My favorite would have to be Rodney Dangerfield.

George Carlin, Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, and Steve Martin are my favorites as well.

Eddie Murphy, remember Delirious, very funny ;D
Andrew Dice was ok but his routine got old really fast

Eddie Murphy is also another one of my favorite comedians from the 80's.

Eddie Murphy!!! Very funny!

Tanya

Other: Robin Williams





Cat

My favorite 80's comedian was an English guy named Lenny Henry. He had his own show and it was really funny.

I picked Murphy. I lot of the locals liked Kinison because he was on The Bob and Tom Show a lot, but I never really got him. :-\\

Eddie Murphy out of that group, but Robin Williams, as well as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg were all great as well.

Billy Crystal is also one of my favorite comedians.

Rodney Dangerfield

Sam Kinison

Bill Murray and Dan Aykord

I liked Sam Kinison - my favorite bit of his was when he was on the Tonight Show and did a hilarious take on Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - the part where Elvis would lament about his girl leaving him, that's where Kinison did his infamous screaming routine - "You lied to me. You said you loved me.  AH AH!"

April of 1992 was a sad month for comedy - Sam Kinison and Benny Hill died within two weeks of each other.  Benny Hill is another favorite of mine as well.

Eddie Murphy is the most iconic 80s comedian.  Young, hip, razor sharp quick with his wit.  The guy was very 80s.  We all remember his Mr. T joke...."Hey boy, hey boy, you look mighty cute in them jeans".  The bad thing is that Eddie Murphy's loud mouthed Black guy routine got old really fast.  I remember by 1987 in Beverly Hills Cop II his act was really starting to get tired.

Steve Martin and Billy Murray were the most quality comedians of the 80s though.

Bill Murray is also one of my favorites especially in Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. John Candy and Monty Python are also my  favorites too.

Bobcat Goldthwaite is incredibly underrated.  His signature turn-of-phrase is not only original but very funny.  I saw him some years ago on the Larry Sanders Show and I was in stitches.  He had a little pot belly and looked a little older but was still as irreverant and inane as ever.

Bobcat Goldthwaite is very funny, especially in the film Shakes The Clown.

http://shakes.ihateclowns.com/graphics/shakesbanner.jpg

I had to go with Eddie Murphy cuz his funniest work came out in the 80s, but he lost his edge(I guess you'd call it) somewhere during that time and the present, he just isn't the same kind of funny anymore....except if we might be talking about Donkey, then you see it hasn't totally gone away! IMO....

Bill Murray came in second barely, he is probably one of my absolute favorite comedians of all time, any movie he is in is an automatic favorite of mine!!

Rio

Most British comedians - male and female :)

Who was that Jewish comedian that died in the late 80's/early 90's? He was a little pudgy, had curly reddish hair, I think a mustache, and usually wore sweaters. His bit was usually about family life. I really liked him but can't remember his name. He died of cancer.

Who was that Jewish comedian that died in the late 80's/early 90's? He was a little pudgy, had curly reddish hair, I think a mustache, and usually wore sweaters. His bit was usually about family life. I really liked him but can't remember his name. He died of cancer.


Are you talking about Gallagher?

I remember this one comedian who was popular in the late 80's/early 90's - Bruce something or other (can't remember his last name), but the thing I distinctly remember about him is that he looks exactly like David Crosby.  I think I saw him on Full House a couple of times.

Kevin Bloody Wilson -dirty old bastard, but he still cracks me up! ;D

"If you say you don't wank, you're a liar!
And a fool if you say that you do.
So next time you see Prince Charles on TV,
Remember he's wanked himself too!"

can anyone tell me who the comedian was that used to talk real slow and never smiled. funny guy! any help? long hair, white guy.

can anyone tell me who the comedian was that used to talk real slow and never smiled. funny guy! any help? long hair, white guy.
Steven Wright?

I chose Eddie Murphy. I think he's wasting his talent doing these "family comedies" and I wish he'd go back to doing stand up. (I thought he was really funny in "Bowfinger" though...)

Steven Wright?


