humorists, comedians and/or magicians
(Note: many of the people on this page I know more for their acting than their comedy. There are also people not on this page for whom I have entries on my actors pages, who in fact started out as comedians. So... it's complicated.) For way more comedians than I have listed here, check out Wikipedia's list of comedians.
Abbott & Costello
I just know them for their most famous routine, "Who's on First?" Which is way more hilarious than it has any right to be. But anyway, they've done lots of movies and TV, so maybe I'll get around to seeing some of that, someday.
Black, Lewis
I mainly know him from his Comedy Central special, and from his occasional "Back in Black" segments on The Daily Show. Also, he voiced Anger in Inside Out.
Burns, George
When I was a kid in the 80s, I was always vaguely aware of him, I must have seen him on TV or something, but I don't specifically remember anything I saw him in. Some years later, I saw a bit of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, in which he was considerably younger than my idea of him. Anyway... I should try to see some of his movies someday.
Carlin, George
I mainly know him from the Bill & Ted movies. But there's also Dogma; and Jersey Girl; and The Aristocrats; and he voiced Fillmore in Cars; and I must have seen at least a few snippets of Shining Time Station while channel surfing. I must have also seen a bit of his stand-up comedy on TV, but I really should try to watch (or listen) to more of it.
Chieng, Ronny
I know him first from The Daily Show, and then as an actor in Crazy Rich Asians; Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings; Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., and M3GAN; and American Born Chinese.
Cho, Margaret
I vaguely recall seeing a bit of All-American Girl. And I've probably seen her do some stand up on Comedy Central or whatever. And there was an episode of Miracle Workers; and the short film Maxine; and Prom Pact; and the short film Koreatown Ghost Story. I'm sure it'd be nice to see more of her work.
Colbert, Stephen
Mainly know him for The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. And there's Bewitched, probably some other stuff. Also some voice work.
Connolly, Billy
I don't quite remember if I've seen any of his stand-up comedy on TV, but I probably have. I mostly think of him as an actor, but I still feel like listing him under "comedians" because most of the acting I've seen him do has the feel of someone who is a comedian first, actor second, you know? Anyway, I know him from Head of the Class; and Muppet Treasure Island; and the Boondock Saints movies; and White Oleander; and The Last Samurai; and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events; and The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Also voice work in Brave; and The Ballad of Nessie.
Cross, David
I'm not really familiar with his standup work, just his acting. But I still somehow manage to think of him as primarily a comedian. Anyway, I mainly know him from Arrested Development. But he's also had roles I don't necessarily remember in Ghost World; and the Men in Black movies; and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And some roles that I do remember, in Running Wilde; and an ep of Community; and a few eps of Modern Family. Also he's done plenty of voice work. And plenty of other stuff I'd like to see someday.
Dangerfield, Rodney
I was vaguely aware of him in the 80s, but I don't think I really saw him in anything, back then. In the 90s, he voiced the main character in Rover Dangerfield, though I didn't see that until sometime in the 00s (and I never wrote a review, so I should probably see it again sometime). Also in the 90s, he voiced Mr. Burns's son in an episode of The Simpsons. And I've probably seen or heard him in some other things that I don't remember.
Gaffigan, Jim
I've seen some of his stand-up on Comedy Central, but I mainly know him for acting. There was Welcome to New York; and My Boys; and It's Kind of a Funny Story; and Troop Zero; and Peter Pan & Wendy; and probably some stuff I've forgotten. He also voiced Van Helsing in Hotel Transylvania 3; and Lorenzo in Luca; and Papa Owl in An Almost Christmas Story.
Galifianakis, Zach
I know him from Tru Calling; and It's Kind of a Funny Story; and a small role in The Muppets; and Birdman; and A Legendary Christmas; and A Wrinkle in Time; and he voiced Joker in The Lego Batman Movie; and Mr. Link in Missing Link. Also I must have seen some of his stand-up on Comedy Central.
Gallagher
I enjoyed his appearances on The Smothers Brothers, and in a Geico commercial. I may have seen him in some other stuff or I may not, I forget.
