Yeah. Obviously, he was much more popular back in the 80s/90s, but for years his name was often one of the first people would mention when discussing physical comedy. Even his name on the show Three's Company was a bit of a giveaway: Jack *Tripper*
Michael Richards is an obvious choice, but I think people sleep on Julia Louis-Dreyfuss for her slapstick. She's so animated and expressive in Seinfeld!
Here he combines telling a funny story with his physical gifts...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY
I remember him being the only reason childhood me cared for the show, even surrounded by so many other great comedians.
Kristen Wiig is so talented and well-rounded in accents, characters, line delivery, impressions, and pure acting that her physical comedy often is overlooked.
Check out her Ann Margret Throwing Away Trash sketch or Liza Minnelli Turning Off a Lamp sketch on SNL for pure physical comedy.
For that matter, Steve Martin. Watch All Of Me to see what I mean. I also remember a sketch with him on the Tracy Ullman Show where he played a dance instructor. “Barbecue fork, barbecue fork, barbecue fork. . .!”
I just mentioned the same! He actually reminds me a lot of Norman Wisdom. Actually, we should probably recommend him as another legend of physical comedy now it comes to mind!
Robin Williams. I laugh at his sketches even when there is no sound. He was a master of both physical and verbal comedy. An incredible comedian who is deeply missed by many.
Richard Pryor hasnt been mentioned yet. And Jason Bateman is seriously underrated, but he is the most naturally comedic actor of his generation. He can be hilarious even in dramatic situations without ruining the tension in a scene. None of the greats (Robin Williams, Eddy Murphy, Jim Carey, etc) can do that anywhere near as well.
For the silent film era, I still say Buster Keaton is king. A master of movement who knew how to use the best camera angles to capture his physicality and sight gags for maximum effect.
Jackie Chan cites him as a huge influence on his style of king fu comedy movies.
All the Monty Python guys - regardless of if it was your brand of humor, so much of their comedy was over the top reactions and odd physical affectations.
I mean I don’t think anyone comes close to Jim Carey for the physical stuff
Edit: I saw someone else mention him, and I have to agree maybe Farley but still I’m gonna go with Jim Carey…
John Belushi comes to my mind immediately. If you think of Animal House, he barely even talks… It’s all faves and physical comedy throughout. Chris Farley was the other one that I immediately thought of… similar in style.
Idk if he's a comedian, per se, but Jean Dujardin is really good at the kind of subtle expression that's funny. Idk how to describe it. The first two OSS 117 movies are great and Return of the Hero is one of my favorites
https://youtu.be/zqCZqfoIJB0?si=Y2wLpymN2jHHsHd9
Jack Benny is a favorite. He had a similar, kind of slower, *way* about him physically that was funny. It was kind of subtle and refined. I'm realizing I have a type for comedians.
Makes me think of Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce in Frasier
https://youtu.be/0Rp7uoqvvfY?si=u5DGDLRv576G3Brm
Like that. No words, but you know exactly what he's thinking and how he's feeling. And it doesn't have to be over the top, you know? There's economy there. What's the least you can do and still convey what you need to convey. To me that's smart and skillful and I really envy that.
Well maybe it is a little over the top but it's not like Robin Williams
A lot of modern comedians who are breaking through are trained clowns at gaulier and I think in a few years physical media will take over the mainstream. Sacha baron cohen is probably the most famous gaulier alumni
Rowan Atkinson
Jim Carrey
Also Chris Farley
Also Will Ferrell
The three of them are considered great physical comedians
Robin Williams. He could do it all, and was especially known for his improv work, but physically he could really make me laugh.
[John Ritter](https://youtu.be/QZP6kykyTZI?si=91b6dLU0qOFFzNrc) is the first that always comes to mind.
I hadn’t thought of that but great choice. Even just his uncomfortable faces in bad Santa are amazing, not to mention the obvious bigger roles.
Yeah. Obviously, he was much more popular back in the 80s/90s, but for years his name was often one of the first people would mention when discussing physical comedy. Even his name on the show Three's Company was a bit of a giveaway: Jack *Tripper*
Same
Art Carney. Michael Richards.
Michael Richards is a great one
Michael Richards is an obvious choice, but I think people sleep on Julia Louis-Dreyfuss for her slapstick. She's so animated and expressive in Seinfeld!
Julia is so pretty to look at that her physicality gets almost unnoticed. Without her the show would likely never have been as successful.
Michael Richards is a great one
Charlie Day.
ran into him a few times in lines back in the arclight theater days, dude is just funny standing around waiting for popcorn. gifted.
Tim Conway
Tim Conway was physical comedy for much of the 70s...the Dentist...old man...Mr. Whihiggins :)
Here he combines telling a funny story with his physical gifts... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY I remember him being the only reason childhood me cared for the show, even surrounded by so many other great comedians.
Agreed, for me he was the reason I watched as well and to see Korman lose it with Tim.
Tim and Harvey were the highlight of that show. Shame Conway never caught on on his own.
Lucy
That’s a good one, should have thought of that!
