Discover the best comedians in classic cinema whose unforgettable humor and performances brought laughter and defined generations of film lovers.
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Comedy comes from the Latin word “comoedia”, which represented humorous situations within a play. Often used to entertain the audience, making them feel at ease , it may or may not be accompanied by dialogues or comical situations. In 1896, we already saw characteristics of the genre in L’arroseur Arrosé (The Watering Can), by the Lumière Brothers , considered the first comedy. With the first filmmakers, we had the so-called slapstick comedy , with chases and unexpected situations.
Charles Chaplin managed to improve by bringing his experience in London theaters to the screen, with gags that made audiences laugh out loud. From this period, we cannot ignore the performances of Max Linder (considered by Chaplin to be his master), the Keystone Cops (a group of bumbling police officers that Mack Sennett brought to the screen), Harry Langdon and Roscoe Arbuckle. Over time, comedies evolved into other subgenres, such as action comedies, romantic comedies and slapstick .
Here we have made a selection of those masters who have stood out throughout time . We have tried to separate those who have dedicated their careers to the genre.
Buster Keaton: Starting his career in childhood, he brought his circus experience to his comedies, always marked by his physical involvement.Charles Chaplin: Considered a master, he insisted on having complete control over his films, from creation to soundtrack.
Harold Lloyd: His character was elegant and represented the average American always in confrontation with urbanization
Laurel & Hardy: How can we forget the most beloved duo? Laurel traveled to the United States with the same company that employed Chaplin and there joined Hardy, forming one of the most popular duos in cinema.
Jerry Lewis: Jerry began his career alongside his great companion, Dean Martin, and then pursued a solo career, achieving enormous success with his family comedies.Mario Moreno: Better known as Cantinflas, he had among his great fans Charles Chaplin, who considered him the greatest comedian of all time. The Mexican also achieved success in America.The Marx Brothers: Formed by brothers Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo, they replicated on screen the success they already had in theater, becoming one of the most beloved groups by the public.Abbott and Costello: The duo became unforgettable for performances both in cinema and on television. The most famous gag of the duo was the phrase “Who’s on First?”The Three Stooges: Moe, Larry, and Curley, known in Brazil as Os Três Patetas, were active from 1922 to 1970 with their shorts and feature films. Their comedies were characterized by farce and slapstick.
Lucille Ball: Having gone through various genres, she ended up achieving enormous success as a comedian in sitcoms like I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy, and Life with Lucy.Amácio Mazzaropi: The Brazilian stood out in comedies set in the countryside, and his character inspired by Jeca Tatu captivated a loyal audience that followed his career over decades.Peter Sellers: Both in comedy and drama, the Englishman brought as his greatest characteristic the ability to play multiple characters in the same film.Don Adams: Adams became known for his character in the American series Get Smart. With his character Maxwell Smart, the clumsy Agent 86, he received numerous awards.W. C. Fields: The American became one of the most inventive creators of burlesque comedy, and his character was known for his intense bad temper.
Dercy Gonçalves: The greatest Brazilian comedienne actively participated in film productions in the 1950s and 1960s. With her good humor and profanity, she became one of the biggest stars of Brazilian theater and cinema.Roberto Gómez Bolaños: How can we forget the sweet Chaves and the hero Chapolin Colorado? With quite innocent comedy and a character inspired by Chaplin’s Little Tramp, he still enchants many fans today.
Leslie Nielsen: Born in Canada, he began his career as a leading man but stood out in outrageous comedies that made him unforgettable.
Rowan Atkinson: Mr. Bean definitely entered the list of the most comedic characters in cinema. Mr. Bean gave name to a TV series that began airing in 1990 and lasted five years.
Writer, traveler and above all, curious about many subjects. She has studied cinema since 2002 and is a Specialist in Cinematographic Studies from UNICAP. Founder of the blog Purviance and the website Cinemaclássico. She loves Charles Chaplin, Raj Kapoor and constantly browses films from all over the world.
