Best Improv Comedians Of All Time: Rank and Awards

Exploring the realm of improvisational comedy reveals the genius of quick thinking and creativity. This guide highlights the best improv comedians, showcasing their unparalleled ability to entertain and amuse.

Quick Look

FACT	DETAIL	AWARD
Rank	Name	Award
1	Colin Mochrie	Gemini Award
2	Ryan Stiles	Primetime Emmy Nomination
3	Wayne Brady	Daytime Emmy Awards
4	Matt Donnelly	N/A
5	John Candy	Primetime Emmy Award
6	Chris Farley	MTV Movie Award
7	Steve Carell	Golden Globe Award
8	Will Ferrell	Primetime Emmy Awards
9	Martin Short	Tony Award
10	Amy Poehler	Golden Globe Award

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Now, let’s take a closer look at these stars with Rachel Parris, who make thinking on your feet seem like child’s play.

Colin Mochrie

From the Scottish stages to the global spotlight, Colin Mochrie has become synonymous with improv comedy. With his quick wit and unmatched ability to adapt, Mochrie has left audiences in stitches on both the British and US versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Awards? Yep, he’s got them, including a coveted Gemini.

Ryan Stiles

Tall, unmistakable, and hilariously unpredictable, Ryan Stiles has been a pillar of improv comedy, starring alongside Mochrie in Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Stiles brings a unique charm and a knack for physical comedy, earning him a Primetime Emmy nod along the way.

Wayne Brady

Wayne Brady isn’t just an improv comedian; he’s a showman. With a talent for singing, acting, and making people laugh, Brady has turned Whose Line Is It Anyway?into his personal playground, bagging multiple Daytime Emmys for his efforts.

Matt Donnelly

Perhaps less known than some of his counterparts, Matt Donnelly brings a magical twist to improv comedy. Literally. Hailing from the vibrant streets of Las Vegas, Donnelly combines comedy and magic, proving that laughter truly is the best spell.

John Candy

The late, great John Candy was a treasure of comedy, known for his heartwarming presence and impeccable timing. While his time with us was cut short, Candy’s contributions to sketch and Improvisational theatre, especially with the Second City, have left an indelible mark.

Chris Farley

Chris Farley was a force of nature, whose boundless energy and fearless physical comedy endeared him to millions. Though his career was tragically brief, Farley’s performances, including his improv work, continue to inspire laughter and joy.

Steve Carell

Before he was declaring bankruptcy in The Office or transforming into a supervillain in Despicable Me, Steve Carell was honing his craft in Improvisational theatre. Carell’s versatility and comedic timing have earned him accolades across the board, including a Golden Globe.

Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell has become a household name, thanks to his unforgettable characters and fearless comedy. His improv roots have served him well, leading to multiple Emmy wins and a career that spans film, television, and even Broadway.

Martin Short

Martin Short, with his infectious energy and undeniable talent, has been making people laugh for decades. His work in sketch comedy and performs at Improvisational theatre has earned him both Emmy and Tony Awards, making him comedy royalty.

Amy Poehler

Last but certainly not least, Amy Poehler. Co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, Poehler has used her improv skills to carve out a space in comedy that’s both hilarious and heartwarming.

Her work on Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreationhas earned her a well-deserved Golden Globe.

Conclusion

The brilliance of the best improv comedians lies in their spontaneity and wit. Their mastery of the craft offers endless laughter and proves why they are celebrated figures in comedy.

Let’s discover other improv comedians around the world:

