The greatest stand-up comedians of all time
The top 3 according to 171 votes from people: Richard Pryor · Chris Rock · Mort Sahl. (Updated Jul 30, 2025.)
The stand-ups that keep coming up at the top of the big rankings (Rolling Stone's 50 Best Stand-Up Comics, Paste's 50 Greatest) and in comedians' own picks, with the special or album that defines each one.
Top 20
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1
Richard Pryor
No. 1 for Rolling Stone; «Live in Concert» (1979) is often called the greatest stand-up film ever made.
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2
Chris Rock
«Bring the Pain» (1996) and «Kill the Messenger» (2008), sharp social commentary at full volume.
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3
Mort Sahl
The first modern political stand-up, newspaper in hand, on the cover of Time in 1960.
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4
George Carlin
Fourteen HBO specials and the «Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television» routine (1972).
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5
Lenny Bruce
The 1950s-60s pioneer who fought obscenity trials and opened the door for everyone after him.
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6
Dave Chappelle
«Killin' Them Softly» (2000) and his Netflix specials; winner of the Mark Twain Prize in 2019.
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7
Joan Rivers
«Can we talk?» Five decades of fearless stand-up, from the Tonight Show in 1965 onwards.
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8
Jerry Seinfeld
The master of observational comedy; «I'm Telling You for the Last Time» (1998).
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9
Robin Williams
Pure improvised energy; «Live at the Met» (1986).
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10
Eddie Murphy
«Delirious» (1983) and «Raw» (1987), the highest-grossing stand-up film for decades.
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11
Andy Kaufman
Anti-comedy pioneer: Mighty Mouse lip-sync, Foreign Man and wrestling women.
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12
Steven Wright
Deadpan one-liners; his album «I Have a Pony» (1985) was nominated for a Grammy.
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13
Mitch Hedberg
Surreal one-liners delivered half-asleep; «Strategic Grill Locations» (1999).
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14
Norm Macdonald
Shaggy-dog stories and the legendary moth joke; «Me Doing Standup» (2011).
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15
Steve Martin
The arena-filling absurdist of the 1970s; «A Wild and Crazy Guy» (1978) won a Grammy.
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16
Bill Hicks
Angry, philosophical and ahead of his time; «Relentless» (1992).
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17
Moms Mabley
Pioneering stand-up who started on the Chitlin' Circuit in the 1920s and became one of the first women to headline the Apollo.
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18
Bill Burr
The modern king of the rant; «You People Are All the Same» (2012) and «Walk Your Way Out» (2017).
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19
Albert Brooks
The comedian's comedian; «Comedy Minus One» (1973) and «A Star Is Bought» (1975).
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20
Billy Connolly
The Big Yin from Glasgow, a master storyteller on stage for more than 50 years.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 20… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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21
Kevin Hart
«Laugh at My Pain» (2011) and the first comedian to headline a sold-out NFL stadium (2015).
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22
Rodney Dangerfield
«I don't get no respect!» He opened his own comedy club in 1969, where many future stars started.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (5)
Bill Burr above Albert Brooks? Ok…
Where's Moms Mabley? She paved the way for so many.
Carlin's 'Seven Words' is still the best routine about language ever.
Pryor at #1 is the consensus and it's right. Live in Concert is perfect.
Norm Macdonald's moth joke is the greatest shaggy-dog story ever told.