Last updated: October 2026

Quick answer: The best stand-up comedians of all time include Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Moms Mabley, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. Today’s standouts include Bill Burr, Ali Wong, John Mulaney and Taylor Tomlinson. Richard Pryor tops both Comedy Central’s and Rolling Stone’s all-time lists.

Key takeaways

  • Richard Pryor is the consensus No. 1, topping both Comedy Central’s and Rolling Stone’s all-time lists.
  • Every era has its landmark special, from Bob Newhart’s 1960 album to Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra.
  • Styles vary widely: storytelling, observational, one-liners, social commentary.
  • Los Angeles shaped many of them, especially at The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip.
  • Start with the specials listed below; each one shows why the comic belongs here.

This list is our editorial pick of the most influential and consistently funny stand-up comedians, in roughly chronological order. Each entry includes the special or album we’d watch first. Rankings like this are always debatable, but these comics show up on nearly every serious all-time list.

The best stand-up comedians at a glance

Comedian Era Style Watch first
Richard Pryor 1960s–1980s Storytelling, social commentary Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
George Carlin 1960s–2000s Language, satire FM & AM (1972 album)
Lenny Bruce 1950s–1960s Satire, free speech His recorded live albums
Joan Rivers 1960s–2010s Blunt, self-deprecating Her Tonight Show appearances
Moms Mabley 1920s–1970s Character, storytelling Her 1960s comedy albums
Bob Newhart 1960s–2010s Deadpan, one-sided phone calls The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960)
Rodney Dangerfield 1960s–2000s One-liners His “no respect” routines
Steve Martin 1970s Absurdist A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978)
Robin Williams 1970s–2000s Improvisational, high-energy A Night at the Met (1986)
Eddie Murphy 1980s Storytelling, impressions Delirious (1983)
Jerry Seinfeld 1980s–today Observational I’m Telling You for the Last Time (1998)
Chris Rock 1990s–today Social commentary Bring the Pain (1996)
Dave Chappelle 1990s–today Storytelling, social commentary Killin’ Them Softly (2000)
Bernie Mac 1990s–2000s Commanding, family stories The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
Mitch Hedberg 1990s–2000s Surreal one-liners Strategic Grill Locations (1999)
Bill Burr 2000s–today Rant, observational Paper Tiger (2019)
Wanda Sykes 1990s–today Sharp, political I’ma Be Me (2009)
Ali Wong 2010s–today Personal, raw Baby Cobra (2016)
John Mulaney 2000s–today Storytelling Kid Gorgeous (2018)
Taylor Tomlinson 2010s–today Confessional, tight writing Quarter-Life Crisis (2020)

The legends

1. Richard Pryor (1940–2005)

Pryor turned his own life into some of the most honest stand-up ever recorded. He topped Comedy Central’s list of the greatest stand-up comedians and Rolling Stone’s 2017 list of the 50 best, and he was the first recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize. Live on the Sunset Strip (1982) was filmed in Los Angeles.

2. George Carlin (1937–2008)

Carlin dissected language, politics and everyday absurdity for five decades. He won five Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, starting with FM & AM (1972), and ranked second on both the Comedy Central and Rolling Stone lists.

3. Lenny Bruce (1925–1966)

Bruce’s free-wheeling mix of satire, religion, politics and profanity made him a free-speech landmark. He was convicted in a 1964 obscenity trial and pardoned posthumously in 2003. He ranks third on both major all-time lists.

4. Joan Rivers (1933–2014)

Rivers broke through in 1965 as a guest on The Tonight Show and became a pioneer for women in stand-up, known for a blunt, self-deprecating style.

5. Moms Mabley (1897–1975)

Mabley was a veteran of the Chitlin’ Circuit and, in 1939, became the first female comic to perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. She reached a wider audience in the 1960s, including a 1962 Carnegie Hall show.

Moms Mabley (left) with Pearl Bailey on The Pearl Bailey Show, 1971
Moms Mabley (left) with Pearl Bailey on The Pearl Bailey Show, 1971. Photo: ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

6. Bob Newhart (1929–2024)

Newhart’s deadpan, one-sided phone-call routines made The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960) a No. 1 album on the Billboard pop chart and a Grammy winner for Album of the Year.

7. Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004)

Dangerfield built an entire persona out of one-liners and his catchphrase, “I get no respect!”

8. Steve Martin (born 1945)

By the late 1970s Martin was selling out arenas like a rock star with absurdist, anti-joke stand-up. His albums Let’s Get Small (1977) and A Wild and Crazy Guy (1978) both won Grammys.

9. Robin Williams (1951–2014)

Williams was famous for improvising at full speed. His HBO specials include Off the Wall (1978), An Evening with Robin Williams (1983) and A Night at the Met (1986).

