Ranker

Anime Underground

Button Mash

Graveyard Shift

Total Nerd

Unspeakable Times

Weird History

Weird Nature

Weirdly Interesting

Sports

Music

Entertainment

Living

Culture

Food

Makeup

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Watchworthy

HBO Max

Ranking the best, funniest, and most original stand-up comedians and comic actors.

poll

Will Ferrell

The funniest people of all time are a mix of actors, comedians, and even a few people who probably didn't start off trying to be funny. Included in this list of people vying for the title of funniest person ever are the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-stand-up-comedians-in-entertainment">funniest stand-up comedians of all time</a> and the funniest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> ever. One thing's for sure: these funny actors and comedians are at the top of their ha ha games and could make most people laugh 'til they pee.The funniest people ever include actors like Will Ferrell and John Belushi, comedians-turned-actors like Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy, and general funny people like George Carlin and John Cleese. While ranking a funny person is completely subjective, the folks on this list of funny people are undeniably hilarious. The real question is: who is the funniest person ever?This is your chance to decide! Vote for the funniest comedians and actors and help decide once and for all who the funniest person alive or dead really is. If your favorite funny person isn't on the list of the funniest people ever, make sure to add them so others can revel in their hilarity.

Comedy

Charlie Chaplin

Picking the top original comedians may start a bar fight but it&#39;s time to weigh in. What is the criteria for choosing some of the top groundbreaking comedians? This list looks at comedians who were the first of their kind, who set trends, established new genres, and broke the comedy mold to pieces. Those who killed while they made some razor sharp points about the state of things. Who had their own style that could not be replicated, try as many might. 

Ranked here are original comics who broke down boundaries and changed <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-pop-culture-popular-in-foreign-countries/anna-lindwasser?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">American pop culture</a>. Which top original comedians shocked the senses, created new comedic wrinkles, and challenged America to challenge itself?

Original comics with an original voice soon get folded into the next generation&rsquo;s comedy. Milton Berle and Jack Benny were groundbreaking comedians of their time. Bill Hicks called the world out on its very existence. Johnny Carson created late night talk.

Groundbreaking comedians have changed public opinion and influenced politics. Jon Stewart has taken down many an arrogant journalist and political figure by using comedy, logic, and masterful mock news. Tina Fey has done the same. Lenny Bruce and George Carlin questioned every aspect of government and society and pushed limits. Monty Python surrealistically picked apart the British Empire. Amy Schumer brought a brash realism, a fresh voice for women, and taught us all where fudge is made. Dave Chappelle and Richard Pryor will always be considered two of the greats, nearly impossible to conquer.

Then there are those original comedy legends who have fallen from grace. Are they still groundbreaking comedians in light of their misdeeds and scandal? Many think so. Others see original comics like Bill Cosby as icons who did a lot for America&rsquo;s perception of Black families. But in the face of over 35 accusers of drugging and rape, where does he fall in comedy history? How about Woody Allen, who has faced his own public scandals?

Who are your favorite original comics? Do you swing old school or new? Do you mix your original comedy tastes and make choices based on your mood? Upvote your favorite groundbreaking comedians and tell us who should rule the original comics list. Don&rsquo;t see your favorite original comedy king or queen here? Add it and get the last laugh. We&rsquo;ll forgive you if you add Dane Cook.

Comedians

Robin Williams

This list ranks the best stand-up comedians in the history of the art form. First and foremost, all of the people on this list are funny comedians. Beyond that, this is a diverse list of people with different styles who approach different types of subject matter.&nbsp;Many of the popular comedians listed below worked their way up through the stand up circuit and eventually landed shows&nbsp;or specials on Netflix or Comedy Central, while others started their own YouTube channels and put their best jokes out into the world that way. The funniest comedians can come from any type of background, obviously there are insanely talented Black, Asian, Latino and white comedians (and everything in between.)

Being a good stand-up comic is tough, and whether they&#39;re an observant, an orator, an absurdist, blue collar, or alternative, all of the funny comedians on this list are unique, hardworking, and hilarious. They&#39;re some of the biggest and most famous names in the game, whether current or beloved goofy old comics.&nbsp;Many of the best comedians of all time got their start as stand-up comedians and then progressed to star in their own films <a href="/list/best-shows-starring-stand-up-comics/ranker-tv" target="_blank">or TV series</a>. It takes a certain skill set and the ability to connect with people in order&nbsp;to excel at stand-up comedy, and we feel that these are the ones that shine.

