Best Comedian Actors Pt 1

Key Outcomes

Scott and Burke compiled lists of the greatest comedic actors who started as stand-up comedians or performed sketch comedy, ultimately identifying 22 performers across their combined picks. 123 They discovered significant overlap with 7 shared selections including Gene Wilder, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Steve Martin, and Jim Carrey. 456

Shared Selections (Both Lists)

• Gene Wilder – Collaborated with Mel Brooks on The Producers, Blazing Saddles, and Young Frankenstein; partnered with Richard Pryor in Silver Streak and Stir Crazy; married Gilda Radner until her death in 1989. 578
• Richard Pryor – Won Grammy Awards for comedy albums including "That Nigger's Crazy" and "Bicentennial Nigger"; co-wrote Blazing Saddles; starred in over 50 feature films including Greased Lightning as NASCAR's Wendell Scott. 91011
• Robin Williams – Performed with Second City improv; appeared in 85-90 films ranging from comedy (Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin) to drama (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society); died by suicide in 2014 related to Lewy body dementia. 121314
• Eddie Murphy – Released hit stand-up specials including "Eddie Murphy Raw"; achieved unprecedented success with three box office hits in one year: Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, and Coming to America; voiced characters in Shrek and Mulan franchises. 151617
• Bill Murray – Original SNL cast member (1977-1980); starred in Meatballs, Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day; delivered dramatic performance in Lost in Translation; had 2022 film "Being Mortal" canceled due to inappropriate behavior complaint. 181920
• Steve Martin – Performed tight, clean stand-up comedy before SNL appearances; starred in The Jerk, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Father of the Bride; played Dr. Maxwell Edison in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. 212223
• John Belushi – Performed with Second City and SCTV improv groups; starred in only 7 feature films including Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and 1941; died at age 33 in 1982 from accidental drug overdose. 2425

Scott's Unique Selections

• Lucille Ball – Started in vaudeville and movies in 1927; created and ran Desilu Productions studio; starred in "I Love Lucy" with ex-husband Desi Arnaz; named by Time as one of the most influential women of the 20th century; died in 1989 at age 77. 262728
• Carol Burnett – Born April 26, 1933, still alive at 92; performed sketch comedy on television; won Tony Award nomination for "Once Upon a Mattress" in 1959; hosted The Carol Burnett Show as family viewing staple. 293031
• Kevin Hart – Born July 6, 1979; starred in Scary Movie 3, Jumanji franchise, Central Intelligence with The Rock, and Ride Along; appeared regularly on Nick Cannon's "Wild 'N Out" improv show. 323334
• Mel Brooks – Born June 28, 1925, turning 100 years old in 2025 with new movie releasing; co-wrote and directed Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and History of the World Part 1; married Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death in 2005; started in vaudeville and worked 75+ years in entertainment. 353637
• John Candy – Born October 31, 1950, died March 1994; performed with Second City Television; starred in 1941, The Blues Brothers, Stripes, Splash, Uncle Buck, and Home Alone; gained 100 pounds before death from heart attack. 383940
• Billy Crystal – Born March 14, 1948; started in stand-up and SNL; played gay character on soap opera "Soap" (1977-1981); starred in When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride (improvised entire Miracle Max scene over 3 days), City Slickers, and voiced Mike Wazowski in Monsters Inc. 414243
• Dan Aykroyd – Performed with Second City improv; starred in Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, Spies Like Us, and Dragnet; appeared briefly in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as Art Weber. 444546

Burke's Unique Selections

• Charlie Chaplin – Born April 19, 1889, died December 25, 1977 at age 88; undisputed king of silent film era known as "the Tramp"; co-founded United Artists studio; made over 80 films with 11 major self-directed features. 4748
• Buster Keaton – Born October 4, 1895, died February 1, 1966 at age 70; known as "The Great Stone Face" for expressionless demeanor during death-defying stunts; appeared in or directed over 130 films; performed house-falling stunt in one take where 6-inch miscalculation would have killed him. 4950
• Groucho Marx – Born October 2, 1890, died August 19, 1977 at age 86; famous for rapid-fire wit, painted eyebrows, thick mustache, and ever-present cigar; toured vaudeville circuit with Marx Brothers before conquering Broadway and Hollywood; made 26 films total. 5152
• Peter Sellers – Born September 8, 1925, died July 24, 1980 at age 54 from heart attack; appeared in over 50 films including Doctor Strangelove (playing 3 roles), Pink Panther series as Inspector Clouseau, and Murder by Death; performed stand-up comedy and celebrity impressions on UK variety theater circuit early in career. 65354
• Jim Carrey – Born January 17, 1962; released three back-to-back box office hits in single year: Ace Ventura, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber; performed facial impression stand-up without speaking; starred in The Cable Guy, Liar Liar, and Me Myself and Irene; appeared in over 45 feature films. 555657
• John Cleese – Born October 27, 1939, still alive at 86; co-founded Monty Python; created and starred in "Fawlty Towers"; appeared in over 80 feature films; currently touring live show "An Evening with the Late John Cleese"; never performed traditional stand-up but shaped modern humor through surrealism and satire. 585960
• Leslie Nielsen – Born February 11, 1926, died November 28, 2010 at age 84; started as leading dramatic actor before transitioning to comedy with Airplane; starred in Police Squad TV series (canceled for being "too funny") and The Naked Gun film franchise; appeared in over 115 films total. 616263
• Chris Farley – Born February 15, 1964, died December 18, 1997 at age 33; appeared in only 10 feature films including Tommy Boy; performed motivational speaker "living in a van down by the river" sketch on SNL; accidentally banged head on beam before every stage appearance (now called "Chris Farley Beam"); died from drug overdose. 6465

Criteria Clarification

Scott's original criteria specified stand-up comedians who became actors, while Burke interpreted the assignment as best comedic actors in films regardless of stand-up background. 236 This led to Burke including performers like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, John Cleese, and Leslie Nielsen who never performed traditional stand-up but excelled in comedic roles. 475358

Notable Discussions

• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Featured Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Steve Martin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Earth Wind & Fire, Billy Preston, and George Burns; Scott considers it both "horrible and fantastic"; off-Broadway production was directed by Tom O'Horgan. 666768
• Animal House – Featured John Belushi with Tim Matheson (who became major Hollywood director), Karen Allen, Donald Sutherland (only cast member to receive percentage of profits), and Kevin Bacon in his first film appearance; directed by John Landis. 256970
• The Princess Bride – Billy Crystal was only cast member allowed to improvise; his Miracle Max scene took 3 days instead of planned 6 hours, becoming one of most expensive scenes ever recorded; director and crew had to leave set due to uncontrollable laughter. 4371

Technical Issues

Scott experienced repeated computer crashes, pop-ups, and software conflicts throughout recording, requiring multiple restarts and causing significant delays. 727374 The session extended past midnight in Burke's timezone and required splitting into multiple recording segments. 347576