| Already uber-famous from television shows like Mork and Mindy, Williams crushed every performance he ever did with manic energy and brilliant comic timing. | Michael Winslow might be more well known by his moniker, the Man of 10,000 Sound Effects, than by his actual name. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We cover all the awesome things you remember about the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. 107 min Nothing gets bigger than Eddie Murphys glorious 1980s stand-up comedy special RAW. It was all that and then some and a bag of chips. Wild hairstyles, bright colorful clothing, and listening to catchy Pop tunes are only some of the characteristics that define the 1980s. From the late '40s to the mid-'60s, artists like Homer & Jethro were popular both as comedians and musicians, but by the beginning of the '70s, country comedy became the provinces of comedians. Director: Her performance caught the attention of Steven Spielberg, who cast her in The Color Purple, a role that earned her an Academy Award nomination. Steve Martin is a master of subverting expectations. Julie Hagerty, 79,790 Stars: And rightfully so.". Steve Martin, Keith Gordon, Votes: Bonus: The sound effect for the hit song Unbelievable by the band EMF even featured a sound effect of Clay doing what else, shouting his catchphrase Ohhhhhhh!. Alan Ruck, | Joe Piscopo, He blended humor with just the right amount of straightforward protagonist cool and the rest is history multiply-quoted, highly-YouTubed history. The greatest insult comic of all time, Don Rickles made America laugh for roughly 50+ years with his trademark brand of zingers. It's a skill he developed as a lonely child with too much time on his hands, and one that remains unique he's even got a 1985 record to his name entitled I am My Own Walkman. Can anyone say Whats the deal with in anything but Seinfelds classic nasal tone? Who will pull it off? The Rick Moranis, Required fields are marked *. A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible. Hickory, Dickory, Docklets rewind the clock! Director: Sold out shows from coast to coast with his trademark shaggy beard and hair many went to see Carlin for a taste of the hippie lifestyle, with a whole helping of intellectual awesomeness. Action, Drama. John Hughes Williams was not just a comedian but also a talented actor, with roles in films such as Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and The Fisher King showcasing his wide range. Barr will go down as one of the most famous comedians of all-time, due in part to the sitcom named for her that ran for over 10 years with many of the ideas for that Bailey, Michael Keaton, 46,546 John Forsythe, In 1954, a group of Florida high-school guys try to help their buddy lose his virginity, which leads them to seek revenge on a sleazy nightclub owner and his redneck sheriff brother for harassing them. | Bill Pullman, Votes: | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Votes: After writing for the Smothers Brothers and other stars he mastered his stand-up game, creating a hysterical persona that was part goofball, part ironic satirist. Stars: | Gross: | Kelly LeBrock, A star-pilot for hire and his trusty sidekick must come to the rescue of a princess and save Planet Druidia from the clutches of the evil Spaceballs. Bob Clark In the mid-'90s, Jeff Foxworthy renewed country comedy as a viable commercial proposition with his series of You Might Be a Redneck If records. His stand-up specials in the late-70s and 80s were fast, furious, and full of hysterical impressions, and they paved the way for a hugely successful film career. | Gross: Now evildoers will have a lot to lose. Roseanne Barr, born in Salt Lake City, Utah, rose to fame in the 1980s with a brash comedic style that broke the traditional mold for female comedians. Comedy. | | As his kids walked into his office, this machine shrunk them to the size of an ant. Carol Burnett is the essential "class clown" among the legends on this list. He's not just working in front of the camera, however he's behind it as well. I'm Juan. He was known in the 1950s and 60s for Kiser isn't just finding success he's paying it forward. Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989) is a family-friendly movie. | Gary Wood, Comedy, Mystery, Thriller. | Kim Darby, Your email address will not be published. Like any kind of humor, Country Comedy isn't suited to all tastes. Princess Vespa, the Princess Leia send-up from Mel Brooks' irreverent parody, Spaceballs, is likely one of Daphne Zuniga's most widely remembered roles. Can we talk? In a field dominated by men remember, stand-up in the 60s and 70s was quite a different beast Joan Rivers made it in a big way. Was he high? His tragic death from cancer at age 32 cut short a career that was 100% unique and unapologetic. George Carlin, known for his edgy, provocative humor, was one of the most influential stand-up comedians of the 20th century. 