This list is made of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians and then some. The top&nbsp;comedians are always changing. Feel free to add your votes on the greatest standups of all time. Then check back to see if any of your favorites broke into the top 20 comedians.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Betty White

The funniest female comedians star on our favorite sitcoms, perform standup at the top comedy clubs and best of all, make us laugh until we cry. These talented women comedians (or &#39;commediennes&#39; if you&#39;re fancy) are just as funny as any male comedians, if not funnier. Plus, they get to tell female-friendly jokes that most men wouldn&#39;t touch with a 10-foot pole. Girl comedians can just do some jokes better than the guys can.

Alone, these female comedians are utterly hilarious on their own, but when they team up, watch out. That was exactly the case in 2011 when funny ladies like Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy teamed up with some of the funniest minds in film today to make the smash comedy hit Bridesmaids.&nbsp;Previously, the blonde comedian was known mainly for her many quirky characters on Saturday Night Live,&nbsp;but she&#39;s more than just a funny lady, she&#39;s a smart (and beautiful!) one too.

For others, the leap from the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-comedy-specials/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">gut-busting standup acts</a> to primetime television came after the female comedians got noticed by the networks. Chelsea Handler, Whitney Cummings and even Ellen DeGeneres all paid their dues on the standup circuit before getting their own television series.

Whether these talented female comedians make us laugh with their television shows, appear in <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-movies-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">hilarious comedy movies</a>, are familiar faces on Comedy Central or simply provide the best hilariously inappropriate jokes on celebrity roasts, each rival any of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-stand-up-comedians/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top male comedians</a> in the business today. Some of them are considered to be&nbsp;the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/comedians?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">funniest people of all time</a>. Have a funny lady that makes you laugh until you wet your pants? White or black, young or old, tell us your favorites by voting up the best female comedians below.

Broken Flowers

Dramatic movies starring comedians, ranked by comedy and film fans. Often, after making a name for themselves appearing in wacky or silly movies, comics will purposefully take on a more serious role, often in an attempt to show off their range. Comics like Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/robin-williams-movies-and-films-and-filmography/reference" target="_blank">Robin Williams</a> are all noted for their tendency to alternate between funny and more serious roles (with Williams at some points in his career altogether abandoning comedies in favor of dramas.)

Often, fans are initially resistant to attempts by comedians to change around their style or appeal to new audiences. Sometimes, the experiments blatantly don&#39;t work out, with viewers unable to see their favorite funny performers in a new light. But other times, the decision to switch gears in favor of working in a drama pays off for a comedian, sometimes even resulting in award nominations or greater appreciation from acting peers. (As when Eddie Murphy was nominated for an Oscar - and won a Golden Globe - for his role in the musical &quot;Dreamgirls&quot; after years of being written off as the star of goofy features like &quot;Nutty Professor&quot; and &quot;Norbit.&quot;)

What are the best serious movies starring comedians? Vote for your favorite serious dramatic films starring comedians. And if your favorite comic-starring drama isn&#39;t featured, make your own list and add it as a suggestion!

Sam Kinison

This is a list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-stand-up-comedians-in-entertainment?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best stand up comedians</a> who died too early. These stand up comedians died before they had run out of steam and, for most, died in the prime of their career. Stand up comedy is a hard profession and drives the people in it into some pretty rough life styles. Because of this, there are many more premature deaths in the world of comedy than there are in other professions. Not all stand up comedians succumb to this, but some of the best stand ups have died too soon. This list contains stand up comedians who are dead now (R.I.P.) and who died before their time. This doesn't necessarily mean that the stand up comics on this list died early or young. Most of them were middle aged or, in the case of George Carlin, down right old. This list is for the stand up comics that died with plenty of comedy left in them. So much so that it is tragic to lose them. The famous dead comedians on this list are white, black, asian, latino and everything in between. Some of these deaths occurred recently, whereas others happened decades ago.&nbsp;All items on this list contain videos of some of the best performances by the deceased comedians in question. Please note that some of these videos contain harsh language and may not be suitable for work.&nbsp;Vote up your favorite stand up comedian who died to soon and add any that you think have been overlooked.&nbsp;

