10 Funniest Black Comedians Ever

Richard Pryor Known for his bold, insightful examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, Pryor also was famous for his use of colorful vulgarities, profanity—and the N-word. Jerry Seinfeld called Pryor "The Picasso" of American comedians. Bernie Mac Bernard Jeffrey McCullough was revered for his uproarious stand-up routine. He was part of the Kings of Comedy tour and movie and, in 2001, he starred in an influential sitcom on Fox that was a fictional version of his own life. Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle staked his claim to fame through his sketch comedy series, The Chapelle Show, which became a cultural touchstone for the nation. He walked away at the height of his success, which deepened his mystique. Eddie Murphy Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy for a time was the king of the comedy world as a stand-up artist, a sketch comedy maestro, a movie star, a voice-over king, even a singer. His movies have grossed $6.6 billion worldwide and some of his jokes have entered the Black lexicon. Bill Cosby Perhaps never has an entertainer fallen so far. But before he was suspected of being America's most famous serial rapist, William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. may well have been the most famous Black male entertainer of all time. His stand-up routines molded several generations of comedians, and his incredible success on the medium of television changed the game for Black actors and entertainers. Martin Lawrence During the six years that he starred in his own show, "Martin," Martin Fitzgerald Lawrence influenced the way African-Americans talked to each other, joked with each other, even danced with each other. His stand-up concerts, coming after the success of Pryor and Murphy, were big events in the Black community. Chris Rock Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III, voted as the fifth greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central, shines bright over the comedic landscape, celebrated for not only his wit but his cutting and brilliant social commentary. Moms Mabley At one time billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World," the ribald Loretta Mary Aiken was a groundbreaking performer at a time when African-Americans were relegated to the "Chitlin' Circuit." The story goes that she took her stage name, Jackie Mabley, from an early boyfriend, telling an interviewer that he'd taken so much from her, it was the least she could do to take his name. One of the top women doing stand-up in her heyday, she eventually recorded more than 20 albums of comedy routines and also appeared in movies and on television, including her multiple appearances on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," one of the most popular shows in the 1960s. Whoopi Goldberg Born Caryn Elaine Johnson, much of her fame has come from her influential movie roles, in such films as The Color Purple and Ghost, for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award. At one point in the 90s she was rumored to be the highest paid actress in Hollywood. But her film success shouldn't detract from her brilliance as a stand-up comedian. She is one of the few entertainers to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Redd Foxx Before the success of "Sanford and Son," John Elroy Sanford was one of the most successful Black stand-up comedians of all time, with a string of highly successful (and explicit) comedy albums—more than 50 of them. He stepped into the homes of America through the comic antics of Fred Sanford (which was his older brother's name), on his highly successful sitcom. Foxx had many running gags on the show, such as faking a heart attack. When he died of a heart attack in 1991 on the set of his sitcom "The Royal Family," this is what Joshua Rich wrote in Entertainment Weekly: "It was an end so ironic that for a brief moment cast mates figured Foxx—whose 70s TV character often faked heart attacks—was kidding when he grabbed a chair and fell to the floor."

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