Top Five Comedic Actors of All-Time

Suggested by: Brett

The Rules:

• Movies only! Any television or radio work doesn’t count.
  • Example: Leslie Nielsen is great, but if you remove “Police Squad,” is he still Top Five-worthy?
• Duos/trios count as a single entry.

Brett’s Top Five

5.) Jim Carrey
This is my hot take choice just because he’s really become a bit of a crazy (see: eccentric) person in the past ~10 years. Also his turn as more a dramatic actor tends to make people forget how he started. However, I feel like his turn as a dramatic actor really lends itself to the range he had as a comedian. Ace Ventura, while a bit on the juvenile humor side was an iconic film of the 90’s that seeped into the zeitgeist and turned him into a household name. Now its sequel wasn’t as well received but he more than made up for it with The Mask and to a lesser extent, Liar, Liar. He’s always been the epitome of the “Sad Clown” to me. Watch Man on the Moon and the subsequent Netflix documentary about it to really get a feel for what I mean. Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are also good examples. The happy person who always seems to have this hint of deep melancholy just below the surface.  Definitely underrated!

4.) Steve Martin
Another comedic actor who became a bit crazy, except he eventually got better! The Jerk is easily in my top 5 comedy movies so keep that one in mind for that list! Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is just great to see him work with Michael Caine and Glenne Headly. From the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, to Three Amigos to his lesser appreciated stuff like Roxanne. It’s just solid work across the board! While many comedic actors have a few misses here and there, Steve knocked it out of the park every single time. At least before he got all pretentious and didn’t want to be associated with comedy for a while there, then his quality started to dip…a lot…the man can play a mean banjo, though. If you haven’t already, check out the Netflix special he did with Martin Short, it’s pretty great.

3.) Madeline Kahn
Her early work in Mel Brooks comedies like Young Frankenstein,
Blazing Saddles, and History of the World: Part 1 would normally earn her this spot alone but her fantastic portrayal of Mrs. White in Clue just solidifies it. Her cameo in The Muppet Movie is great and her voice over work was also superb. She was truly a talent that was gone too soon.

2.) Gene Wilder
What does one say about Gene Wilder that isn’t already abundantly clear? Young Frankenstein earns him this spot by itself honestly. Not to mention Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers. His ability to deliver the most ridiculous lines completely deadpan or go from zero to one hundred is unrivaled. I feel like he gets lost in a lot of these kinds of discussions just because he’s probably *most* known by the general public as Willy Wonka. Which is a shame because he has a ton of other roles which are just as fantastic and much funnier.

1.) Robin Williams
As a child of the 90’s no other comedian even holds a candle to this man. He brought an amazing level of energy to every role he played. I remember the first time I saw Aladdin as a kid and the first scene with Genie was the first time I’d laughed so hard I cried. Mrs. Doubtfire will never not be iconic. Jumanji is more subtle Robin Williams but still great. He’s the best part of Ferngully: The Last Rainforest and even managed to make a live-action Popeye movie enjoyable! While the things he did later in his career weren’t anywhere near as great as his earlier work (I’m looking at you Night at the Museum) it’s amazing to see how much he grew as an actor. Much like Jim Carrey he’s a great “Sad Clown”. To a very literal extent I suppose…and now I’m just incredibly sad. Super underrated Robin Williams movie? What Dreams May Come. Not a comedy and kind of depressing subject matter but a very cool film overall.

Stephen’s Top Five

5.) John Candy
Canada’s favorite funny fat man (sorry, Seth Rogen!) was never really one to lead a picture (sorry, Michael Moore!), but his comedic chops leant themselves perfectly to supporting or ensemble performances.  From Ox in Stripes to Detective Mercer in The Blues Brothers, from the security guard in Vacation to the polka king in Home Alone, from Barf in Spaceballs to Irv Blitzer in Cool Runnings, John Candy is the king of the comedic supporting actors!  Plus, if you don’t tear up a little bit at his “people like me” speech at the end of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, you might not have a soul.

4.) The Marx Brothers
It could’ve easily been The Three Stooges, but they never really did movies – just shorts.  Still, the dynamic of these comedic brothers cannot be understated. What I love most is their versatility and diversity: Groucho was the king of all one-liners, Harpo was a master physical comic, and Chico was the epitome of the fast-talking con-man.  (Zeppo was there to get the girl, but he’s not really in the conversation here.) This is to say nothing of their overt musical talent, which always had a showcase in their films. Still, their movies from Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera to Horse Feathers and The Cocoanuts are perennial classics!

3.) Madeline Kahn
My hottest take.  From her early work in classic Mel Brooks comedies like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and History of the World: Part 1 to her scene-stealing turn as the black widow Mrs. White in Clue (where she dominated a comedic ensemble that included Tim Curry, Leslie Ann Warren, Christopher Lloyd, and Michael McKean), and even extending to voice-over work in films like An American Tale and A Bug’s Life, there are few females as flat-out funny as Madeline Kahn.  She does slapstick, subtlety, and wit with aplomb and holds her own against comedic powerhouses in almost every role she plays.

2.) Eddie Murphy
One of the few SNL cast members whose best work came after his tenure on the show.  Eddie was a star before he left the show, but catapulted pretty quickly once he left.  From leading roles in John Landis movies Trading Places and Coming to America, to his franchises Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek, to his riotous stand-up movie Raw (it got a theatrical release and was a huge hit – it counts!), no one defined comedy in the 1980s like Eddie Murphy.  Even though he’s in a career slump precipitated by bad decisions made in the early 2000s, his comedic legacy is secure.

1.) Buster Keaton
The King.  The Legend.  The original king of the silent era.  While not necessarily perceived as the GoAT during his lifetime, history has correctly noted the supremacy of Buster Keaton.  Not only did the man do all his own stunts – including riding on the front of a train in The General and standing in front of a falling housefront in Steamboat Bill Jr. – Keaton also directed all his own films and all his own pratfalls… all while wearing his iconic deadpan expression that made the audience wonder if he really knew what was happening to him or had any reaction to it at all.  Keaton is not just an original; he’s the original and that’s why he takes my top spot!

Stephen’s Honorable Mentions & Also-Rans:

• Charlie Chaplin
• Whoopi Goldberg
• Catherine O’Hara
• Abbott & Costello
• Rick Moranis

The Recap:

Brett	Stephen
5.) Jim Carrey	5.) John Candy
4.) Steve Martin	4.) The Marx Brothers
3.) Madeline Kahn	3.) Madeline Kahn
2.) Gene Wilder	2.) Eddie Murphy
1.) Robin Williams	1.) Buster Keaton

Who are YOUR Top Five Favorite Comedic Actors of All-Time?  Let us know in the comments below!