Anyone who's ever tried to go up on stage knows that stand-up comedians don't have an easy job. You have to be witty, charming and most importantly funny. However there are some comics who are not any of those things, causing them to be hated by the masses. Whether it's because they're known for stealing material, they're hacks or they're just plain annoying, these comics are notorious for not being liked both in the comedy community and by the general public.Do you hate any of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-comedians-on-the-howard-stern-show/stern-fan?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">comedians on</a> this list? A lot of people don't like Carlos Mencia after he was outed as a joke thief, but the heat has died down after all these years. People also hate on Larry the Cable Guy all the time, but what the hell is wrong with a dumb, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/redneck-jokes/jack-napier?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">funny redneck</a>? Maybe it's the fact that he's not really a redneck&nbsp;and that his whole southern persona is completely phony.&nbsp;

The Joker Is Wild

There is a surprising dearth of quality biopics about comedians. There are, however, a handful of movies that masterfully capture the magnetic personalities and dynamic lives both onstage and off of some great comic performers. With rumors swirling about a Richard Pryor biopic directed by Lee Daniels, here are the best comedian biopics. Trailblazer, rebel, and criminal Lenny Bruce is portrayed brilliantly by Dustin Hoffman in the film Lenny. Directed by Bob Fosse, the film received six Oscar nominations and stands as <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-accurate-sci-fi-movies/anncasano?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the most accurate</a> and acclaimed comedian biopic to date. Jim Carrey’s turn as the eccentric and reclusive Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon gives Hoffman's&nbsp;Lenny a run for its money. Carrey perfectly channels the manic energy of Kaufman, while also capturing his striking vulnerability. Other legendary comedians with quality biographical films include Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers, and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Hopefully more quality comedian biopics will come out, but for now check out these titles and vote up your favorites!

In the world of comedy, many high-profile comedians got their start on the institution that is Saturday Night Live. Comedians who wrote for SNL would frequently go on to create popular films and television series. From 1975 to today, there are many fantastic writers who have impacted comedy in major, meaningful ways. This list of former SNL writers features all manner of great comedians who have made audiences laugh since their time on NBC's mainstay sketch show.From writers like Larry David and Christopher Guest, female comedians like Sarah Silverman and Laura Kightlinger, and hilarious male stand-ups like Hannibal Buress and Dave Attell, comedians who wrote for SNL run the gamut. With this great list of SNL writers, who went on to notable comedy careers in their own right, you'll get a who's who of comedy throughout the years.Take a look at this list of famous comedians who were&nbsp;Saturday Night Live writers - some of these sketch writers and stand up comedy vets who started in Studio 8H might surprise you!

These funny people are the gold standard – literally. The legends on this list are all Grammy award-winning comedians, a few of them many times over. Some of these comedians with Grammys are lauded for their sharp observational humor, while other side-splitting acts combine music and stand-up into their releases. Many of the comedians behind the best Grammy-winning comedy albums also have their own popular stand-up specials.Can you guess the names of all these comedians who have Grammy awards? You likely thought of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-of-richard-pryor/erin-mccann?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Richard Pryor</a>. He is often cited as one of the biggest influences on modern comedians, so it should come as no surprise that he had several Grammys lining his mantel. He won in 1975 for That N*****'s Crazy, in 1976 for ...Is It Something I Said?, in 1977 for Bicentennial N*gger, in 1982 for Rev. Du Rite, and again in 1983 for Live on the Sunset Strip. But he's not even the most awarded comedian on this list – that honor goes to Bill Cosby, who has won a grand total of seven Grammys for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/grammy-award-for-best-comedy-album-winners-list/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Best Comedy Album</a>.Hilarious women have also won Grammys. Lily Tomlin won in 1972 for This Is A Recording and Whoopi Goldberg won in 1986 for Whoopi Goldberg (Original Broadway Show Recording). Other fan-favorite comedians with Grammy awards include Steve Martin, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K.Which Grammy award-winning comedian do you think is the funniest? Read on and be ready to laugh.

These are some of the funniest podcasts out right now, so if you&#39;re in need of a laugh then check any of these out. One of the more popular podcast genres, comedy is just one of those things that makes for amazing conversation between two or more people. This comedy podcast list is the perfect place for finding new podcasts that you haven&#39;t already heard, especially since the shows are ordered by how many times other people have voted for them.

There truly is something for everyone on this list of comedy podcasts. Chris Hardwick&#39;s&nbsp;ID10T&nbsp;podcast caters to nerd culture, while others like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast-episodes-2018/dylan-evans" target="_blank">WTF with Marc Maron</a> offer very personal interviews with some of the world&#39;s <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-funniest-stand-up-comedians-in-entertainment?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest comedians</a>. Then you&#39;ve got people like Bill Burr with his <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-bill-burr-podcast-episodes/ranker-podcast?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Monday Morning Podcast</a>, where he hilariously rambles into the microphone by himself for an hour each week (seriously check out Burr&#39;s podcast, it&#39;s magnificent).