Goldthwait, Bobcat
Well, there's the Police Academy movies. And I think I saw Hot to Trot. And of course Scrooged. And Shakes the Clown. Um, I seem to recall seeing him do stand-up on some show, I'm thinking Hard Rock Live, probably. And he wrote and directed God Bless America. And he's done some voice work. I dunno, I'm sure I've seen or heard him in plenty of other stuff...
Gottfried, Gilbert
Let's see, I sort of know him for hosting USA Up All Night. And there was The Aristocrats. And I guess I saw him in Problem Child, though I don't remember the movie well at all. And he was in Funky Monkey. And I know him for some voice work. I've probably seen at least a bit of his stand-up on TV. And I'm probably forgetting lots of other things I saw or heard him in.
Griffin, Kathy
I know her from Shakes the Clown; and Suddenly Susan; and a cameo role in Muppets from Space; and guess I saw a bit of My Life on the D-List; and an episode of The X-Files; and no doubt I've seen or heard her in other stuff...
Hedberg, Mitch
I suppose I mostly know him from stand-up on Comedy Central. And there was Saddle Rash. And probably some other stuff.
Izzard, Suzy Eddie
I mainly think of her as an actor these days, though I suppose before that I was vaguely aware of her as a comedian (and transvestite). I mainly know her from The Riches; there's also Mystery Men; and The Cat's Meow; and Mockingbird Lane; and My Super Ex-Girlfriend; and Treasure Island. She voiced Reepicheep in Prince Caspian; and Schadenfreude in Igor; and Burnish in Abominable.
Katz, Jonathan
Mainly know him for voice work, most notably on Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist and Home Movies, though I must've seen a bit of stand-up on Comedy Central or something, at some point.
Martin, Steve
I saw him host Saturday Night Live at least once, in the 90s. I guess before I ever started watching that show, he'd made guest appearances, and I thought he'd been a regular, but apparently not. I never saw any of that, anyway, except maybe some clips. I dunno. I also know him from The Muppet Movie; and The Jerk; and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid; and Three Amigos; and Little Shop of Horrors; and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; and Looney Tunes: Back in Action; and voice work in The Prince of Egypt; and surely various other things that I don't remember so well. Also I saw him play the banjo on some Fourth of July special, maybe in 2011.
Mencia, Carlos
I mainly just know him from Mind of Mencia, I guess.
Micucci, Kate
I don't think I've ever seen her do any stand-up, so I basically just think of her as an actress, even though she definitely has the feel of a comedian in any of her acting roles. Anyway, there's Bart Got a Room; and When in Rome; an episode of Psych; an episode of Written By a Kid; a few episodes of The Big Bang Theory; an episode of Key & Peele; a two-part episode of Ghost Ghirls; and Werewolves; and Flora & Ulysses. And she voiced Jovie in Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas and Velma in some Scooby-Doo movies.
Newhart, Bob
I'm not particularly familiar with his stand-up. Nor have I ever had a chance to see "The Bob Newhart Show." But I liked him on Newart; and The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary Special; and Bob; and Elf; and the Librarian TV movies; and Legally Blonde 2; and a couple episodes of The Big Bang Theory. And he voiced Bernard in The Rescuers. And I've definitely seen him in some other roles that I don't remember, but must have liked at the time.
Oliver, John
I might have seen him do some stand-up on Comedy Central, I don't recall. But I always enjoy his work on The Daily Show (including a 3-month stint as host); and Community; and Last Week Tonight; and voice work in Wonder Park.
Oswalt, Patton
I don't recall if I've seen any of his stand-up. But I know him from Caprica; a couple eps of Brooklyn Nine-Nine; several eps of Agents of SHIELD; season 4 of Veronica Mars; and Kim Possible; and Blade Trinity; and a brief cameo in Odd Thomas; and Please Stand By; and surely some other roles I don't specifically remember. Plus some voice work.
