When in Doubt—Make Them Laugh
Comedy films are one of the oldest film genres in cinema history. They are an art form that brings people together, cheers us up, and spreads joy and laughter.
It takes a special performer to really make people laugh, and these one’s are masters at it.
While this list could easily go on forever, here are 28 of the funniest actors and actresses in Hollywood.
Adam Sandler
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: September 9, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York
Adam Sandler is known as Hollywood’s top comedy icons. According to Forbes magazine, Sandler was the second highest earning actor earning $37 million from 2011-2012.
He’s best known for his roles in Billy Madison, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Murder Mystery, and so many more.
Will Ferrell
Producer, Actor, Writer
Born: July 16, 1967 in Irvine, California
Will Ferrell is another top Hollywood icon and is also another top earner. He is often known for playing childish, immature characters.
He’s best known for his roles in Talladega Nights, Anchorman, Blades of Glory, Elf, and so many more.
Betty White
Actress, Producer, Writer
Born: January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois
Departed: December 31, 2021
Betty White will go down in history as one of the funniest actresses in Hollywood. She is known for her sunny disposition and witty humor.
She is best known for her roles on The Golden Girls, The Proposal, How in Cleveland, Advise and Consent, The Third Wish, and more.
Jim Carrey
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: January 17, 1962 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Jim Carrey is perhaps the most successful of the Canadian comic actors who have gone to Hollywood, and has left a heavy imprint on American film comedy in the 1990s.
He is best known for his dramatic roles in Ace Ventura, The Mask, Bruce Almighty, Dumb and Dumber, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and so many more.
Ben Stiller
Producer, Actor, Director
Born: November 30, 1965 in New York City
Ben Stiller another favorite comedy actor, often playing characters who frequently find themselves in embarrassing, awkward situations.
He is best known for Tropic Thunder, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, There’s Something About Mary, Dodgeball, Tower Heist, and more.
Robin Williams
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: July 21st, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois
Departed: August 11, 2014
Robin Williams gave the world countless moments of joy and laughter, and easily goes down in history as one of Hollywood’s most iconic comedy actors. He was known for playing offbeat and eccentric characters.
He was best known for his roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam, Goodwill Hunting, RV, Dead Poets Society, Jumanji, Patch Adams, and more.
Zach Galifianakis
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: October 1, 1969 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Zach Galifianakis is a popular Hollywood comedy actor known for his thick bushy beard and his awkward humor. He often plays strange, socially awkward characters.
He is best known for his roles in The Hangover, Up in the Air, Birdman, Masterminds, Due Date, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, and more.
Eddie Murphy
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York
Eddie Murphy has had a dominant comedic voice in the United States since the 1980s. He is a skillful impersonator and is known for playing multiple characters in one movie.
He is best known for his roles in The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Daddy Day Care, and so many more.
John Cleese
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: October 27, 1939 in Weston-Super-Mare, England
John Cleese is a British actor who became a comedy icon in the 1970s. He usually plays uptight or overbearing comic characters and is known for his moustache and towering height.
He is best known for his roles in Monty Python's Flying Circus, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Fawlty Towers, Spud, A Fish Called Wanda, and more.
Steve Carell
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: August 16, 1962
Steve Carell is one of America’s most versatile comics who often plays characters who derive humor from awkward situations.
He is best known for his roles in The Office, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Despicable Me, Foxcatcher, The Big Short, and more.
Simon Pegg
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: February 14, 1970 in Gloucestershire, England, UK
Simon Pegg is an English comic actor and is best known for his nerdy roles in the early Star Trek films. He often plays characters who are arrogant but likable, as well as losers and underachievers.
He is best known for his roles in Shaun of the Dead, Mission Impossible III, Spaced, Paul, Inheritance, The World’s End, Hot Fuzz, and more.
Jonah Hill
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: December 20, 1983 in Los Angeles, California
Jonah Hill is a popular Hollywood comedy icon who is known for playing smart and often sarcastic characters.
He is best known for his roles in 21 Jump Street, Moneyball, Superbad, Get Him to the Greek, Don’t Look Up, Funny People, and more.
Steve Martin
Writer, Actor, Producer
Born: August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas
Steve Martin is an American comedian and actor that often plays fathers, usually because of his prematurely white hair, and grumpy, ill-tempered characters with a bitingly sarcastic sense of humor.
He is best known for his roles in Beethoven, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, Father of the Bride, Bringing Down the House, House Sitter, and more.
Seth Rogan
Producer, Actor, Writer
Born: April 15, 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Seth Rogan is a popular Canadian comedian and actor known for his infectious, distinctive laugh and curly hair. He often plays roles similar to that of an unkept manchild.
He is best known for his roles in Knocked Up, The Interview, The Green Hornet, Pineapple Express, Superbad, Neighbors, Guilt Trip, and more.