44,363 Robert Prosky, Votes: Warmth spared no one from his jabs, whether it was his buddy Frank Sinatra, women, or minorities, but his lightning quick jokes somehow never rubbed people the wrong way once the chuckle smoke cleared. Stars: But there is one role that eclipses the rest, perhaps even that of Long Duk Dong: Ling, from Mulan, the skinny military recruit that starts off as more than a little bit of a slacker and ends up as the titular heroine's true and trusted friend. | 98 min Regardless, Airplane! | $36.60M, PG-13 $61.40M, PG-13 90 min Jerry Seinfeld deserves a spot on this list of the greatest comedians of the 80s for several reasons. Bill Murray, Action, Adventure, Comedy. Robin Williams Full of frenetic energy and an almost otherworldly ability to improvise, Robin Williams had more comedic talent than perhaps any other comedian to Griffin Dunne, Votes: Two friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun. Crystals humor often drew on his own experiences and perspectives, but he was also known for his impressions, impersonations, and his ability to seamlessly transition between various characters and personas, which made him one of the most beloved figures in the world and one of the best stand-up comedians from the 80s. I said No, but I want a regular banana later, so yeah. Much like Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg was a master at delivering absurd one-liners, often through closed eyes and shaggy hair. Whether he was establishing catchphrases (Excuuuse me! If his face looks familiar to you, it's likely from his performance as Long Duk Dong, the lecherous foreign exchange student from the otherwise soft-hearted John Hughes romantic comedy Sixteen Candles. What Age? Amy Heckerling | But Watanabe has remained a strong and steady actor, appearing in everything fromSesame StreettoGung Ho and its television spinoff and Weird Al Yankovic's UHF. Stand-up comedy came into its own during this time, proving itself to be a powerful medium for entertainment as well as a platform for exploring the complexities of the human condition. Clay even recently joked that President Trump stole my whole act to get into the White House. 97 min Director: 1986 saw his directorial debut in the ABC science fiction series Starman, and he's gone on to serve as a producer on such films as Nicky's Birthday Camera and Kelly Kelly. Principally, she's now a philanthropist on behalf of the Harold Robinson Foundation, an organization that works to send underprivileged kids on camping retreats they couldn't otherwise afford. Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists. Stars: $10.30M, PG During the weekend getaway, Bernie hired a hit man to kill Larry and Richard. | The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. | Gross: $14.93M, R His career spanned more than 50 years and included many memorable roles, from Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World to playing Williams dad on Mork & Mindy to handling the voice duties for Grandpa Smurf on TV and Papa Smurf in the movies. Terry Jones, $45.88M, R | Stars: The two benchmarks any successful comic has to meet are 1) being able to write good material and 2) being able to deliver it well. If you did not know dirty nursery rhymes and the absurd catchphrase Ohhhhhhh! in the 80s, you lived under a rock. | Gross: | Gross: Garcelle Beauvais, Whether youre a fan of biting social commentary or just love some witty one-liners, these ten 1980s comedians made the masses laugh out loud. | Gross: A track star and MC who grew up in poverty, Dick Gregory became a force doing stand-up while in the Army. | Gross: by Steve Huey. His ability to blend humor with sharp social and political critique left a lasting legacy in the world of comedy. Of course, there were still novelty singles, but country comedy was largely relegated to live performances, not records. Director: Comedy. A fatal car crash at 38 kept us from seeing if old age wouldve mellowed him at all. With his bug eyes, head twitches, and a never-ending arsenal of one-liners that skewered his looks, sex life, and wife, Dangerfield was a guaranteed riot every time he took the stage. In 1960, he got a job at the Magic Danny DeVito has amassed a formidable and versatile body of work as an actor, producer and director that spans the stage, television and film.Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. was born on November 17, 1944, in Neptune, New Jersey, to Italian-American parents. | Danny DeVito, John Hughes Around the same time that the film K-9(1989) was released, the movie, Turner & Hooch also premiered about a detective who had to take care of a large rowdy dog. | Frank Oz | Gross: | Gross: Bruce Dern, Mark Herrier, $5.83M, R An American reporter goes to the Australian outback to meet an eccentric crocodile poacher and invites him to New York City. | However, his increasingly inept attempts bring him only more agony and embarrassment. He was a master of timing and delivery which made him a hit with audiences far and wide, but he was also loved by fellow comics for his generosity and willingness to help up-and-comers. Before she became one of the most famous daytime variety show hosts of all time, she was pounding the pavement at coffee houses and nightclubs everywhere. 103 min DeGeneres was even named Funniest Person Alive in 1984 and could be in the running for that title still today. Bill Paxton, Votes: They were originally Columbia University professors who studied paranormal phenomena, but rather than just studying them, they intended on hunting these paranormal creatures and eliminating them. Eric Idle, But Zuniga's career was far from done. Additionally, his humor was equally appreciated by students, parents, and grandparents alike. Comedians who are widely respected and famous now got their start then. Lets dive into a list of the 10 best comedians from the 80s! | Dierks Bentley's parody of 1990s country is a stupid good time. | Not a bad second act for "the Donger.". Two high-school nerds use a computer program to literally create the perfect woman, who promptly turns their lives upside-down. John Hughes | Gross: To Rickles, every performance was a roast. Mel Brooks, | It didnt matter. Doesnt matter. 96 min His father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born Mountie and a strict disciplinarian. | 215,276 Terry Jones, Votes: Burt Young, WebThe 100 Best Comedies of the 80's. Additionally, he often employs a highly relatable brand of self-deprecating humor, poking fun at his own status as a celebrity and his perceived lack of talent, which audiences cant help but be endeared by. | Comedy, Romance, Sport. Pryors unique and groundbreaking approach to comedy, which incorporated deeply personal experiences, improvisational observations, and biting social commentary, which was a departure from the traditional setup-punchline comedy style of the time, helped to transform the genre and pave the way for future generations of comedians. A put-upon momma's boy wants his mother dead. 77,172 Stars: Ron Howard Eddie Murphy is arguably one of the greatest comedians of the 80s due to his exceptional comedic timing, razor-sharp wit, and ability to nail various forms of comedy. 56,431 Steve Guttenberg, Harold Ramis, His comedic style was so unique and powerful that it was often hard for directors to keep him on script, a testament to his creative mind. Stars: A selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. This everyman approach to comedy made him a hit on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he frequently guest-hosted before eventually taking over as host in 1992. 106 min Stars: Murphy later transitioned into film, starring in a number of successful movies like 48 Hrs., Trading Places, and Coming to America.. Sequels ensued, and a lifetime place in the pop-cultural firmament. | Wait for itwait for is. | Wyatt Knight, | Gross: He's also appeared in a number of hit television shows, includingMonk andArrested Development. Though unusual to see headlining females back in the day, DeGeneres proved that not only could she play with the big boys, but she was also a lot funnier than them, too. 3. Suzanne Snyder, However, his impact on the world of comedy was rather profound, and he is still remembered as one of the most influential figures in a decade filled with big names and bigger personalities. Despite being born in a strict Pentecostal family, Kinison had a loud and quite aggressive delivery, and his jokes often dealt with taboo and controversial subject matter such as drugs, sex, and even religion. $85.30M, R As Dr. Szalinski returned to his office, he accidentally threw them out with the garbage. Stand-up comedy has certainly changed in many ways, with more people than ever interested in one of the last true live artforms. $30.57M, PG From the sharp wit and observational humor of Jerry Seinfeld to the raw and incisive social commentary of Richard Pryor, the comedians of the 80s tackled a broad range of topics, blending humor with critiques of society, politics, and everyday life.