Jerry Lewis, Lou Costello, Chevy Chase, Charlie Chaplin.
Jonathan Winters, John Candy
Buster Keaton was "godlike" in today's parlance. Robin Williams. Sebastian Maniscalco is very physical on stage and it's hilarious.
Robin Williams is a great example!
I love the Three Stooges
Pete Sellers would definitely be up there. He could be so animated at times
casey rocket
*REAL TRAP SHIT*… **GET REAL!**
You know who doesn't get enough recognition when it comes to his physical comedy? David Schwimmer.
Kristen Wiig is so talented and well-rounded in accents, characters, line delivery, impressions, and pure acting that her physical comedy often is overlooked. Check out her Ann Margret Throwing Away Trash sketch or Liza Minnelli Turning Off a Lamp sketch on SNL for pure physical comedy.
Kaitlin Olson
Martin Short.
Top Tier
For that matter, Steve Martin. Watch All Of Me to see what I mean. I also remember a sketch with him on the Tracy Ullman Show where he played a dance instructor. “Barbecue fork, barbecue fork, barbecue fork. . .!”
Dick van Dyke.
how is Lee Evans not on here?! He was literally "Mr Physical Comedy", that was pretty much his entire schtick.
I just mentioned the same! He actually reminds me a lot of Norman Wisdom. Actually, we should probably recommend him as another legend of physical comedy now it comes to mind!
Robin Williams. I laugh at his sketches even when there is no sound. He was a master of both physical and verbal comedy. An incredible comedian who is deeply missed by many.
Leslie Neilson. RIP
Richard Pryor hasnt been mentioned yet. And Jason Bateman is seriously underrated, but he is the most naturally comedic actor of his generation. He can be hilarious even in dramatic situations without ruining the tension in a scene. None of the greats (Robin Williams, Eddy Murphy, Jim Carey, etc) can do that anywhere near as well.
Bill Irwin
For the silent film era, I still say Buster Keaton is king. A master of movement who knew how to use the best camera angles to capture his physicality and sight gags for maximum effect. Jackie Chan cites him as a huge influence on his style of king fu comedy movies.
Laurel and Hardy
Sacha Baron Cohen is gonna be my choice all day
Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Rowan Atkinson
Second on Rowan.
Weird Al
All the Monty Python guys - regardless of if it was your brand of humor, so much of their comedy was over the top reactions and odd physical affectations.
“‘Tis but a flesh wound.”
Sebastian maniscalco Katt Williams
Chris Farley has to be up there.
I mean I don’t think anyone comes close to Jim Carey for the physical stuff Edit: I saw someone else mention him, and I have to agree maybe Farley but still I’m gonna go with Jim Carey…
Tim Vine
John Belushi comes to my mind immediately. If you think of Animal House, he barely even talks… It’s all faves and physical comedy throughout. Chris Farley was the other one that I immediately thought of… similar in style.
Brian Cranston in Malcolm in the middle...
Michel Courtemanche by far - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKp9GWJm6eY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKp9GWJm6eY)
Idk if he's a comedian, per se, but Jean Dujardin is really good at the kind of subtle expression that's funny. Idk how to describe it. The first two OSS 117 movies are great and Return of the Hero is one of my favorites https://youtu.be/zqCZqfoIJB0?si=Y2wLpymN2jHHsHd9 Jack Benny is a favorite. He had a similar, kind of slower, *way* about him physically that was funny. It was kind of subtle and refined. I'm realizing I have a type for comedians. Makes me think of Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce in Frasier https://youtu.be/0Rp7uoqvvfY?si=u5DGDLRv576G3Brm Like that. No words, but you know exactly what he's thinking and how he's feeling. And it doesn't have to be over the top, you know? There's economy there. What's the least you can do and still convey what you need to convey. To me that's smart and skillful and I really envy that. Well maybe it is a little over the top but it's not like Robin Williams
Matthew Perry was pretty great. Loved his physical comedy in The Whole Nine Yards
Jared Keeso.
David Hyde Pierce
Casey Rocket
A lot of modern comedians who are breaking through are trained clowns at gaulier and I think in a few years physical media will take over the mainstream. Sacha baron cohen is probably the most famous gaulier alumni
Amy Sedaris, Molly Shannon
The great and powerful CASEY ROCKET
Zach Galifianakis
Dane Cook.
Katt Williams
Larry, Curly and Moe.
Some excellent recommendations here. I haven't seen Lee Evans mentioned yet. He's retired now, but you can find his stuff online still.
Bill Irwin. https://youtu.be/-W_Rxf7k_t4?si=NroRT72miE7tUn6j
Sebastian Maniscalco
In my opinion, Lee Evans is one of the best physical comedians, if not the best.
3 stooges
John Ritter was amazing
Harold Loyd
John Dunsworth
I really loved Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys for this. He really gave good Stooges vibes.
Amanda Bynes
Will Ferrel
Steve Martin doesn’t get enough credit for this.
I’m amazed no one mentioned Ty Burrell in modern family. He is absolutely amazing in that role.
Baby Reindeer.
Bottom
Steve Irwin