Top 10 Comic Actors of All Time

[anselmo1]

1. Harpo Marx along with his brothers Groucho and Chico
2. Buster Keaton
3. Charlie Chaplin
4. Max Linder
5. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curley Howard
6. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy
7. Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
8. Harold Lloyd
9. WC Fields
10. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I don't know, I'm a pretty big Bob Hope fan. I'd have to squeeze him in there somewhere.

But I don't disagree with the rest of your list

 

[LadyStardust]

Wow, I'm so glad you mentioned Max Linder! He is absolute genius, I love him! :eusa_clap

I actually am pretty picky in terms of what satisfies when it comes to comedy, so I don't think I could come up with a list of ten, but on the list I would definately have to include, Max Linder, Bob Hope, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin Buster Keaton, Charley Chase(now HE is a master!), and for high comedy Rex Harrison, David Niven, and Noel Coward win.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I take it this is more of a slapstick comedian list based on the content. If so - Bob Hope, Niven and others probably aren't appropriate. But I think a list of comedic actors would have to begin with Bob Hope, David Niven, Cary Grant and William Powell.

 

[Ed]

Red Skelton

Red Skelton

 

[Senator Jack]

I don't care if people do think he's an idiot - Jerry Lewis. The guy could make you laugh one secnd and cry the next. Same goes for Jackie Gleason.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[K.D. Lightner]

1. Charlie Chaplin
2. Buster Keaton
3. Laurel & Hardy
4. Peter Sellars
5. Marx Brothers
6. Bob Hope
7. Jerry Lewis (loved him when I was a kid)
8. Ernie Kovaks
9. WC Fields
10. Sid Caesar

I could also add Mr. Televison, Milton Berle. Did he make any movies? Also, Cary Grant, who had such great comedic timing, as Did David Niven, William Powell,as does Billy Crystal. Robin Williams is a good funny man today, though some folks don't like his manic style.

karol

 

[jamespowers]

How about George Burns? If Hope is there so should Burns and Allen.

Regards,

J

 

[Benny Holiday]

How about George Burns? If Hope is there so should Burns and Allen.

Regards,

J

Absolutely - Gracie and George must be in there, even more so Gracie, to whom George played the straight guy.

 

[HadleyH]

Harry Langdon!!!!!!!!!
"Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" and "The Strong Man", this last one not only Harry's best picture but also probably the best film its director (Frank Capra) ever made.

 

[BeBopBaby]

In no particular order:

1. Buster Keaton
2. The Marx Brothers
3. Harold Lloyd
4. Charlie Chaplin
5. Abbott & Costello
6. Laurel & Hardy
7. The Three Stooges

I know, pretty standard stuff, but there's a reason they're still watched today - they were geniuses of the genre!

But what about the ladies?! I don't see any women on the list, so I'll have to add:

8. Mabel Normand (especially with Fatty Arbuckle)
9. Jean Arthur (she was so good at slapstick & that voice!)
10. Carole Lombard (some of my favorite comedies from the 30s feature her talents)

Don't forget Bing Crosby & Bob Hope (The Road To... movies are still funny to this day), Danny Kaye (another master of genre), Cary Grant (who else could deliver slapstick with such style and panache?), Rosilyn Russell (her fast-talking delivery and timing were outstanding).

 

[undertaker]

How about George Burns? If Hope is there so should Burns and Allen.

Regards,

J

Let's not forget Jack Benny!

Regards,
J.S.

 

[jamespowers]

Let's not forget Jack Benny!

Regards,
J.S.

Oh! You are right. That even reminds me of Rochester. He needs to be in there as well. His real name eludes me now though. That man could really make me laugh. He was great in the Topper movie as well. ROFL material.

Regards,

J

 

[Canadave]

Eddie Anderson.



David

 

[HadleyH]

Eddie Anderson.



David

Who is Eddie Anderson ?

 

[jamespowers]

Thanks Dave. How did I know you would know who he is?
Rochester:

You don't know who he is?! I bet you don't know he was also in Gone with the Wind. ;-)


Regards,

J

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Mabel Normand.

The first really funny lady of film, without Mabel, there may never have been a Charlie.

 

[Lincsong]

Joe Pesci

 

[Baron Kurtz]

glad to see someone mentioned Peter Sellers

Birdy num-nums

bk

 

[Canadave]

Gene Wilder