The world of comedy has had countless influential black comedians that have helped shape the art of stand-up. Many of these groundbreaking comedians have broken the mold to make us laugh. Let’s take a look at the top 5 most famous black stand-up comedians.
5. Wanda Sykes
Brash and unapologetic, Wanda Sykes began her career in stand-up comedy in the late ’80s. She went on to star in her own television show as well as many other TV shows and movies. Sykes began to hit it big when she started opening for Chris Rock, another comedian on this list. Her friendship with Rock led her to write and star in his production, The Chris Rock Show, in the late ’90s. She was also a running character on Curb Your Enthusiasm and had small roles in major films like Evan Almighty. Sykes lent her unique voice to numerous cartoons and live animation films as well.
4. Chris Rock
Known for his comedic take on life and being a black man, Chris Rock has been a staple in the comedy clubs for decades. Another comedian that made his start on Saturday Night Live, Rock moved into movies and television but still kept a steady stand-up routine throughout the years. He had a hit sitcom and HBO specials, which both garnered praise from the media and audiences alike. He still sells out venues everywhere and keeps his comedy fresh and relevant.
3. Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy was already a household name in 1987 when he performed Raw, a raunchy stand-up piece of comedy gold that made him a worldwide phenomenon. Having already shown his acting and comedic chops on Saturday Night Live as well as major motion pictures like Trading Places and the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy, Murphy continued his way to movie stardom with more box office hits such as The Nutty Professor and Dr. Dolittle. Murphy also lent his voice to the wildly popular Shrek franchise as the lovable donkey. Not having been on the stage for a while, Murphy will soon be bringing back his stand-up comedy to a Netflix special.
2. Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle’s sudden rise to stardom, followed by a just as sudden fall from grace, has been well documented. After being offered a rather hefty sum of money to continue his show Chappelle’s Show, he disappeared from mainstream media to take care of himself. He has, however, made a comeback over the last few years in a significant way, returning to his roots with hilarious stand-up comedy. He has also done numerous Netflix specials featuring his stand-up which have been instant hits.
- Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor’s comedy was groundbreaking in the ’70s and ’80s. Like many other stand-up comedians, he also had a long and profitable career in film. Pryor had a rough childhood growing up and took to movies and comedy as a way to focus his energy elsewhere. This proved to be his golden ticket as he became a huge success by bringing the forces that caused him pain to light and joking about what many people at the time considered taboo. Pryor’s comedy paved the way for many future comedians and laid the groundwork for the comedy films we see today.
These famous stand-up comedians have shaped the comedy landscape into what it is today. Being courageous enough to bring up issues that no one wanted to talk about and putting a comedic flair about them has made these the five most famous black stand-up comedians.