I think so...

"If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?"  ;D

http://www.weta.org/static/pressroom/onstage/newhart/images/swright_400x600.jpg

Steven Wright is not dead though.

http://www.weta.org/static/pressroom/onstage/newhart/images/swright_400x600.jpg

Steven Wright is not dead though.
He was also the radio announcer on "K-Billy...where the 70's survived" in Reservoir Dogs.

I saw Delirious when I was 11 and I almost died from laughing so hard, so I choose Eddie Murphy. His music career was PURE COMEDY as well. also I'd like to add....anyone but Yakhov Shmirnov.

After exhaustive googling I found the name of that comedian. It is Dennis Wolfberg. I totally forgot that he was also in Quantum Leap. He died in 1994. After finding out he had cancer he kept on working, even had talked to a TV network about a show. I really miss him. He didn't use race or sex or anger to try to be funny, instead he used life.

Quote from: Skippy on December 06, 2004, 07:33:58 PM
Who was that Jewish comedian that died in the late 80's/early 90's? He was a little pudgy, had curly reddish hair, I think a mustache, and usually wore sweaters. His bit was usually about family life. I really liked him but can't remember his name. He died of cancer.


Are you talking about Gallagher?



Can't be Gallagher because I just saw a commercial two weeks ago on TV that he was going to be performing at some riverboat casino near Seattle.

Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox

Eddie Murphy

Rodney Dangerfield


Howard

i am lookin for a old comedian idk his name but the did a bit bout him playin music and his nabior knocked on the wall he said"GO AROUND I DONT HAVE A DOOR ON THIS SIDE" it was funny they play him on sattlite radion on the comedy station?????? any clues

BILL HICKS Without a doubt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg2_MntkMzg
warning very adult content

Stereotypical 80's comedian - Aging yuppy talking complaining about their relationships and therapist.


If Bill Hicks is stereotypical it is because he has been copied so much' Heres an example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8JLPz46VU

You decide

My post wasn't in reply to yours, just a general comment to the thread itself.


Okay my bad, but its true

Obviously everyone here has lived under a rock for a while as there has been a guy out there for over 35 years doing better than anyone else. If you DO have a sense of humour this is the A list:
1. Billy Connolly, 2. Robin Williams, 3. Richard Pryor, 4. Eddie Murphy (only cause he was a Richard Pryor wannabe), 5. Pick your own as every comedian has at least one good Joke like Kinison, Hicks, Dangerfield, "dice"Clay, the list goes on.....and on

Eddie Murphy was awesome until he started making really mean AIDS jokes.  He had such genius but once he got free from the constraints of SNL, he just turned into a pile of cocaine and movie star ego.

I voted other: Emo Phillips.

Other favorites:

Steven Wright
Martin Short
Billy Crystal
Bob "Bobcat" Goldthwaite
Jerry Seinfeld
Dana Carvey
Mike Myers

Who was that Jewish comedian that died in the late 80's/early 90's? He was a little pudgy, had curly reddish hair, I think a mustache, and usually wore sweaters. His bit was usually about family life. I really liked him but can't remember his name. He died of cancer.


Dennis Wolfberg

you left out robin williams and steve martin!  bill murry?  dan akroyd?

  Richard Pryor.  I'd have to add "Here and Now" and "Live on the Sunset Strip" to the "Songs I Was Afraid to Play in Front of My Parents" category...

  I was giddy with delight listening to Pryor cuss like a longshoreman...

  I remember watching a Robin Williams concert on TV, in 1984, which had me ROTFLMFAO.  Can't remember which one it was...

Robin Williams. I saw a TV special of his (around 1979 or so) and I never laughed so hard. He's nuts.

But a guy who's even more nuts:  Steven Wright with his deadpan delivery. Love that guy.

George Carlin, not bad either.

George Carlin, not bad either.
   

Frank, this man is the god of comedy.  Bow before him... ;D

 

Frank, this man is the god of comedy.  Bow before him... ;D

if not the god, at least the court jester.
The 7 words.... :o
His routine on comparisons between Football & baseball. Classic.