Including The Joe Rogan Experience and How Did This Get Made?, this list of the funniest podcasts currently airing new episodes feature the most hilarious podcast hosts, vulgar language, and funny views on current news.&nbsp;

Vote up your favorite funny podcasts. Do you think this poll is missing one of the best comedy podcasts? Add it to the list so that others can vote on it too.

Stand-up comedy is difficult to pull off. A comedian needs to be able to appeal to the widest audience possible while still staying true to themselves. For stand-up fans, it would serve them well to seek out diverse comedians who provide scathing commentary on a variety of issues. Fortunately, there are plenty of great Black comedy specials on <a href="/list/best-netflix-original-stand-up-comedy-movies/ranker-streaming" target="_blank">Netflix</a>, <a href="/list/best-stand-up-specials-on-hulu/ranker-streaming" target="_blank">Hulu</a>, and Comedy Central. From legends like Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle to newer comedians like Trevor Noah and the Lucas Brothers, there is no shortage of incredible comedy coming from Black artists.&nbsp;

Some of these stand-ups&nbsp;turn most of their attention toward American politics. Michael Che provides a droll delivery on the experiences of being a Black man in America&#39;s modern justice system. Meanwhile, other comedians, like Hannibal Buress, focus on much lighter fare. He&#39;ll joke <a href="/list/best-anecdotal-comedians/ranker-comedy" target="_blank">about pickle juice</a> or letting&nbsp;Beyonc&eacute; punch his mom, but at the same time, he&#39;s not afraid to tackle more serious subjects.&nbsp;

Out of all of these Black stand-up specials, which do you think are the best? Do you like comedy that came out this year or the classics like Richard Pryor? If you consider yourself a comedy fan, then vote for your favorites below.&nbsp;

Many people still view comedy as a boys&#39; club. However, once you watch a few stand-up specials from women, it is clear as day women are just as funny (if not funnier) than the guys. As the world settled into the 21st century more <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-all-stand-up-comedy-movies/reference" target="_blank">comedy specials</a> from women started to be available and once streaming services like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-netflix-original-stand-up-comedy-movies/ranker-streaming" target="_blank">produced their own comedy specials</a>, it became a lot easier to find and follow your favorite female comedians on Netflix or other on demand services. You don&#39;t even have to look that far to find excellent shows. You can find the funniest female comedy specials on everything from Hulu to Comedy Central. After voting on this list, you should definitely settle in and check out one of these specials from the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-female-stand-up-comedians-of-the-2010s/ranker-comedy" target="_blank">funniest ladies in stand-up comedy this century</a>.&nbsp;

Tig Notaro, Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, and so many other funny women have taken the stage to deliver a full hour of non-stop laughs. Leslie Jones has an irreverent style in her 2009 special&nbsp;Problem Child, but if you want comedy that is a bit more introspective, then make sure to watch Hannah Gadsby&#39;s special&nbsp;Nanette. Even old-guard female comedians like Kathy Griffen and Joan Rivers have recent comedy specials. No matter what type of comedy you prefer, there is something out there for everyone.&nbsp;

Which of these female stand-up specials have you seen before? Which ones do you like best? Vote for your favorites so that everyone can see who the funniest ladies out there are. If you&#39;re sick and tired of men getting all the attention, then this list is for you.&nbsp;

This list contains information about the best African comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best African comedians come in many forms. Some famous African comedians joke about their families while other African comedians generate laughs by poking fun at global politics. A few hilarious African comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.Who will you find on this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-australian-comedians/ranker-comedy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Australian comedians</a> list? Trevor Noah has to be near the top. Along with releasing such hilarious specials as Afraid of the Dark and Lost in Translation, the South African comedian also hosts the wildly popular Comedy Central series, The Daily Show. Godfrey was raised in Chicago, but his parents are both from Nigeria.Eddie Kadi – who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – has gained fame as a presenter on BBC. Other hilarious comics features on this top African comedians list include Michael Blackson, Nik Rabinowitz, and Churchill.Which African comedian do you think is the funniest? Give the best comics a thumbs up and share some of your favorite jokes in the comments section.

&nbsp;

This list contains information about the best alternative comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best alt comedians come in many forms. Some famous alternative comedians got their start at Largo in Los Angeles while other alternative stand-ups find the funny in absurd TV series. A few hilarious alternative comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.

