Elizabeth Booker Houston works as a lawyer, public‑health specialist, stand‑up comic and political commentator in the United States. She rose to nationwide prominence by mixing legal insight with humor, most notably for her widely shared criticism of conservative commentator Ann Coulter during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Eden Rebecca Sher is a U.S. actress and comedian whose recognitions comprise a Critics' Choice Television Award and a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Edward Regan Murphy, an American comedian, actor and singer, is celebrated as a leading figure among Black entertainers and counted among the all‑time greats of comedy. He first made his name on the stand‑up circuit before achieving fame through his work in movies. His trophy cabinet holds a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Emmy, and he has also been nominated for both an Academy Award and a BAFTA. In 2015 he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, followed by the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2023 and the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award in 2026.
Emma Willmann, an American comedian and actress, first appeared on television performing stand‑up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and later portrayed the recurring character Beth on The CW series Crazy Ex‑Girlfriend.
Edward Matthew Lauter Jr., an American actor, amassed credits in over two hundred film and television projects during a career that stretched beyond four decades, regularly playing uniformed police, military figures, and other tough‑guy characters.
Edmund Lincoln Anderson was an American performer and comic whose voice was famously raspy. For the cohort that followed early radio and television comedy, he became identified as “Rochester.”
Edgar Kennedy, born April 26, 1890, in Monterey County, California, was a prolific film comic with a career spanning four decades. His parents, Neil Kennedy and Annie Quinn, were Canadian immigrants. He attended San Rafael High School and briefly pursued boxing before finding his calling in entertainment. Beginning his career, Kennedy first performed as a singer in vaudeville, musical comedy, and light opera, which served as the foundation for his later fame as a comedian. He began his film career in 1911 and quickly became an original Keystone Kop, demonstrating his early involvement in the burgeoning world of silent films. Kennedy’s comedic style was characterized by the “slow burn,” a trademark that earned him the nickname 'Slow Burn.' This involved portraying characters with slowly rising anger, expressed through subtle facial expressions and gestures. He appeared in at least 500 films, encompassing both the silent and sound eras, and collaborated with numerous prominent figures in the film industry including Roscoe Arbuckle, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Charley Chase, and Our Gang. His versatility is evident in the diverse roles he played, ranging from dumb cops and detectives to even a prison warden. He directed six short comedies for Hal Roach and acted in films like 'A Pair of Tights' (1928) and 'Duck Soup' (1933), showing he could do different kinds of comedy. Perhaps best known for 'The Average Man' comedy series, which began in 1930, Kennedy portrayed an everyman facing everyday family and professional challenges. This series produced six shorts annually for 17 years. He also starred in instructional film 'The Other Fellow' and appeared in films like 'Twentieth Century' (1934) and 'A Star is Born' (1937). By the 1940s, Kennedy had become a favorite of both film fans and critics, starring in over 400 movies including approximately 100 features and over 200 shorts. From 1931 to 1948, Kennedy appeared in 103 two-reel short films produced by RKO Radio Pictures. These frequently featured comedic situations centered on family problems, crises at home, cases of mistaken identity, and attempts to become wealthy quickly, typically involving a scatterbrained wife, an interfering mother-in-law, and an indolent brother-in-law. Edgar Kennedy died on November 9, 1948, at the Motion Picture Hospital from throat cancer, leaving behind a legacy as America’s first “sitcom” star, predating 'I Love Lucy' by two decades; he was 58 years old. Bill Cassara authored a biography titled 'Edgar Kennedy, Master of the Slow Burn,' which has been described as exhaustive and is considered essential reading for Laurel and Hardy fans.
Edie Adams, born Edith Elizabeth Enke on April 16, 1927, in Kingston, Pennsylvania, was an American entertainer with a multifaceted career. Edie Adams experienced parts of her youth in Grove City, Pennsylvania, as well as Tenafly, New Jersey. Her parents were Sheldon Alonzo Enke and Ada Dorothy Adams. Adams received formal training, graduating from Juilliard with a vocal degree and the Columbia School of Drama. In New York, she received training at the Actors Studio. Her early career began when she won the 'Miss U.S. Television' beauty contest in 1950, leading to an appearance on Milton Berle’s television show. Adams established herself as a comedian and actress, frequently partnering with Ernie Kovacs on television beginning in the 1950s; they married in 1954 and eloped. She showcased her comedic talents through impersonations of figures like Marilyn Monroe and Zsa Zsa Gabor, both onstage and on television. Her Broadway debut occurred in 1953 in Wonderful Town , and she subsequently won a Tony Award in 1956 for her role as Daisy Mae in Li’l Abner . She also appeared in numerous films, including The Apartment (1960), Lover Come Back (1960) with Rock Hudson and Doris Day, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and The Best Man (1964). From 1963 to 1965, she hosted her own variety show, Here’s Edie , receiving four Emmy nominations. Beyond acting and comedy, Adams was also a businesswoman. For two decades, Edie Adams worked as a pitchwoman for Muriel Cigars, and during the 1960s, she established two cosmetic ventures: Edie Adams Cosmetics and Edie Adams Cut 'n' Curl. Following Ernie Kovacs’ sudden death in 1962 due to a car accident, she faced significant financial challenges, including paying off his substantial unpaid taxes. She continued to work steadily, appearing in guest roles on shows like Fantasy Island , The Love Boat , Murder, She Wrote , and Designing Women into the 1970s and beyond. In 2004, she portrayed the Fairy Godmother in a PBS production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella . Edie Adams died on October 15, 2008, in Los Angeles from complications related to pneumonia and cancer.