Robin Williams. I saw a TV special of his (around 1979 or so) and I never laughed so hard. He's nuts.

But a guy who's even more nuts:  Steven Wright with his deadpan delivery. Love that guy.

George Carlin, not bad either.



I can't believe anyone else would say Steven Wright!  I used to laugh til I cried at him! We saw him live once and I laughed about it for a week after!


I did also like Eddie Murphy Raw.  When he would talk about is Dad working at the Toy factory and they were so poor they had to eat the toys!!!

What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound?
A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing! Everyone knows it's Slinky.
It's Slinky, it's Slinky. For fun it's a wonderful toy.
It's Slinky, it's Slinky. It's fun for a girl or a boy.
It's fun for a girl or a boy.

I can't believe anyone else would say Steven Wright!  I used to laugh til I cried at him! We saw him live once and I laughed about it for a week after!


Steven Wright is insane and hilarious. I have a tape of his I have listened to 100 times and still laugh my head off each time. My wife thinks I'm nuts.

I didn't really have a "favorite", per se, but of the choices listed, I would have to go with Eddie Murphy, since I have seen some of his early SNL stuff, including the commercial parody for his "Buckwheat" music album. :D

Who was that Jewish comedian that died in the late 80's/early 90's? He was a little pudgy, had curly reddish hair, I think a mustache, and usually wore sweaters. His bit was usually about family life. I really liked him but can't remember his name. He died of cancer.


I believe I know who you are talking about, but I do not know his name either.  He started as a school teacher and went into comedy.  He had eyes that popped.  Did anyone ever come up with his name? 

Renee

I believe I know who you are talking about, but I do not know his name either.  He started as a school teacher and went into comedy.  He had eyes that popped.  Did anyone ever come up with his name? 

Renee

Your answer is DENNIS WOLFBERG...(He died from melanoma)...

The comedian you are thinking of is Sam Levenson. He was a NY teacher who became a comedian. He was quiet and softspoken but really funny.

Eddie Murphy.

Saw A Comic Dress Up Punkish In The 80's And Play A Tennis Racquet Like A Guitar To Pre Re-Corded Music.. Think It Was An HBO Stand Up... Talked About His Drunk Friends Always Mouthing Of To The Cops From The Back Seat Of The Car...
Anyone Remember The Show & Who He Is???

Saw A Comic Dress Up Punkish In The 80's And Play A Tennis Racquet Like A Guitar To Pre Re-Corded Music.. Think It Was An HBO Stand Up... Talked About His Drunk Friends Always Mouthing Of To The Cops From The Back Seat Of The Car...
Anyone Remember The Show & Who He Is???

  comedian that used to do this bit with a tennis racket and a boom box. he would turn on the boom box and then pretend the tennis racket was a guitar. He would tune it and then play (air guitar sorta thing) Anyone Know??

John Candy.

John Candy.


Candy was a great comic actor, but I don't recall him doing stand-up.  He probably did some stand-up early in his career.

Candy was a great comic actor, but I don't recall him doing stand-up.  He probably did some stand-up early in his career.


I think on CTV.

I think on CTV.


Yep, he was Canadian.  He was on Second City Television along with Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, and so many other greats from the era.

Yep, he was Canadian.  He was on Second City Television along with Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, and so many other greats from the era.


and a lot of films.

Not sure if this was an 80's comedian or 90's, although I think I saw her in the 90's.  There was a white female comedian that I *think* her name was Caren/Karen (but I could be wrong on that) and a couple of jokes she told included:

- At a party a guy walked up to her and told her that he wanted her to have his child and so he gave her his child (instead of becoming romantically involved with her)

- A gypsy woman walked up to her one time and said something like "(Caren) you're going to live a long and lonely life" and she would respond with, "Mom leave me alone!" (I put the name Caren like that because I'm not sure if that's the her name)

Any ideas?

My favourite film 80s comedians are Bill Murray (though my favourite Bill Murray film Groundhog Day was made in 1993), the pairing of Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder and also John Candy.

