose to fame onThe National Lampoon Radio HourandSaturday Night Live. Murray is known for his roles in comedy films such asMeatballs, Caddyshack, andGhostbusters.
Jim Carrey
Known for his energetic slapstick performances,Jim Carreyis an actor and comedian who first gained notoriety in 1990 after landing in the sketch comedy seriesIn Living Color.He gained further recognition withAce: Ventura, The Mask,andDumb and Dumberin 1994. Then, in the 2000s, he starred in some of his most known roles, as the Grinch inHow the Grinch Stole Christmasand as Bruce inBruce Almighty.
While Carrey is largely typecast as a comedic actor, he has also found success in dramatic roles, such as the Emmy-nominated filmDoing Time on Maple Drive. In 2013, Carrey published a children’s book titledHow Roland Roles, which received the Gelett Burgess Children’s Bood Award.
Steve Martin
Steven Martinis a comedian, actor, musician, writer, and producer who has received numerous accolades in his career, including five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2004, he ranked sixth on a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics by Comedy Central, andThe Guardiannamed him one of the best actors to have received a nomination for an Academy Award.
Martin first came into the public eye as a writer forThe Smothers Brothersin the 1960s and later as a host onSaturday Night Live. Since the 80s, he has starred in films such asThe Jerk, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, All of Me, Cheaper by the Dozen,andDirty Rotten Scoundrels.Since 2015, Martin and his fellow comedian Martin Short have gone on several national tours.
Jacques Tati
A French filmmaker, actor, and mime,Jacques Tatiwas best known for his oblivious yet well-meaning, pipe-puffing character Monsieur Hulot in a series of films between 1953 and 1971. While Tati was not as prolific as other iconic comedians of the time, the six feature-length films he directed and starred in were more than enough to classify him as a master comedian.
His most notable works includeMonsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Play Time,andTraffic. He has since been the subject of several documentaries and his works have been digitally restored with museum exhibitions and repertory cinemas all over the world dedicated to keeping his legacy alive.
Eddie Murphy
Like many other actors on this list,Eddie Murphyis anactor and comedianwho first rose to fame as a regular cast member onSaturday Night Live. He was ranked 10th on Comedy Central’s list of greatest stand-up comedians and has received a Grammy, Emmy, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Award, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, among other accolades. He received numerous awards for his role inDr. Dolittleand its sequel.
Besides acting, Murphy has also worked as a voice actor, with roles such as Mushu in Disney’sMulan, Donkey in theShrekfranchise, and Thurgood Stubbs inThe PJs. His recent works includeDolemite is My Name, Coming 2 America,andYou People.
Katherine Hepburn
With a career spanning over six decades,Katherine Hepburnwas an actress and a Hollywood leading lady. She was known for her outspokenness, spirited personality, and headstrong independence. Her public image perfectly matched her on-screen persona, as she regularly played strong-willed and sophisticated women.
While Hepburn was prolific in various genres, one is certainly screwball comedy. Her comedic chemistry with actor Spencer Tracy was long-running, with their on-screen partnership spanning over twenty-five years with nine films. She is known best for her performances inThe Philadelphia StoryandBringing Up Baby.