Elaine Iva May, an American actress, comedian, writer and director, first rose to prominence during the 1950s when she performed improv sketches alongside Mike Nichols. Later she penned and helmed a number of films that earned critical praise. Her trophy cabinet holds a BAFTA, a Grammy and a Tony among many other honors. In 2013 President Barack Obama presented her with the National Medal of Arts, and she received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.
Elliott Charles Kalan, an American comedian, worked as a writer and then head writer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 2008 to 2014, and held the same positions for Mystery Science Theater 3000 during 2017‑2018. He also writes comic books and co‑hosts the podcast The Flop House.
Albania
1
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2
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36
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27
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52
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1
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13
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57
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2
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1
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27
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125
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17
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1
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15
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1
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8
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4
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4
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7
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188
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17
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1
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2
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2
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5
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10
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74
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1
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15
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214
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365
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1
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3
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18
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1
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2
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1
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7
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23
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31
Israel
10
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47
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6
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4
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136
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1
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37
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3
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20
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3
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5
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1
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1
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17
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28
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19
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The United States has one of the world’s most diverse and influential comedy scenes, with American comedians performing everywhere from small comedy clubs and theaters to major festivals, television studios, streaming platforms and sold-out arenas. From classic stand-up and sketch comedy to improvisation, sitcoms and modern online humor, comedy in the USA comes in countless styles.
GiggleTime brings together comedians from across the United States, making it easy to discover famous American comedians as well as newer performers from the country's constantly evolving comedy scene.
American stand-up comedy has a long tradition of comedians developing their material in comedy clubs before taking it to theaters, television and streaming services. Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Austin have become important centers for stand-up, with clubs providing stages for both established performers and emerging comedians.
American stand-up covers an enormous range of subjects and styles. Some comedians focus on observational humor and everyday life, while others explore relationships, politics, culture, family, social issues or personal experiences. One of the defining features of the American comedy scene is this variety, with performers often developing highly individual voices and approaches to comedy.
The United States has produced generations of comedians who have become influential figures in stand-up, television, film and popular culture. Names such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers helped shape American comedy for different generations.
More recent American comedians have continued to expand the possibilities of stand-up and comedy entertainment. Performers such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Ali Wong, John Mulaney and many others have built large audiences through live performances, television, film and streaming specials.
GiggleTime makes it possible to explore comedians from different generations and discover performers beyond the most familiar names.
American comedy is much bigger than stand-up. Sketch comedy has played an important role in television, with programs such as Saturday Night Live introducing generations of comedians, writers and performers to huge audiences.
Improvisational comedy is also an important part of the American scene, particularly in cities such as Chicago and New York. Improvisation and sketch groups have provided a pathway for many performers who later moved into television, movies and stand-up.
American sitcoms and comedy films have also had a major impact on popular culture. From classic television comedies to modern streaming productions, American comedians regularly move between live comedy, acting, writing, producing and online entertainment.
Comedy in the United States is not concentrated in a single region. New York City and Los Angeles are major hubs for professional comedians, while Chicago has a particularly strong tradition of improvisational and sketch comedy.
Other cities, including Boston, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle and Nashville, have developed active local comedy communities with clubs, theaters, open-mic nights and independent performers.
This regional diversity means that American comedy can feel very different from one city to another. Local culture, accents, experiences and audiences all influence the material comedians develop on stage.
The way people discover comedians in the USA has changed significantly with the growth of streaming platforms, podcasts, social media and short-form video. A comedian can now build an audience through clips and online performances before appearing on television or performing in major venues.
Podcasts have also become an important part of the American comedy ecosystem, allowing comedians to develop their personalities and connect with audiences outside traditional stand-up performances. Social media has created another route for emerging comedians, particularly those who specialize in short sketches, observations and viral comedy.
Whether you enjoy classic American stand-up, modern comedy specials, sketch comedy, improv, sitcoms or internet humor, there are countless American comedians to discover.
Explore the GiggleTime comedian directory to find comedians from the United States and discover different generations, comedy styles and voices from across the American comedy scene.