Orlando Leyba
Brian Monarch
Dave Merheje
Krystyna Hutchinson
Robert Hayes
Ms. Pat
Jack Assadourian Jr.
Seaton Smith
Brian Moses
Rex Smith
Nikki Bon
Vlad Caamano
Gavin Matts
Stavros Halkias
Aaron Chen
George Ferido
Gena B Jones
Nick Colletti
Brittany Furlan
Renee Percy
Charles Greaves
Bryson Banks
Josh Adam Meyers
Katie Kusiciel
Angelo Lozada
Anthony Rodia
Kurtis Conner
Julie Friedman Steele
D. J. Demers
Jennifer Arundale
Tony Baker
Rachel Abrahams
Amanda Seales
Edson Zuniga
Rene Vaca
Laganja Estranja
Pedro Rivera
Michael Longfellow
Mitch Burrow
Ryan Long
Zach Noe Towers
Hannah Berner
Shuler King
Edgar Vivar
Nimesh Patel
Rocky Dale Davis
Orion Levine
Cathy Ladman
Ben Brainard
Eliza Skinner
Brent Pella
Candice Thompson
Josh Edelman
Chelcie Lynn
Andrew Yang
Mario Hodge
Hannah Brown
Yesh Malik
Lisa Ann Walter
Haha Davis
Sherry Cola
Ryan Koo
Yamaneika Saunders
Vince Carone
Aristotle Athari
Negin Farsad
Molly Kearney
Dauood Naimyar
Keith Pedro
Eduardo Decolosio
Joe Gatto
Sam Morrison
Cameron Mathison
Frankie Quinones
Julie Kim
Jordan Jensen
Katherine Blanford
Victoria Garrick Browne
Myra J
Bo Dacious
Mope Williams
Jesus Sepulveda
Kevin James Thornton
Ralph Barbosa
Kev Herrera
Masood Boomgaard
Benedict Polizzi
Colum Tyrrell
Curtis Chase
Elisabeth Wykert
Tina Friml
Noah Copfer
Torio Van Grol
Jay Jurden
Nicole Majdali
Alyssa Edwards
Jake Shane
Jennie Mcnulty
Stef Dag
David Nihill
Chase Durousseau
Joe Sib
James Adomian
Jonathan Butler
Alex Bugnon
Flula
Rudy Moreno
Nick Di Paolo
Mark Curry
Bill Bellamy
Flip Orley
John Witherspoon
Guy Torry
Dat Phan
John Heffron
Joe Avati
Hal Sparks
Clint Coley
Ian Bagg
Steve Trevino
Ben Bailey
Esau Mcgraw
Kevin Bozeman
Michael Blackson
Mo Mandel
Chris Fairbanks
Michael Palascak
Bret Ernst
Joe Wong
Mark Viera
Kevin Camia
Jason Stuart
Jessica Kirson
Caitlin Gill
Jerry Rocha
Emily Heller
Liz Miele
Samuel J. Comroe
Ron G
Sean Patton
Colin Kane
Cocoa Brown
Christina P
Kristin Key
Matt Fulchiron
Sam Morril
Shawn Pelofsky
Dustin Ybarra
Gerald Kelly
K-Von
Steve Simeone
Kt Tatara
Timothy Delaghetto
Chris Millhouse
Maurice Benard
Brandon Vestal
Melissa Villasenor
Joey Villagomez
Ongina
Dave Smith
Kyle Grooms
Brett Riley
Phil Hanley
Frazer Smith
Rojo Perez
Brian Scolaro
Brooks Wheelan
Brandie Posey
Quinn Dahle
Clayton English
Gina Brillon
Michael Quu
Vince Royale
Sherri Shepherd
Joe Dosch
Mark Calabrese
Olan Rogers
Paula Bel
Chaunte Wayans
Noah Findling
Chinedu Unaka
Fielding Edlow
Ken Garr
Becky Robinson
Alex Edelman
Jade Catta-Preta
Atsuko Okatsuka
Mav Viola
Morgan Jay
Preacher Lawson
Rick Glassman
Jamar Neighbors
Zachary Levi
Val Kilmer
Drew Lynch
Akaash Singh
Jamie Loftus
James Veitch
Tahir Moore
Dj Demers
Brett Goldstein
Trevor Wallace
Donnivin Jordan
Pat Mcgann
Sierra Katow
Bob Wiltfong
Brendan Schaub
Brandon Rogers
Nigel Ng
King Bach
Jenna Ushkowitz
Jason Mewes
Wendi Mclendon-Covey
Mekki Leeper
Ed Asner
Sal Vulcano
Jeremy Piven
Pardis Parker
Dusty Slay
Nolan Gould
Tiff Stevenson
Ayo Edebiri
Benito Skinner
Jp Sears
Fran Drescher
Esther Povitsky
Robyn Schall
Randy Feltface
Leanne Morgan
Robby Hoffman
Ryan Niemiller
Ross Mathews
Jon Huck
Adrienne Iapalucci
Josh Johnson
Sam Jay
Janelle James
Hannah Einbinder
Shayne Smith
Pallavi Gunalan
Matt Rogers
Barry Brewer
Andy Steinberg
Patrick Warburton
Jared Freid
Blake Bartee
John Melendez
Lala Kent
Casey Frey
Jourdain Fisher
Alyssa Limperis
Chastity Washington
Sheng Wang
Gianmarco Soresi
Aj Wilkerson
Che Durena
Violet Benson
Nick Mullen
Mo Amer
Vladimir Caamano
Marcello Hernandez
Bretman Rock
Cassie Dang
Sam Tallent
Anisha Ram
Peter Antoniou
Faizon Love
Michelle Rodriguez
Beverly D’Angelo
Brandon T. Jackson
Mike Muratore
J. Chris Newberg
Cipha Sounds
Shang Forbes
Marsha Warfield
Damon Williams
Joe Torry
Killer Beaz
Arnez J
Jeff Garcia
Greg Hahn
Larry Reeb
Alex Thomas
Kevin Smith
