16. Sarah Silverman

Delivering risque jokes in deadpan fashion is all part of Sarah Silverman’s act. The stand-up comedian addresses many things considered taboo in her stand-up routines and is known for making audiences confront their prejudices. Like many modern day comedians, she has also crossed over into the world of movies and television. She had her own show, The Sarah Silverman Program, on Comedy Central and starred in a number of high-profile movies and series. While her comedy often crosses the line, Silverman manages to keep audiences onside with her girl next door appearance and innocent personality. 

17. Rodney Dangerfield

“I don’t get no respect.” This is the catchphrase that helped propel Rodney Dangerfield into comedy greatness during the 60s and 70s. Beginning his career in New York, he soon found himself headlining Las Vegas and appearing on all the big talk shows. His self-deprecating humor often centered on hilarious one-liners, such as “A girl phoned me the other day and said… ‘Come on over, there’s nobody home.’ I went over. Nobody was home.” In the 80s he found himself a movie star, featuring in hits Caddyshack, Back to School, and Easy Money. He continued to tour, release comedy albums, cameo in films, and appear on talk shows right up until his death in 2004 at the ripe old age of 82. 

18. Mitch Hedberg

Another talent taken too soon. Mitch Hedberg was a surrealist comic who died of a drug overdose in 2005 at the age of 37. While his career was short, he created a legacy that remains today. His mixture of storytelling, one-liners, and absurd tangents created a cult following. A recurring theme with his stand-up was people yelling out the punch lines to his jokes before he finished them. He would also famously acknowledge a joke was terrible if it fell flat, which often drew much laughter. Strangely for a comic, he suffered from stage fright and would often wear sunglasses while on stage and refrain from looking at the crowd.