Who will you find on this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-original-comedians/lisa-waugh?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top alternative comedians</a> list? Patton Oswalt has to be at the top. Oswalt came up in the alternative comedy scene in the late-1990s. He later teamed-up with fellow alt-comics Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, and Zach Galifianakis on the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-alt-comic-specials/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">Comedians of Comedy Tour</a> bringing their underground humor all over the country. Todd Barry is another hilarious comedian who emerged from the alt comedy scene.

In many ways &ndash; including hosting stand-up shows and booking alt-comics on her TV series &ndash; Sarah Silverman has helped countless alternative stand-up acts to get mainstream exposure. Other hilarious alternative comics featured on this list include Janeane Garofalo, Dana Gould, and David Cross.

Do you have a favorite alternative comedian? Give the best comics a thumbs up and share some of your favorite jokes in the comments section.

&nbsp;

This list contains information about the best anecdotal comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best anecdotal comedians come in many forms. Some famous storyteller comedians joke about family in their stand-up acts while other anecdotal comedians joke about relationships. A few hilarious anecdotal comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.Who will you find on this top anecdotal comedians list? Bill Burr has to be at the top. Through hilarious storytelling, Bill Burr creates classic comedy from hysterical anecdotes about everything from going on vacation to visiting family to dealing with other people's kids. He is at his anger-filled best in his 2014 special, I'm Sorry You Feel That Way. Chris Rock is another great comedian who mines his own life for stand-up gold.Sebastian Maniscalco's Italian family is the source of much of his anecdotal humor. Other funny stand-up acts features on this top anecdotal comedian's list include Amy Schumer, Louis CK, and Patton Oswalt.Do you have a favorite storyteller comedian? Give the best anecdotal comics a thumbs up and share some of your favorite bits in the comments section.

This list contains information about the best Asian comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best Asian comedians come in many forms. Some famous Asian comedians joke about their heritage while other Asian comedians generate laughs from social issues. A few hilarious Asian comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.

Who will you find on this top Asian comedians list? Margaret Cho has to be near the top. Cho typically integrates politics into her stand-up routines, and she made TV history with her show, All-American Girl, which featured an East Asian family. She has also released several books including I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight and I&#39;m the One That I Want. Aziz Ansari is another hilarious comedian with Asian roots.

Steve Byrne often jokes about his Asian/Irish upbringing in his stand-up routines. Other funny comics featured on this top Asian comedians list include Hasan Minhaj, Bobby Lee, and Ali Wong.

How will we ever determine which Asian comedian deserves the top spot on this list? Help us decide by giving your favorites a thumbs up voting others down accordingly.

This list contains information about the best Australian comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best Australian comedians come in many forms. Some famous Australian comedians joke about their families while other Australian comedians generate laughs by poking fun at global politics. A few hilarious Australian comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.Who will you find on this <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-comedians-from-australia/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top Australian comedians</a> list? Jim Jefferies has to be near the top. Jefferies has become a worldwide success thanks in part to his no holds barred approach to political comedy. He currently hosts the late-night style series, The Jim Jefferies Show, on Comedy Central. Tim Minchin is another hilarious comedian from Australia.Australian funny woman Rebel Wilson has appeared in several hilarious films including Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect, and How to Be Single. Other talented comedians featured on this top Aussie comics list include Wil Anderson, Carl Barron, and Chris Lilley.Which Australian comic do you think deserves the top spot on this list? Give your favorites a thumbs up and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

This list contains information about the best Black comedians, loosely ranked by user votes. The best Black comedians come in many forms. Some famous comedians who are Black joke about family in their stand-up acts while other African American comedians crack wise about politics. A few hilarious Black comedians have gone on to become some of the most successful stand-ups in the world.

Who will you find on this famous&nbsp;Black comedians list? Eddie Murphy has to be at the top. Before he was known as a mega-movie star, Eddie Murphy was a stand-up comedy giant releasing such hilarious specials as Delirious and Raw in the 1980s. Dave Chappelle is another one of the funniest Black comedians of all time.

Wanda Sykes is hilarious on and off stage as the producer of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-last-comic-standing-winners/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Last Comic Standing</a>, The Chris Rock Show and her own hilarious specials. Other funny African Americans featured on this top Black comedians list include Richard Pryor, Katt Williams, and Hannibal Buress.

Do you have a favorite Black comedian? Give the funniest comics a thumbs up and vote others down accordingly.

