Top 10 Hollywood Comedy Actors

By: SM. Mehdi Hassan

Jim Carrey:

Image link: Jim Carrey

I first saw him in The Mask. His performance was incredible. This Canadian born is a naturally talented comedian. In his school days, after class, he used to perform for few minutes. At the age of ten, Jim sent his résumé to The Carol Burnett Show. His first performance was in a Canadian comedy club. In 1979, he came to Los Angeles and struggled for the next ten years to become an actor. In 1990, he became very successful starring in a comedy show titled In Living Color. In 1994, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb & Dumber made him a big Hollywood star.

Adam Sandler:

Image link: Adam Sandler

This New York University graduate is an actor, comedian, producer and musician. He found his talent as a comedian at the age of seventeen, when he joined a Boston comedy club. During his freshman years, he appeared in a small role in The Cosby Show. Dennis Miller discovered Adam and recommended him for Saturday Night Live, NBC’s most popular comedy show in the 90’s. The show was successful and Adam got every body’s attention. In 1994, Airheads was a big hit in the box office. Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, Big Daddy turned Adam into a successful Hollywood comedy actor.

Ben Stiller:

Image link: Ben Stiller

Born to famous comedy couple, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Ben used to perform plays with his sister at home during his childhood. He first appeared in one of his mother’s TV series Kate McShane. At the age of ten, he started to shoot with his own G-8 camera. After dropping out of the University of California, he starred in a Broadway drama The House of Blue Leaves, which won four Tony awards. In 1987, Ben got the chance to work as a writer for the famous comedy series Saturday Night live. In 1989, he became a performer in that show. In 1987, Ben for the first time appeared in a movie. It was a small role in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. In 1994, Ben directed and starred in Reality Bites. Success came in 1998; There’s Something about Marry brought Ben Stiller in Hollywood limelight.

Robin Williams:

Image link: Robin Williams

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Robin Williams was a very shy boy and he overcame his shyness after joining the school drama department. Robin Williams performed in stage, TV series, movies, and even gave voice in animated films. William’s big break came in 1978 with the series Mork and Mindy. In this TV series, William played the role of an alien. The series was very popular and continued till 1982. Williams starred in his first film Popeye in 1980. The movie was not very successful. In 1987, he won an academy award nomination for his performance in Good Morning, Vietnam. Along with comedy movies, Williams also worked in dramatic films like Dead Poets Society, The Fisher King, Awakenings, What Dreams May Come, Jakob the Liar. In 1997, Williams won Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting.

Rob Schneider:

Image link: Rob Schneider

Close friend of Adam Sandler, Rob, started his career as a stand up comedian in nightclubs after graduating from high school. He also appeared in radio shows. In 1987, he worked with Dennis Miller, another famous comedian and got opportunity to appear in HBO’s 13^th Annual Young Comedians show. After that, he got the job of a writer for NBC’s famous comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL). In 1989, he worked as a full time cast member in SNL and continued till 1994. After leaving SNL, he appeared in small roles in various movies such as, Judge Dredd, The Beverly Hillbillies, Demolition Man and Down Periscope. In 1994, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo was a big hit in box office.

Billy Crystal:

Image link: Billy Crystal

Actor, writer, director, comedian, Billy Crystal’s first love was baseball. His father was a pitcher for St. John’s University. He was the captain his school baseball team and won a scholarship to Marshall University for playing baseball. Unfortunately, the program was cancelled and he got out. He then went to Nassau Community College and studied theater. Billy Crystal’s first successful appearance was in a TV series titled Soap, where he played the character of a gay. This is the first time gay characters were portrayed openly in American television. Billy Crystal holds the highest record after Bob Hope for hosting the academy award show. He hosted the award shows of 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004. He was even offered to host the 2006 Academy Award show but turned down the offer.

Bernie Mac:

Image link: Bernie Mac

"The Bernie Mac Show' is my life. It's the truth, and I'm not ashamed of a minute, an hour, or a second of my life" this is Bernie Mac, ranked number 72 on Comedy Central’s list of 100 greatest stand up comedians of All Time. Like most of the African Americans, his childhood was full of hardships. Born in a rough neighborhood of Chicago, he was raised in a joint family. This hardship later became his source of inspiration. He depicted his family life in the Bernie Mac show which became very popular. He started his career as a stand up comedian and later switched to movies.

Chris Rock (I):

Image link: Chris Rock

This stand up comedian was ranked number five in Comedy Centrals list of 100 greatest Stand up comedians of All Time in 2004. Chris was discovered by another famous comedy actor, Eddie Murphy. He was performing in a nightclub and Eddie Murphy saw him and recommended him for Saturday Night Live. In the 1980’s, he starred in small roles in New Jack City and I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. He did many comedy shows and for his performance he won 3 Emmy Awards and 15 nominations.

Mike Myers:

Image link: Mike Myers

This “Shagadelic spy” was born in Canada. He is an actor, comedian, producer and screen writer. His first TV appearance was at the age of nine in a TV commercial. Till 1989, he did numerous comedy shows and TV series in Canada. In 1989, he started working in Saturday Night Live and continued till 1995.

Chris Farley:

Image link: Chris Farley

After I came to know about his early death, I felt very sad. Chris Farley was really a great comedian and had he lived till now, he would become one of Hollywood’s top comedy actors. Chris Farley was born in Madison Wisconsin. After graduating from Marquette University, he started his career at Ark Improv Theatre and Improv Olympic Theatre. While performing in Second City Theatre, he was discovered by Lorne Michaels, producer of Saturday Night Live. He was also a very successful movie actor. In 1997, he was found dead in his apartment.