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Famous American Stand-up Comedians: Standup comedy is one of those magical arts where you get paid to make fun of life’s most ridiculous moments, and if you are really good, maybe even yourself! Even famous American standup comedians have this ability to take everyday mishaps, awkward moments and embarrassing failures and turn them into a laughter riot. From Dave Chappelle’s witty take on society to Aziz Ansari’s diverse roles, many great personalities have not only mastered the art of comedy but have also succeeded as writers, actors, and producers. Let us get to know them in more detail in this blog.
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List of American Stand-up Comedians
From Emmy winners to Grandmasters of the American standup comedian club, the names are endless if we talk about their achievements. Big names such as Dave Chapelle, Bill Burr to Anthony Jeselnik, here is a list of top famous American standup comedians. Some of them are discussed in detail below –
| Comedian | Role | Famous Work |
| Dave Chappelle | Writer, Actor | Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006) |
| Louis C.K. | Writer, Producer | Louie (2010–2015) |
| Bill Burr | Podcaster, Actor | F Is for Family (2015) |
| Pete Holmes | Actor, Writer | CollegeHumor Originals (2006) |
| Hannibal Buress | Actor, Writer | Tag (2018) |
| Rory Scovel | Actor, Writer | Babylon (2022) |
| Zach Galifianakis | Actor, Writer | The Hangover (2009) |
| John Mulaney | Writer, Actor | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) |
| Anthony Jeselnik | Writer, Producer | Thoughts and Prayers (2015) |
| Aziz Ansari | Actor, Writer | Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), Master of None (2019) |
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Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle is an American comedian, writer, producer, and actor. Chappelle’s career took off when he moved to New York City after high school. He is best known for his show, Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006). With his sharp wit and fearless approach to social commentary, he has become one of the most influential voices in comedy today.
| Year | Achievement |
| 1988 | Began performing stand-up at age 14 |
| 1993 | Film debut in Robin Hood: Men in Tights |
| 2003 | Launched Chappelle’s Show on Comedy Central |
| 2005 | Walked away from a $50M deal with Comedy Central |
Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. is a comedian, writer, producer and actor from Washington. He is known for his raw and often controversial take on everyday life. His show Louie (2010–2015) earned critical acclaim for blending comedy with more serious themes. He also starred in American Hustle and Horace & Pete.
| Year | Achievement |
| 1990s | Began stand-up career in New York City |
| 2010 | Created and starred in Louie |
| 2013 | Appeared in American Hustle |
| 2016 | Created Horace & Pete |
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Bill Burr
Bill Burr is a famous American Stand up comedian, podcaster and actor known for his blunt, unapologetic humour. He is best known for portraying Patrick Kuby in the crime drama series, Breaking Bad (2008). His Netflix show F Is for Family (2015) is a reflection of his comedic style. Burr’s no-nonsense comedy and his popular podcast Monday Morning Podcast have earned him a large fan following too.
| Year | Achievement |
| 2008 | Voiced character in Grand Theft Auto IV |
| 2015 | Created and starred in F Is for Family |
| 2023 | Directed Old Dads |
Pete Holmes
Pete Holmes is known for his clean, quirky humour and his work as a writer, actor, and producer. His breakout role came from the popular web series CollegeHumor Originals (2006), followed by his HBO show Crashing (2017–2019). Holmes’ brand of humour is often described as lighthearted and introspective, focusing on personal experiences and philosophical questions.
| Year | Achievement |
| 2006 | Featured in CollegeHumor Originals |
| 2017 | Created and starred in Crashing |
| 2016 | Released stand-up special Faces and Sounds |
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Hannibal Buress
Hannibal Buress is a famous American stand-up comedian, writer and actor. His comedic style combines observational humour with a laid-back delivery. He has appeared in several films and TV shows, including Tag (2018) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
| Year | Achievement |
| 2014 | Starred in Bad Neighbors |
| 2017 | Played role in Spider-Man: Homecoming |
| 2021 | Featured on ZIWE |
Rory Scovel
Rory J. Scovel is an American stand-up comedian in the comedy world. He is known for his improv-heavy stand-up style. He is recognised for his roles in shows like Those Who Can’t, movie – I Feel Pretty and shows such as Physical on Apple TV+.
| Year | Achievement |
| 2011 | Released first stand-up album Dilation |
| 2017 | Released Netflix special Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up |
| 2021 | Starred in Physical |
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Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari rose to fame with his role in Parks and Recreation (2009). His family hails from Tamil Nadu India, but he was born in Columbia. He even graduated from NYU in 2004. His comedy often revolves around relationships, modern life, and pop culture. Ansari has also made a name for himself as a writer and producer, for his Emmy-winning show Master of None (2015–2021).
| Year | Achievement |
| 2007 | Starred in Human Giant on MTV |
| 2009 | Breakout role as Tom Haverford in Parks and Recreation |
| 2015 | Won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for Master of None |
| 2019 | Released comedy special Right Now |
FAQs
One of the most famous American comedians was Robin McLaurin Williams. He was known as the biggest actor and comedian, who has won accolades like Emmy awards, Golden Globe awards, Grammy Awards and more.
Jerry Seinfeld is one of the richest comedians with a net worth of $950 million dollars. Famous for the sitcom “Seinfeld”, he has established himself as one of America’s best comedians.
Charlie Chaplin is known as the comedy king, who made the world laugh with his silent yet action-filled comedy.
Relevant Reads
This was all about famous American stand-up comedians. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!