#29. Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes first gained recognition as part of the writing staff on The Chris Rock Show, which got her her first Emmy Award. After that, she stepped into the spotlight by appearing on television shows such as The New Adventures of Old Christine and Black-ish.
However, Sykes’ true talent really showed when she started doing her own thing, touring and releasing stand-up specials. A great example of her talents is her special, I’ma Be Me, where she showed audiences that she had both street smarts and could also connect to people intimately. She also includes jokes about her sexuality in her routines and was included in Out magazine’s Annual Power List.
#28. Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari is famous for his incredibly infectious enthusiasm that never fails to get people excited. Whether he was playing a fictional fratboy in Funny People, or joking about pop culture and making fun of celebrities, Aziz always delivered what the audience wanted.
Over the years, he moved on to deeper and more sensitive topics like racism, relationships, and the bad side of technology, and he also starred in shows like Parks and Recreation. People like Ansari because of his ability to integrate serious topics into his comedy, making you laugh and think at the same time.
#27. Reggie Watts
Why do people love Reggie Watts? Is it his lighthearted, lunatic persona that is somehow always unpredictable? Or the fact that he always cites Bugs Bunny and Monty Python as seminal influences in his life? Probably both, and more. We just love a dude who will ramble on about space and croissants.
He is also a very talented musician, which he incorporates into his stand-up, along with a lot of improvs, which is always welcome. His anything-goes absurdity truly shone in his special, A Live at Central Park, which is our personal favorite.
#26. Phyllis Diller
Phyllis Diller‘s unforgettable punchlines certainly paved the way for the female comics that came after her. She broke into the stand-up scene more than 60 years ago, when it was almost 100% male-dominated and was an instant audience favorite.
Her popularity allowed her to feature in Bob Hope‘s specials and also toured Vietnam in the 60s. Women related to her because she talked about their struggles in a hilarious, sassy way, but that also resonated with men. She decided to get into comedy at age 37, which proves that it is never too late to chase your dreams.
#25. Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac skyrocketed to fame by delivering an iconic phrase during his appearance on the original Def Comedy Jam. Since then, Bernie and his magnetic delivery have become a fan favorite, first in his native Chicago, and then in the rest of the country.
He’s also got a taste for acting and appeared on several movies, such as the remake of Ocean’s Eleven, Charlie’s Angels, andThe Original Kings of Comedy.Sadly, the world lost a beautiful soul in 2012 when he passed away from complications of pneumonia.
#24. Tig Notaro
Tig Notaro’s calm, soft-spoken, deadpan delivery is charming and addictive. She gained recognition for her 2012 special, Live, where she detailed her battle against breast cancer, which was both hilarious and inspiring. It was nominated for Best Comedy Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards, and many other awards and nominations followed.
She used her misfortune and transformed it into positive energy after she had a double mastectomy in 2014 as a result of her illness, and she did her whole act shirtless. Her fearlessness is just magical, isn’t it?
#23. Patton Oswalt
When Patton Oswalt said, “my geekiness is getting in the way of my nerdiness“, we all felt it, and we all loved it. This phrase alone describes Oswalt and his style perfectly. He brought his obsession with genre films and comic books into his stand-up, giving nerds a place in this scene.
His magnificent comedy opened up the doors for him to try other things, like starring in movies and TV shows, and also writing. But his six stand-up specials, which received several accolades, are the true gems of his body of work.
#22. Janeane Garofalo
Her smart, self-deprecating humor is what made audiences fall in love with Jeneane Garofalo. Mixing pop culture and the roast of conservative politicians has also been an ingredient in her comedy, but over the years, she evolved into a more sincere, sensible performer.
She was once the face of the 1990’s alternative comedy, but she remained relevant to the changing times. You just can’t underestimate her quick wit and perfect timing. Also, how in the world is this woman 55?
#21. Patrice O’Neal
From a very young age, Patrice O’Neal knew that comedy was the right path for him. And sure enough, as soon as he got a chance, he went on stage and did his thing, and people loved it. His style consisted of having conversations with his audience, rather than throwing jokes around.
He was also famous for his roasts and for always pushing the limits. Sadly, he left this world too early due to a stroke that was a consequence of his diabetes in 2011. Still, he will forever be remembered for having left his mark in the world of comedy.
#20. Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy can be described by only one word: legendary. He started out as the breakout star on SNL at a very young age. At the time, he was edgy and hilarious. Of course, some of his material hasn’t aged well, but at the time, it was a very big deal.
He later went on to become a solid movie star, starring in more films than we can count. If one person can play several characters in one scene while making you feel like it’s actually a bunch of different people and not just one guy, it’s Eddie Murphy.
#19. Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart is a huge dose of charisma and talent, packed in a tiny package. He has drawn very large audiences, more than basically any contemporary comedian, and for good reason.
Hart has no issue making self-deprecating jokes, while also displaying confidence that is to be envied. Whether he’s on stage or starring in movies, he never fails to make everyone have a good time.
#18. Bill Burr
Bill Burr is a master of bait-and-switch. He will start his routine with an outrageous premise, such as “motherhood isn’t that hard“, and then wait for the perfect moment to show you what he really believes.
For those who have the stomach to sit through the process, it always pays off. In fact, he turned a hostile audience that was booing him into an ocean of laughter in a matter of minutes once in Philly.
#17. Steven Wright
Steven Wright is known for his deadpan one-liners and punchlines that come unexpectedly. He is minimalistic when it comes to his jokes and doesn’t need to raise his voice to make people LOL.
His most distinguishing characteristic is his slow, lethargic voice, which makes his jokes all the more hilarious. And hey, he even won an Academy Award.