10. Eddie Murphy (born 1961)

Murphy’s Delirious (1983) is one of the most influential stand-up specials ever, and his concert film Raw (1987) grossed $50 million in theaters.

The modern greats

11. Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954)

The master of observational comedy. His specials include I’m Telling You for the Last Time (1998) and 23 Hours to Kill (2020).

12. Chris Rock (born 1965)

Rock reached mainstream stardom with Bring the Pain (1996) and has kept releasing landmark hours, including Tamborine (2018) and Selective Outrage (2023).

13. Dave Chappelle (born 1973)

Chappelle’s first hour, Killin’ Them Softly (2000), set up a career that includes six Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album and the 2019 Mark Twain Prize.

Dave Chappelle at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2018
Dave Chappelle at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2018. Photo: John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

14. Bernie Mac (1957–2008)

Mac was one of the “Big Four” in The Original Kings of Comedy, alongside Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D. L. Hughley.

15. Mitch Hedberg (1968–2005)

Hedberg’s surreal one-liners and deadpan delivery made him a cult favorite. Start with Strategic Grill Locations (1999).

Today’s stars

16. Bill Burr (born 1968)

Burr’s confrontational, observational rants earned Grammy nominations for Paper Tiger (2019) and Drop Dead Years (2025).

17. Wanda Sykes (born 1964)

Sykes won an Emmy in 1999 as a writer on The Chris Rock Show and has released sharp, political stand-up, including I’ma Be Me (2009).

18. Ali Wong (born 1982)

Wong’s Netflix specials Baby Cobra (2016), Hard Knock Wife (2018), Don Wong (2022) and Single Lady (2024) made her one of the defining comics of her generation. Single Lady won a Golden Globe.

Ali Wong performing stand-up, 2013
Ali Wong performing stand-up, 2013. Photo: Greg Harries, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

19. John Mulaney (born 1982)

A former SNL writer, Mulaney is one of the best storytellers in stand-up. He won Emmys for writing Kid Gorgeous (2018) and Baby J (2023).

20. Taylor Tomlinson (born 1993)

Tomlinson’s tightly written Netflix hours run from Quarter-Life Crisis (2020) to Prodigal Daughter (2026), and she hosted CBS’s After Midnight from 2024 to 2025.

Honorable mentions

  • Norm Macdonald: deadpan master and former SNL Weekend Update anchor.
  • Hannah Gadsby: their special Nanette (2018) won an Emmy for writing and a Peabody Award.
  • Kevin Hart: albums like Laugh at My Pain (2011) helped make him one of comedy’s biggest stars.

What makes a stand-up comedian great?

  • A clear point of view. You know who they are within a minute.
  • Original material. Their best bits couldn’t be done by anyone else.
  • Timing. See our guide to comedic timing.
  • Longevity. They kept writing new hours, not just repeating the old one.
  • Influence. Younger comics cite them as the reason they started.

Where to see great stand-up in LA

Many of the comedians on this list sharpened their acts on the Sunset Strip. Today, well-known comics still drop in at LA rooms to test new material. See our guide to comedy clubs in Los Angeles, and if you want to try it yourself, start with writing your first five minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the best stand-up comedian of all time?

Richard Pryor is the most common answer. He ranked first on Comedy Central’s list of the greatest stand-up comedians and first on Rolling Stone’s 2017 list of the 50 best stand-up comics, with George Carlin second on both.

Who are the best stand-up comedians right now?

Comedians with major recent specials include Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Ali Wong, John Mulaney and Taylor Tomlinson. Taste varies, so watch a special from each before picking a favorite.

What is the best stand-up special to start with?

Richard Pryor’s Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), Eddie Murphy’s Delirious (1983), Chris Rock’s Bring the Pain (1996) and Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra (2016) are all common starting points that show very different styles.

What is the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor?

It’s an award presented by the Kennedy Center since 1998 to people who have shaped American humor. Richard Pryor was the first recipient; later honorees include Steve Martin, George Carlin, Bob Newhart and Dave Chappelle.

Where can I see great stand-up comedians live in Los Angeles?

The Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory and the Improv are the best-known LA rooms, and well-known comics often drop in to test new material. See our guide to comedy clubs in Los Angeles.

Sources

Image credits

  • Featured image: Jerry Seinfeld performing at the Eventim Apollo in London, 2019, by Raph_PH, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
  • Dave Chappelle at the Toronto International Film Festival, 2018, by John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
  • Ali Wong performing stand-up, 2013, by Greg Harries, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
  • Moms Mabley (left) with Pearl Bailey on The Pearl Bailey Show, 1971, by ABC Television, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

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