Dan Aykroyd
Writer, Actor, Producer
Born: July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Dan Aykroyd is another Canadian comedic icon, known for his deadpan comic delivery. He often plays the straight man of a comedy duo.
He is best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Trading Places, Spies Like Us, The Blues Brothers, Neighbors, and more.
Chevy Chase
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: October 8, 1943 in Lower Manhattan, New York
Chevy Chase is an American actor who made his debut as a successful comedy actor in the late 1970s. He is known for his deadpan comic delivery, deep baritone voice and his towering height.
He is best known for his roles in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Memoires of an Invisible Man, Man of the House, Vegas Vacation, and more.
John Candy
Actor, Writer, Music
Born: October 31, 1950 in Newmarket, Ontario
Departed: March 4, 1994
John Candy was one of Canada’s greatest and funniest character actors. He often played good-hearted slobs, and liked to work in a personal dance skit in his movies.
He is best known for his roles in Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Spaceballs, Canadian Bacon, The Blues Brothers, Cool Runnings and more.
Bill Murray
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: September 21, 1950 in Wilmette, Illinois
Bill Murray is an American actor and comedian. During the early years of his career, he frequently played loud, sarcastic, and often rude and mean, anti-heroes, but has transitioned to more depressed characters. He is known for his deadpan expression and soft mellow voice.
He is best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation, Meatballs, Stripe, Caaddyshack, Groundhog Day, and more.
Mike Myers
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: May 25, 1963 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Mike Myers is a popular Canadian comic icon known for his excellent rendition of a Scottish accent. He is also known for playing multiple comedic characters in the same movie.
He is best known for his roles in Austin Powers, Wayne’s World, Love Guru, The Cat in the Hat, Shrek, Inglourious Basterds, and more.
Jack Black
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: August 28, 1969 in Santa Monica, California
Jack Black is a popular American comedy actor who often pays slackers or sloppy infantiles. He is well-known for his expressive eyes/eyebrows and his comic singing in his movies.
He is best known for his roles in Jumanji, Orange County, Shallow Hal, Bacho Libre, School of Rock, Tenacious D, High Fidelity, and more.
Chris Rock
Producer, Actor, Writer
Born: February 7, 1965 in Andrews, South Carolina
Chris Rock is a popular American comedy actor known for his distinguishable high-pitched voice and jokes about black stereotypes.
He is best known for his roles in Grown Ups, Death at a Funeral, Nurse Betty, Lethal Weapon 4, The Longest yard, Bad Company, Head of State, and more.
Paul Rudd
Actor, Producer, Writer
Born: April 6, 1969 in Passaic, New Jersey
Paul Rudd is a popular American comedy and action actor known for his low-key, sardonic sense of humor and his deadpan delivery. He often plays characters with sarcastic wit.
He is best known for his roles in Antman, The Shrink Next Door, This Is 40, I Love You, Man, Avengers, Knocked Up, and more.
Chris Tucker
Actor, writer, Producer
Born: August 31, 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia
Chris Tucker was, at one time, the highest-paid actor in Hollywood. He is known as a “motormouth talker,” and is easily identified by his higher-pitched voice.
He is best known for his roles in Rush Hour, Money talks, Dead Presidents, House Party, Friday, Air, and more.
David Spade
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: July 22, 1964 in Birmingham, Michigan
David Spade is a popular American actor known for playing comic brat extraordinaries both on film and TV. His razor-sharp sarcasm stands out among other actors.
He is best known for his roles in Joe Dirt, Tommy Boy, The Wrong Missy, Benchwarmers, Rules of Engagement, The Do-Over, and more.
Jason Segel
Actor, Writer, Producer
Born: January 18, 1980 in Los Angeles, California
Jason Segel is a multi-talented American actor who often plays nerdy and sensitive characters and is known to sing in many of his performances.
He is best known for his roles in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, How I Met Your Mother, I Love You Man, Bad Teacher, Knocked Up, and more.
Vince Vaughn
Producer, Actor, Writer
Born: March 28, 1970 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Vince Vaughn is a popular American actor known for his sardonic sense of humor, often playing slobbish but likable characters.
He is best known for his roles in The Dilemma, Fred Claus, The Break-up, Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball, Old School, Couples Retreat, and more.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin, Getty Images
Kevin Hart
Producer, Writer, Actor
Born: July 6, 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kevin Heart is a widely popular American comedy actor best known for his short stature and loud voice, expressive voice.
He is best known for his roles in Jumanji, Scary Movie, Think Like a Man, Ride Along, Central Intelligence, Fatherhood, Me Time, and more.
Kristen Wiig
Actress, Producer, Writer
Born: August 22, 1973 in Canandaigua, New York
Kristen Wiig is a hilarious American actress known for her stop-start style of speaking and playing neurotic characters.
She is best known for her roles in Bridesmaids, Masterminds, Whip It, Downsizing, Despicable Me, and more.
