Can You Name These Old-School Comedy Legends?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name These Old-School Comedy Legends?
Image: WikiCommons

About This Quiz

In show business, the hardest thing to do, they say, is to make people laugh. It's easy to tug at heartstrings if you're a performer. Any audience will always relate to dramatic moments when they see it performed onstage, in film and on TV. It's also easy, they say, to pump up the audience's adrenaline by presenting action-packed stories. It's mighty easy to scare the pants off of people, too! Imagine the popularity of horror stories, and their timeless tactics of scaring people.

But comedy? Now that is a totally different planet altogether. They say it's really hard to tickle the funny bone of audiences, because different people respond to different types of humor. What a comedian considers funny might not be so funny to someone else. Some comedy gags or jokes might be offensive to certain groups or sectors. And the thing is, a comedian will not know which is funny, and which is not, to a given audience at a certain time!

Tough, eh? That's the job of a comedian, whether they're performing stand-up, acting in sitcoms, creating comedy movies or something else. That's why you can just imagine how great these old-school legends are, since they became classics in their field, and they became timeless and classic to boot.

So, can you name these very funny men and women from before? Some of them are still active today! Give it a try - and have fun, fun, fun!

George Burns
Wiki Commons by Allan Warren
Can you identify this old-school comedy legend?
W.C. Fields
Leon Errol
George Burns
Talk about a transmedia comedian! George Burns originated in vaudeville, then made his way to radio, then films, and of course TV. He was 100 years old when he left us.
Sylvester Wiere

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Charlie Chaplin
Wiki Commons by P.D Jankens
Do you recognize this old-school comedy legend?
Harpo Marx
Charlie Chaplin
No one does comedy like Charlie Chaplin. He set the standards for many comedic things today.
Chico Marx
Zeppo Marx

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Lucille Ball
Wiki Commons by LA Times
How about this old-school comedy legend?
Amy Poehler
Tina Fey
Beatrice Lille
Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball is undoubtedly the great dame of comedy. Her TV show "I Love Lucy" was such a big hit - and it's still continuing to find audiences in the younger generations.

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Laurel and Hardy
RKO
What about this legendary duo of comedy?
Laurel and Hardy
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make up one of the earliest comedy buddy teams of cinema. Laurel and Hardy delivered the laughs!
Harry and Langdon
Fat and Thin
Cole and Grey

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Phyllis Diller
Wiki Commons by Allan Warren
Do you remember this old-school comedy legend?
Phyllis Diller
Have you heard Phyllis Diller's laughter? Even that is funny, like her antics and jokes.
Kristen Wiig
Ellen DeGeneres
Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Groucho Marx
Wiki Commons by Ralph F. Stitt, Rivoli Theatre
Who is this old-school comedy legend?
Bill Irwin
Bert Lahr
Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx was one of those comedians who had a quick wit. His words were the funniest of 'em all!
Jimmy Savo

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Joan Rivers
David Shankbone via Wiki Commons
Can you name this stylish comedy legend?
Martha Raye
Jane Curtin
Mae West
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers was a pioneer in late-night talk show hosting. But people remember her more for being the original "Fashion Police" host, poking fun at celebs without batting an eyelash!

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Bob Hope
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Can you tell the name of this veteran comedy legend?
Bob Hope
Bob Hope was well-known for making military personnel laugh. Wherever they were stationed, and whatever the battle situation, Bob Hope was there with his comedic acts to really give hope to these service people.
Harold Lloyd
Chic Johnson
Ole Olsen

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Carol Burnett
Wiki Commons
What’s the name of this female comedian?
Carol Burnett
Who could ever forget "The Carol Burnett Show"? The great comedy lady's show lasted for 11 seasons on air!
Imogene Coca
Joan Davis
Charlotte Greenwood

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Jerry Lewis
Wiki Commons by NBC
Can you recognize this old-school comedy legend?
Max Wall
Mantan Moreland
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is undeniably the King of Comedy, and he hosted yearly telethons to help children with muscular dystrophy. He passed away in 2017.
Dusty Fletcher