Penn & Teller
It's really hard to imagine a time I wasn't at least vaguely aware of them. I always liked them. There was an episode of Babylon 5, and the Run-DMC video "It's Tricky." And I'm sure I've seen them in plenty of other stuff, guest spots, magic/comedy shows on Comedy Central or other networks. It's just hard to remember anything specific. And I know they've done tons of stuff I haven't seen, but still, I've always known and liked them, somehow. As I said. I guess.
Philips, Emo
I mainly know him from Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. And a bit of Home Movies. I'm not sure about anything else...
Posehn, Brian
Mostly I think of him as a voice actor. But I also know him from some live-action stuff like Just Shoot Me, and Rise of the Silver Surfer, and a small role in Knights of Badassdom, and several eps of The Big Bang Theory, and several eps of New Girl, and... whatever. Maybe I've seen him do some stand-up on Comedy Central or something, I dunno.
Rudner, Rita
I must have seen at least bits and pieces of her stand-up on TV, but I can't remember specifically what shows or channels, but it was probably mainly in the 80s, possibly the early 90s. And I've probably seen some of her jokes printed somewhere, like maybe Reader's Digest... or something. I dunno. I don't recall ever having seen her act in anything, nor have I read her books. But I always kind of liked her, anyway. Usually. I guess. Oh, and I suppose I must have seen (or heard) her as herself on Dr. Katz.
Saget, Bob
I'm not really familiar with his stand-up. I'm most familiar with him from Full House, as well as voiceover narration on How I Met Your Mother. And there was The Aristocrats. And an episode of Quantum Leap. Can't think of anything else.
Silverman, Sarah
I know her from Saturday Night Live; and a two part story on Star Trek: Voyager; and Greg the Bunny; and a minor role in There's Something About Mary; and The Aristocrats; and a few eps of Monk; and School of Rock; and a small role in The Muppets. Also voice work on Saddle Rash; and Wreck-It Ralph; and some other stuff. I quite liked her in all of that. I saw just a little bit of The Sarah Silverman Program... which I'm afraid I didn't like at all.
Smirnoff, Yakov
You know, I'm not sure I ever saw him in anything specific, but I must've seen bits of his stand-up here and there on TV, back in the day ("the day" being the 1980s).
The Smothers Brothers
In the late 80s, I enjoyed The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and I listened to some of their old records at some point.
Stewart, Jon
I pretty much just know him for hosting The Daily Show, on which I quite like him.
Tompkins, Paul F.
I saw a special he had on Comedy Central. He was hilarious. And he was in an episode of Ghost Ghirls. Apparently he's also done some other stuff I've seen (like voicework), which I wasn't aware of.
Wright, Steven
I liked him on Mad About You. Not so much in Son of the Mask. There was also a small but fun role in So I Married an Axe Murderer. And a minor role in Natural Born Killers. And I'm sure I've seen and heard him in any number of other things, plus stand-up of course. I'm afraid I can't think of anything more specific...
Yankovic, "Weird Al"
I mainly know him for his comedy songs (most of them parodies); but I also know him for acting in an episode of Mathnet; and The Weird Al Show; and an episode of LearningTown; and a couple eps of Galavant; and the short film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; and voice acting as Wreck-Gar in a couple eps of Transformers: Animated; and Cheese Sandwich in a couple episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic; and I must have seen or heard him in various guest spots as himself (or some version thereof).
comedy troupes
The Kids in the Hall
Monty Python
I like Monty Python's Flying Circus. You know, not all of it, but some bits are brilliant. And Holy Grail. And a lot of the work that members of the troupe have done separately...
The Second City
SCTV had some pretty good moments, I suppose. And I like alot of the stuff the troupe's members have done separately...
humor columnists
Barry, Dave
Always quite enjoyed his column. And the TV show Dave's World, that was loosely based on his life, was good, though not as good as the column...
Millington, Mil
I'm afraid I basically just know him from his "Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About" site, which is one of the funniest things ever. And his mailing list, which is also one of the funniest things ever. Someday maybe I should read some books or see if I can check out some columns he does...
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