My favourite 80s stand-up comedians are Steve Wright, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison and Les Dawson (not sure I would class him as stand-up but nevermind, lol)

My favourite miscellaneous comedians are Who's line is it anyway?'s Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie - these two are incredible (not sure if they are 1980s but they definitely deserve a mention anyway, lol).

Jerry Seinfeld
George Carlin
Eddie Murphy

Richard Pryor, George Carlin ( although they predate the 80s)
Jerry Seinfeld doing stand up was good.
Steven Wright, Robin Williams, they were unique.

I have to say. I liked a lot of the comedians back then, and watched many an HBO special in the 80's.
Eddie Murphy Delirious was by far my favorite stand up act at the time. I don't know how it's held up over time. I haven't watched it in many years.
Some old 80's comedians I listened to later on in life and found their acts to be pretty lame at best, so maybe I'm afraid of that happening with Delirious.
I will say a few years later we went to see Raw in the theater and didn't like it very well so I don't know that I could say Eddie Murphy was my favorite comedian of the 80's.
Maybe just for a couple years in the early 80's  8)

Some other stand up acts I recall liking a lot.

Howie Mandel
Steven Wright
Louie Anderson

Also does anyone else remember Stephen Banks? His Showtime special was hilarious! We probably watched it a dozen times in the late 80's. Very talented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcVb3u22DWc

Also does anyone else remember Stephen Banks? His Showtime special was hilarious! We probably watched it a dozen times in the late 80's. Very talented.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcVb3u22DWc


That's pretty good, moycon. The structure of Stephen Banks's comedy reminds me of Tony Hancock's last comedy series called 'Hancock' from the 1960s - minus the music, lol.

Gallagher (Sledge-O-Matic)!

i say my favorite comedians of the 80s are andrew dice claw sam kinison and eddie murphy to bad kinison died >:(

Gallagher (Sledge-O-Matic)!


Yes!

George Carlin

I had to create a post to leave a reply because I watched all these great comedians growing up my teen years.
There are a few names I have not really seen mentioned and I thought they needed mentioning.

1. Bill Hicks. He was up there with George Carlin in terms of a thinking man's comedian, which are two of my personal favorite comedians of all time.
2. Richard Pryor. I think one or two people mentioned him in the comments I saw but he deserves more than that.
3. Joan Rivers. Comedic pioneer for women. She set the bar high for other female comedians and she is still going at it.
4. Richard Jeni. Playtpus Man is right up there with Eddie Murphy's Delirious and Raw.
5. Robin Williams. Again, he may have been mentioned once in the comments I saw and deserves another mention, or two.
6. Whoopi Goldberg. She might not be as funny on The View today, but she was pretty damn funny in the 80's.
7. Bobcat Goldwaith. Whoopi's sidekick in many 80's films, Bobcat was pretty funny if can handle the screaming schtick, and Shakes the Clown was 10 years ahead of its time.
8. Sam Kenison. The other screaming comedian from the 80's and a fellow outlaw comedian of Bill Hicks. He was the king of comedy in his day.
9. Roseanne Barr. Before her #1 hit show Roseanne that still gets massive syndication Roseanne was a great stand up comedian.
10. Ellen Degeneres. Before her #1 hit show Ellen was a very funny stand up comedian.
11. Rita Rudner. Funny jokes and I loved her delivery.
12. Paula Poundstone. Before her career was derailed by alcohol she was considered the top female comedian.
13. Judy Tenuta. Another one of those if her act did not annoy you then there was a good chance you thought she was funny.
14. Gilda Radner. Not a stand up comedian per se, but she was magnificent on SNL in its golden years and it was sad day when she died.
15. Elaine Boosler. One last female comedians of the 80' worthy of mentioning.
16. Howie Mandel. Not everyone's cup of tea but he did have his fans, and I for one will admit that I happen to like Walk Like a Man.

Those are 16 just off the top of my head, and I know I am forgetting another half dozen or so that are at least that are worthy of mentioning.
(PS the verification letters in this forum are all but impossible to read)