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Gilda Radner
Wiki Commons by Solters and Roskin
Could you tell who is this old-school comedy legend?
Gilda Radner
Gilda Radner was one of the pioneering cast members of "Saturday Night Live." She succumbed to ovarian cancer at age 42, back in 1989.
Vicki Lawrence
Rita Rudner
Roseanne Barr

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Buster Keaton
Wiki Commons
Can you recognize this man?
Edgar Bergen
Jack Benny
Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton is another comedic genius who made people laugh during the silent film era of Hollywood. He also made a cameo as one of the "Waxworks" card game buddies of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."
Joe E. Brown

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Abbott and Costello
Wiki Commons by NBC
Do you know this duo?
Charles and Keith
Benny and June
Samson and Delilah
Abbot and Costello
"Who's on First?" Definitely Abbot and Costello, in our list of great comedic duos.

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Milton Berlie
Wiki Commons by NBC
What about this one?
Milton Berle
Milton Berle is one of the earliest big TV stars. He was popular during the so-called Golden Age of Television that started in the 1940s.
Eddie Cantor
Michael Palin
Peter Cook

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Jack Lemon
Wiki Commons by United Artist
Can you name this personality?
Billy Gilbert
Stepin Fetchit
Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon is one of the recognizable old-school comedy legends of cinema. He starred with Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot." He also won Oscar awards for his performances, but some of them were dramatic.
Eric Sykes

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Jackie Gleason
Wiki Commons by CBS
Can you identify this comedian?
Chevy Chase
Steve Martin
Spike Milligan
Jackie Gleason
Everybody knows Jackie Gleason as a funnyman. But he was also a musician who had many albums to his name!

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Peter Sellers
Allan warren via Wiki Commons
Do you know this man?
Peter Sellers
When you say Peter Sellers, people remember Inspector Clouseau. He's that clumsily funny detective character in the Pink Panther films.
Eric Idle
Danny Kaye
John Belushi

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Rodney Dangerfield
Wiki Commons by Unknown
Who’s this one?
Zero Mostel
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield is indeed a whiz of one-liners. He made many comedy movies as well. "I don't get no respect!"
Tim Conway
Phil Silvers

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Richard Pryor
Wiki Commons by Alan Light
Can you name this comedian?
Ian Carmichael
Red Skelton
Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor was known for his stand-up humor that also included social issues of the time. Racism was one theme prominent in his jokes.
Ben Turpin

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George Carlin
Wiki Commons by Bonnie
Can you tell the name of this guy?
Sam Kinison
Freddie Prinze
Russell Peters
George Carlin
George Carlin was more of a counterculture kind of comedian. But his humor is also philosophical, in a way.

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Andy Kaufman
Saturday Night Live via YouTube
What’s the name of this one?
Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman was a different kind of comedian. He became popular in the '70s.
Bernie Mac
Garry Shandling
Woody Allen

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Fanny Brice
Wiki Commons by NBC
Do you know this pioneering woman of comedy?
Goldie Hawn
Jane Lynch
Fanny Brice
Fanny Brice is indeed the star of comedy on stage and in radio. Barbra Streisand portrayed her life in the movie musical Funny Girl.
Tracey Ullman

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Don Rickles
Gary Dunaier via Wiki Commons
Do you recognize this man?
Robert Klein
Dick Gregory
Don Rickles
Don Rickles was a regular guest on many late-night talk shows. He was also the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films.
Redd Foxx

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Lily Tomlin
Wiki Commons by Angela George
Could you tell who this woman is?
Jean Stapleton
Doris Roberts
Amy Sedaris
Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin is a very versatile comedian. She has appeared on films, on Broadway, in TV, and now streaming media. "And that's the truth.... pfffft!"