#16. Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman is often recognized for having started the anti-comedy movement, which consists of baiting the audience and breaking the classic set-up/punchline formula. He knew the rules and he knew how to break them in the best way possible.
He could basically do it all: impressions, pranks, elaborate ruses, you name it. He even went as far as becoming a professional wrestler just for the humor of it all. Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 35.
#15. Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler, like many other comedians, started out doing improv, without knowing that she would end up becoming a comedian, writer, producer, director, and actress a few years later.
After making it big on SNL, she went on to work on many shows, either behind or in front of the cameras, most notably as Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. However, it would take us ages to list all the cool things she has done.
#14. Tina Fey
Of course, after talking about her best pal and SNL co-host, Amy Poehler, we had to give Tina Fey her own spot on this list. While she started as a writer, audiences fell in love with her when she finally decided to step into the spotlight and start performing.
She later went on to create shows like the critically-acclaimed 30 Rock, and movies like the iconic Mean Girls. She has also won so many awards that we just can’t keep up, but just know that she deserved them all.
#13. Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks was just 16 years old when he did his first stand-up performance, and just then and there he realized that was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Interestingly enough, he gained recognition in the UK rather than in America during the 1990s.
He also became quite popular for his music and earned a sizeable cult following. However, he enjoyed most of his success after he passed away when several of his comedy albums were released posthumously. It is a shame the world couldn’t appreciate him while he was still around.
#12. Steve Martin
Steve Martin was, at one point, the most in-demand comedian around, and for good reason obviously. Whether he had a banjo in his hands or was running around the stage making funny noises, the audience loved it.
No matter what topic he chose to joke about, it never failed to make entire arenas lose their minds. His inoffensive, wacky humor brought in people of all ages to enjoy his performances.
#11. Mort Sahl
Mort Sahl is considered by many as the first stand-up comedian of the modern world. He started out as a pioneer of social commentary and he always poked fun at current political issues.
Sahl paved the way for hundreds of comedians that came after him and helped make stand-up more mainstream than it was at the time. He was a political voice in the comedy world, just like is predecessor, Will Rogers.
#10. Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman has never been afraid of touching controversial topics like religion, sexism, and racism, and that is what made her who she is. Her shocking and hilarious take on taboo topics is addictive and genius, although she has stepped over the line a few times.
She confronts the audience and makes it question its own ignorance and prudishness with her bold social commentary. This has earned her many awards and nominations as well as her own show and appearances in several movies.
#9. John Mulaney
John Mulaney is one of the most beloved comedians at the moment. Like many of the artists on our list, he had his big break on SNL as a writer and occasionally appeared on camera. However, he had already been doing stand up for years.
He splits his time between writing, acting, and of course, performing, and we can’t decide what he’s best at. His talents even got him his own autobiographical show, Mulaney, although sadly it was short-lived.
#8. Dave Chapelle
Dave Chapelle‘s love for stand-up is strong and almost tangible, to say the least. He clearly loves what he does, and we love him for that reason. Over the years, he has retained his spot as one of the most popular comics of all time and is never afraid of reinventing himself.
He talks about all sorts of topics – from more sensitive ones like race or politics to more tame ones like relationships and work. No matter what he’s joking about, he can always make us laugh.
#7. Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld has a way of connecting with people, no matter who they are. It was his ability to read people and understand western society that got him his own show, Seinfeld, which as we all know, is one of the most famous sitcoms of all time.
Although he rarely gets political, he does touch on the many flaws of society and how boring life can be for the average person, and this resonates with audiences every single time.
#6. Chris Rock
Chris Rock knows exactly what the audience wants, and he gives it to them every single time. His unmatched energy as he paces back and forth on stance when he’s building up for the punchline lets the crowd know what’s coming, and the built-up anticipation always pays off.
He knows how to drive his point across on topics like race, politics, and relationships, and leave entire venues dying of laughter. Unfiltered and unapologetic – that’s how we like Chris.
#5. Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais made it big in the UK with his witty, controversial sense of humor and his lack of a filter, and later expanded overseas. Interestingly enough, he started out as a pop singer before discovering that his true talent was in comedy.
He has done much more than stand-up, however. Ever heard of a little show called The Office? Well, he created it and starred in the British version. He has also hosted the Golden Globes many times and won countless awards.
#4. Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers blew up in a time where men were dominating the comedy scene in all its forms, but she was never intimidated. She came in like a wrecking ball, without any filter and ready to leave her mark in the comedy world.
She was also a very successful writer. In fact, she wrote over a dozen books, and she also made red carpets as iconic as they are today. But her fearlessness is what made her truly special.
#3. Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor took his dark, heavy past and difficult childhood and used it to shape his performances. He slowly evolved into one of the most important comics of all time through his effortless, provocative humor.
He mixed serious topics with mundane themes and found the perfect balance between them, and always used comedy to battle his demons. Even Seinfeld described him as the Picasso of our profession. Wow.
#2. George Carlin
George Carlin started out as a pretty inoffensive comedian until he figured out his true place in the scene. He grew a beard and started speaking his truth, and that’s when he became famous. Thousands of people gathered up to listen to his unfiltered, hilarious routines over the years.
He always touched on sensitive topics like politics, religion, and the dark side of the media, and while he made people laugh, he also encouraged them to question everything and keep an open mind.
#1. Robin Williams
Words cannot describe the incredible impact that Robin Williams has had on so many lives. People of all ages loved and admired him, and he always found a way to get a laugh out of someone.
Whether it was his stand-up or his amazing acting on the countless movies and TV shows he was in, Williams always delivered, and thousands of people will remember him as one of the greatest comedians who ever lived.