If you&#39;re looking for more hilarious entertainment from African American entertainers, take a look at this list of the <a href="/list/best-current-black-sitcoms/ranker-tv" target="_blank">best Black sitcoms</a>.

Female Professionals

Adele Givens

If laughter is the best medicine, these famous women are some of the best doctors around. These are the funniest Black female comedians of all time, as voted on by comedy fans like you. The best Black female comedians come in many forms. Some hilarious Black woman comedians specialize in political humor while other funny African <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/funniest-female-comedians/kel-varnsen?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">American female comedians</a> are known for jokes about relationships. Many of the top Black female comedians have also landed award-winning acting roles.

Who will you find on this list of the best Black female comedians? Wanda Sykes is one of the most popular touring comedians working today, regardless of race or gender. Performing stand-up comedy, starring in sitcoms, and appearing in films, Sykes is a triple threat in the comedy scene. Whoopi Goldberg is also a talented Black female stand-up comedian and actress. Saturday Night Live&nbsp;has featured several hilarious Black female sketch comics like Maya Rudolph and Leslie Jones. Other women who appear on this&nbsp;list include Jessica Williams, Niecy Nash, and Tiffany Haddish.

Do you have a favorite Black female comedian? Vote the funniest women up to the top of this list and add any talented performers who are missing.

Very Funny People

pageType

unsafe_grapeshot

unsafe_grapeshot_death_injury

X_AMP

top_search_1-2

longtail_search

scale_cleanup

cb_very-funny-people

srch

cb_indian-entertainment

Lists of the top films, TV shows, actors, musicians, and other entertainers throughout India.

Indian Entertainment

Even though the Tamil cine industry (Kollywood) is small compared to Hollywood and Bollywood, these comedians either had an original style or copied someone from Hollywood very well. Feel free to vote and add more if I missed any.

The Funniest Tamil Comedians of All Time

Best People Lists, Top 10 People- Find any People List at Ranker

Person

People

Famous People List: The Top People Lists and Top 10s

people

United States

arun

Gender

Gen Xers

Women

Gen Zs

Millenials

Baby Boomers

Region

West Coast US

Mountain US

Midwest US

Southern US

Northeastern US

International

Vadivelu

Kumaravadivel Natarajan (born 10 October 1960), known professionally as Vadivelu, is an Indian film actor, comedian and playback singer. Since the 1990s, he has performed in supporting and lead roles as a comedian in Tamil films.
While having worked in more than 200 films, Vadivelu received awards in the Best Comedian category for his performances in Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996), Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Thavasi (2001), Chandramukhi (2005), Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi (2006), Marudhamalai (2007) and Kathavarayan (2008). His popularity led to his media-coined nickname, Vaigai Puyal, meaning "Vaigai storm", referring to the river that flows through his hometown Madurai.

Vivek

Vivekanandan, known by his stage name Vivek, is an Indian film actor, comedian, television personality, playback singer and activist working in the Tamil film industry.
Introduced in films by director K. Balachander, he has won 3 times the Best Comedian – Tamil for his performances in movies such as Run (2002), Saamy (2003), Perazhagan (2004) and 5 times for Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian as Unnaruge Naan Irundhal (1999), Run (2002) Parthiban Kanavu (2003), Anniyan (2005) and  Sivaji (2007). He has acted more than 220 films.
In 2009, Government of India awarded Vivek with the Padma Shri award for his contribution to the arts. Sathyabama University has conferred actor Vivek with an honorary doctorate for his contribution to the society through cinema. As a television personality, Vivek has hosted a number of events and has interviewed media personalities, notably A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.



Goundamani

Subramaniyan Karuppaiyan (born 25 May 1939), known by his stage name Goundamani, is an Indian film actor and legendary Tamil comedian. He is known for his comic duo partnership in Tamil films with fellow actor Senthil. He was called  Countermani after acting as a Gounder in one of his early day dramas and the pseudonym stuck with him forever. He has the ability to give counter dialogues on the spot and off the script on stage and during shooting but it has nothing to do with his screen name,  contrary to popular belief (as counter is a term that was popular only from late 2000's). So far, he has acted in over 310 films.

Senthil

Senthil (born 23 March 1951),  is an actor from Tamil Nadu, India. He is notable for his comedian roles along with fellow actor Goundamani.