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Jimmy Durante
Wiki Commons by Unknown
Can you recognize this comedian?
Jimmy Durante
Jimmy Durante is known as a versatile performer. He did comedy and made music, too, during the '20s, up until the '70s. "Ha cha cha!
Dick Van Dyke
Robin Williams
Flip Wilson

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Mel Brooks
Wiki Commons by Kennedy Center Honors
How about this really funny man?
Jonathan Winters
Victor Borge
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is undeniably the king of comedy parodies. He also became a director of comedy films.
Billy Wilder

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Sid Caesar
Wiki Commons by Unknown
What about this truly funny legend?
Harry Corbett
Terry-Thomas
Mack Sennett
Sid Caesar
Sid Caesar was a comedian that was advanced for his years. He influenced many other generations of comedians after him.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSqXoFDL-JI
The Hollywood Reporter via YouTube
Who is this funny lady?
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is already in her 90s, but she's still very active as of 2018! Good for her, and good for us who love her style!
Bernadette Peters
Kathy Griffin
Katey Sagal

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Moe, Larry and Curly
Hybrid via YouTube
Can you guess who this is?
Jun, King and Austria
Snap, Crackle and Pop
Moe, Larry and Curly Joe
Moe, Larry and Curly Joe were one incarnation of the group known as The Three Stooges. Their physical slapstick comedy style originated way back in the '20s!
Tito, Vic and Joey

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Mary Tyler Moore
MTM
Take a wild guess! Who’s this lady?
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore is indeed an icon of television. She enhanced the spunky feminist image of a working woman, back when this kind of persona wasn't well-televised yet.
Bette Midler
Rue McClanahan
Diane Keaton

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Bea Arthur
Kennedy Center Honors
Who’s this?
Bea Arthur
Bea Arthur is best remembered for being Dorothy in "The Golden Girls." But she was also an accomplished singer, even performing in Broadway musicals.
Rhea Perlman
Gracie Allen
Megan Mullally

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Redd Foxx
Tandem Productions
Can you name this person?
Lee Evans
Dick Emery
Redd Foxx
Redd Foxx starred in "Sanford and Son" in the '70s. But he was already popular as a comedian who came out with recordings of his act during the '50s and '60s.
Norman Wisdom

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Bob Newhart
Dan Udey via YouTube
What’s the name of this person?
Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart's style of comedic delivery reflects a deadpan style. And that really makes it very funny, for he's good at pulling it off.
Tommy Cooper
Joe DeRita
Bing Crosby

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W.C. Fields
PizzaFlix via YouTube
Do you know this celebrity?
W.C. Fields
W.C. Fields was a Ziegfield Follies veteran. He was also a famous comedian of the silent film era.
Bill Cosby
Charley Chase
Eric Morecambe

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Moms Mabley
First Hand Films
Who do you think is this?
Carol Kane
Shelley Long
Moms Mabley
Moms Mabley was indeed like a mother to many other stand-up comics of her time. She was also very edgy and didn't have a filter in choosing taboo topics for comedic material.
Barbara Eden

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Gene Wilder
YouTube
Can you tell us the name of this legendary funny man?
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder starred in many comedy films in his lifetime. But his Willy Wonka version stuck with many generations, especially when he sang "Pure Imagination."
Hal Roach
Leo Gorcey
Sidney James

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Fatty Arbuckle
Warner Bros.
What about this man from the past?
Charlie Hall
Billy Gilbert
Fatty Arbuckle
Another comedian of the silent film era was Fatty Arbuckle. But a murder accusation overshadowed his work at the end of his career.
James Finlayson

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Betty White
YouTube
Who’s this classy comic lady?
Betty White
We can't seem to detach Betty White's naive Rose persona from "The Golden Girls" whenever we see her act in other roles. But she also had film roles where she was such a fighter, but in a comedic way, still.
Teri Garr
Vivian Vance
Laraine Newman

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Estelle Getty
Alan Light via Wiki Commons
And this truly funny person is…
Penny Marshall
Fran Drescher
Estelle Getty
Estelle Getty was hilarious in her "The Golden Girls" role of Sophia, mother of Dorothy. She won awards for her television work.
Sandra Bernhard

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Madeline Kahn
Gruskoff/Venture Films
What’s the name of this old-school comedy legend?
Madeline Kahn
Madeline Kahn was a frequent collaborator of Mel Brooks in his films. She was Elizabeth in "Young Frankenstein." She had a healthy film, TV and theater career before succumbing to ovarian cancer in 1999.
Nora Dunn
Carole Lombard
Jamie Lee Curtis

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