Nagesh

Nagesh (born Cheyur Krishna Nageshwaran; (27 September 1933 – 31 January 2009) was an Indian film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema. He acted in over 1,000 films from 1958 to 2008, performing in a variety of roles as comedian, lead roles, supporting actor and antagonist. He has also acted in Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada films. Nagesh's style of comedy was largely inspired by Hollywood actor Jerry Lewis. Similarities between Nagesh and Lewis earned Nagesh the sobriquet the "Jerry Lewis of India". He was also a fantastic dancer. The song "Kanni Nathiyoram" in the movie Neerkumizhi shows some of his comic dance skills.

Santhanam

N. Santhanam is an Indian film actor and producer whose main works are in Tamil cinema. Beginning his career as a comedian on television, he rose to fame through his performances in STAR Vijay's Lollu Sabha enacting the lead role in spoofs of Tamil films. He was subsequently given a chance by actor Silambarasan to feature in a supporting role in Manmadhan (2004) and then was signed on to appear in a host of films, notably winning good reviews for his work in Sachien (2005) and Polladhavan (2007). He appeared in a one-off leading role in Shankar's production Arai En 305-il Kadavul (2008) and subsequently became a staple feature as a comedian in successful Tamil films during the period, with his market popularity helping stuck films find distributors.Santhanam has also had embarked on collaborations with directors including gaining positive reviews for his work in M Rajesh's comic trilogy of Siva Manasula Sakthi (2009), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010) and Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012), winning the Vijay Award for Best Comedian for each one. He has also repeatedly collaborated in the films of A L Vijay, Siva and Sundar C as well as in films featuring Silambarasan, Arya and Udhayanidhi Stalin.
His consistently well-received performances and box office appeal in the early 2010s prompted the film industry to dub him as the "Comedy Superstar". In 2012, he began a film production company named Handmade Films and produced his first film, Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013), which went on to become a commercially successful venture. Meanwhile in 2014, he starred in the leading role again in the action comedy Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham, winning critical and commercial acclaim.

Kovai Sarala

Kovai Sarala is an Indian film actress and comedian, who prominently plays supporting roles in Tamil and Telugu films. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Sarala has appeared in over 750 films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in Sathi Leelavathi (1995), Poovellam Un Vasam (2001) and Uliyin Osai (2008). She has also won the Nandi Award for Best Female Comedian for her performance in Ori Nee Prema Bangaram Kanu (2003) and the Vijay Award for Best Comedian for her performance in Muni 2: Kanchana (2011). She is now part of Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam Party.

Manorama

Rajendran

Janagaraj

Janagaraj is an Indian Tamil actor. He has acted in over 200 predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He also starred in few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films.

Soori

Soori is an Indian film actor who appears in Tamil films. He rose to fame after his role in the film Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, in which the scene involving a parotta eating challenge earned him the nickname Parotta Soori.

HarrishJeyaraj

Venniradai Moorthy

Venniradai Moorthy (born 1936) is an Indian actor and comedian. He has starred in many Tamil films and television serials as a comedian and also played supporting roles. He is a lawyer by education, and holds a B.L. degree in addition to a PhD in astrology. He is married to actress Manimala who played Suhasini's mother in Sindhu Bhairavi and the heroine in Vallavanukku Vallavan (1965). He is also a well known script-writer. Kamal Haasan's first full-fledged film as hero Maalai Sooda Vaa, had Murthy as a script writer.He is especially remembered for his Sunday TV Show 'Meendum Meendum Sirippu', which aired on Sun TV for 11 years. The show had a comical take on common household themes involving slapstick and wordplay, usually ending with a social message. Moorthy wrote much of the material himself, in addition to starring on the show.

Charlie

My2paisas

J.P. Chandra Babu

Pandiarajan

Pandiarajan is an actor, director who has played leading roles in many humorous Tamil films and currently plays supporting and comedy roles.

Delhi Ganesh

Delhi Ganesh is an Indian film and television actor who mostly acts in supporting roles Tamil cinema and television. He has acted in more than 600 films from 1976 to present. Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based drama troupe, Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha. Ganesh served in the Indian Air Force from 1964 to 1974 before quitting in favour of films. He was given the stage name Delhi Ganesh by K. Balachander.

Thengai Srinivasan

Thengai Srinivasan (21 October 1937 – 9 November 1987) was an Indian actor who appeared in Tamil-language films and plays from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was given the prefix Thengai (coconut) after his role as a coconut-seller in the play Kal Manam. Although originally a comedian, he also performed in other genres and enacted several lead and antagonistic roles.

Vijay

C. Joseph Vijay (born 22 June 1974), professionally known as Vijay, is an Indian film actor and playback singer who works in Tamil cinema. He is one of the highest paid actors in Tamil cinema. Vijay is referred to by fans and media as Thalapathy (commander).Aged ten, his first role was in the drama Vetri (1984); he continued to perform as child artist in films until Ithu Engal Neethi (1988), directed by his father S. A. Chandrasekhar. He then featured as the lead in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), again directed by his father. He received his breakthrough in the film Poove Unakkaga (1996), which was directed by Vikraman. As of 2018, he has acted in 62 films as a lead actor and won numerous awards including three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, one Cosmopolitan Award, one Indiatoday Award, one SIIMA Award, eight Vijay Awards, three Edison Awards, two Vikatan Awards and one National Award UK.As a playback singer, Vijay has sung over thirty songs in his films, starting with "Bombay City" (1994), also garnering European attention for his song "Selfie Pulla" in 2014. He is also praised for his dance moves in his films.

K. Bhagyaraj

Krishnasaamy Bhagyaraj (born 7 January 1953) is an Indian director, actor, screenwriter, music director, producer and Politician active mainly in Tamil films. He has also written and directed Telugu and Hindi films and TV serials. He won a Filmfare Best Actor Award for Mundhanai Mudichu (1983). He is the editor of weekly magazine Bhagya and has also written several novels.

Crazy Mohan

Mohan Rangachari (16 October 1952 – 10 June 2019), known professionally as Crazy Mohan, was an Indian actor, comedian, screenwriter and playwright. An engineer by profession, Mohan started writing plays and established his own drama troupe called "Crazy Creations" in 1979. In addition to dramas and tele-serials, Mohan worked as a dialogue writer on a number of comedy films. Mohan had written over 30 plays, worked on over 40 films, having cameo roles in each film, and written 100 short stories. He died on 10 June 2019 due to a cardiac arrest.

Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, dancer, film director, screenwriter, producer, playback singer, lyricist and politician who works primarily in Tamil cinema. Haasan has won awards including four National Film Awards, the second-most by any Indian actor, and nineteen Filmfare Awards. His production company, Raaj Kamal Films International, has produced several of his films.
He started his career as a child artist in the 1960 Tamil language film Kalathur Kannamma, for which he won the President's Gold Medal. He met director Vaaranam Vijay who is frequently credited for shaping Haasan's acting skills. His breakthrough as a lead actor came in the 1975 drama Apoorva Raagangal, directed by K.Balachander, in which he played a rebellious youth who falls in love with an older woman. He won his first National Film Award for his portrayal of a guileless school teacher who cares for a woman who suffers from retrograde amnesia in Moondram Pirai (1983). He was noted for his performances in Mani Ratnam's Nayakan (1987) and S. Shankar's vigilante film Indian (1996), which saw him playing dual roles of a father and a son. Since then he has appeared in films including Hey Ram (2000), Virumaandi (2004), Vishwaroopam (2013) which were his own productions and Dasavathaaram (2008) in which he played ten roles.
Haasan was awarded the Kalaimamani award in 1979, the Padma Shri in 1990, the Padma Bhushan in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016.On February 21, 2018, Haasan formally launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (lit. People's Justice Centre). The party's flag displays six joined hands in a circle in alternate red and white colours with a white star at its centre in a black background.

T.S.Balaiya

Thirunelveli Subramaniyan. Balaiah (Tamil: திருநெல்வேலி சுப்ரமணியன்.  பாலையா; 23 August 1914 – 22 July 1972) was an Indian actor best known for playing supporting roles in the Tamil films. He was introduced to the cine field by director Ellis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with M. G. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and M.K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles.



K. A. Thangavelu

K. A. Thangavelu, popularly known as "Danaal Thangavelu", was an Indian film actor and comedian popular in the 1950s to 1970s. Not known for physical, acrobatic comedy like his contemporaries J. P. Chandrababu and Nagesh, Thangavelu's humor is recognized for his impeccable timing in verbal agility and the characteristic twang of his delivery. He primarily acted in Tamil movies.

Loose Mohan

Arumugam Mohanasundaram, popularly known as Loose Mohan, was a Tamil film actor who had acted as a comedian in over 1000 films. He is credited with popularizing Madras Bashai, a Cockney of Tamil language spoken in Chennai city.

Suruli Rajan

Suruli Rajan was a Tamil film comedian/character artiste. He was a recipient of Tamil Nadu State Government's Best Comedian Award for the year 1981–82.

Even though the Tamil cine industry (Kollywood) is small compared to Hollywood and Bollywood, these comedians either had an original style or copied someone ...