Jeff Ross
Jeremy Hotz
Ryan Hamilton
Tom Cotter
Joe Devito
Rocky Laporte
Mike Marino
Tom Arnold
Steph Tolev
Greg Wilson
Antonio Sanint
Eleanor Kerrigan
Dax Jordan
Brett Gelman
Chris Franjola
Marcella Arguello
Francisco Ramos
Adam Devine
Ocean Glapion
Alice Wetterlund
Langston Kerman
Skyler Stone
Tone Bell
Aida Rodriguez
Guy Branum
Adam Conover
Justine Marino
Mal Hall
Sandy Danto
The Lucas Brothers
Alex Hooper
Kerry Coddett
Helen Hong
Kat Radley
Laroyce Hawkins
Chris Kattan
Stephen Kramer Glickman
Mike Cano
Stoner Rob
Halli Borgfjord
Ryan Sickler
Dean Delray
Daniel Eachus
Larry Beyah
Eric Schwartz
Matty Goldberg
Avery Pearson
Hunter Hill
Christine Little
Nicole Byer
Jon Rudnitsky
Brian Redban
Jackie Monahan
Jenny Johnson
Joe Praino
Joe Sinclitico
Erica Rhodes
Niccole Thurman
Logan Guntzelman
Valerie Tosi
Jon Daly
Ali Macofsky
Anthony Desamito
Felicia Folkes
Vinny Fasline
Jak Knight
Gibran Saleem
Karen Forman
Andrew Delman
Dana Moon
Sandro Iocolano
Jamel Johnson
Freddy Lockhart
Ben Morrison
Rod Man
Quinta Brunson
Forrest Shaw
Nick Alexander
Nicole Aimee Schreiber
Jordan Rock
Damon Wayans Jr.
Mike Merrill
Camille Solari
Mat Edgar
John Campanelli
Kelsey Cook
Subhah Agarwal
Kaseem Bentley
Jeanne Whitney
Rosalee Mayeux
Ed Crasnick
Pete Dominick
James Davis
Geoff Brown
Chad Opitz
Romarick Anderson
Leonard Ouzts
Desi Banks
Maxi Witrak
Diana Jordan
Lewis Belt
Guz Khan
Tessa Coates
Audrey Stewart
Jerry Garcia
Beau Mcfarland
Robert Morrow
Elijah Howard
Nick Wiger
Fabrizio Copano
Laura Sanders
Wally Baram
Ian Lara
Bassem Youssef
J.F. Harris
Cody Ko
Christine Gambito
Sarah Taylor
Aristotle Georgeson
Latrice Royale
Gus Johnson
Jason Nash
Stephanie Courtney
Glozell
Nolan North
B Simone
Ilana Glazer
Jeremiah Watkins
Heather Mcmahan
Nika King
Gareth Reynolds
Craig Low
Shapel Lacey
Jc Currais
Kym Whitley
Ed Bassmaster
Vicki Barbolak
Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi
Scott Seiss
Luz Pasos
Ali Kolbert
Noel Miller
Daniel Sosa
Leah Rudick
Rob Anderson
Chico Bean
Kristina Pandis
Matt Catanzano
Don Mcmillan
Zoltan Kaszas
Rahul Subramanian
Reggie Conquest
Rich Chassler
Rhys Nicholson
Ariel Elias
Adam Friedland
Mike E. Winfield
Doc Willis
Dale Jones
Nacya Marreiro
Steven Alan Green
Justin Silva
Kam Patterson
Learnmore Jonasi
Ellen Skrmetti
Justin Matson
Chloe Hilliard
Eden Sher
George Janko
Cort Mccown
Kid Fury
Chingo Bling
Jamie Lee
Ron Lynch
Willie Barcena
Pauly Shore
Rickey Smiley
Tommy Davidson
Tony Rock
Jesus Trejo
Jeff Allen
Gene Pompa
Greg Warren
John Henton
Dean Edwards
Sarah Tiana
Josh Wolf
Huggy Lowdown
Tommy Johnagin
Red Grant
Zane Lamprey
Benji Brown
Lil Duval
Eric Blake
Beth Stelling
Steve Agee
Paul Virzi
Liam Mceneaney
Kevin Farley
Colin Jost
Joe Bartnick
George Perez
Tom Mcclain
Jermaine Fowler
Michael Yo
Erik Griffin
Josh Gondelman
Moses Storm
Jon Lovett
Joseph Vecsey
Yannis Pappas
Annie Lederman
Duncan Trussell
Byron Bowers
Mike Cannon
Matteo Lane
Emma Willmann
Jodi Miller
Zainab Johnson
Jackie Fabulous
Affion Crockett
Laura Kightlinger
Ali Siddiq
Jonny Loquasto
Ralph Garman
Andy Erikson
Yoursie Thomas
Chris Redd
Fatimah Taliah
Robert Zapata
Eddie Pence
Vanessa Graddick
Ronny Chieng
Johnny Mitchell
Scott Rogowsky
Shane Torres
Jenny Yang
Chad Zumock
Peter Mehlman
Genevieve Joy
Allen Strickland Williams
Daniel Franzese
Ramy Youssef
Jeff Baldinger
Curtis Cook
Ahmed Bharoocha
Irene Tu
Warren B Hall
Sam Pancake
Cary Odes
Griff Pippin
Bresha Webb
Matt Richards
Amberia Allen
Jake Weisman
Jake Marin
Jd Witherspoon
Jr De Guzman
Simon Gibson
Dave Helem
Jessica Michelle Singleton
Punkie Johnson
Greg Santos
Justin Clark
Cynthia Levin
Joshua Mann
Blake Wexler
Daniel Weingarten
Teddy Ray
Samantha Hale
Bruce Gray
Joe Falzarano
David Gborie
Aaron Kleiber
Aidan Park
Tehran Von Ghasri
Christine Blackburn
Phil Medina
Leah Kayajanian
Aisha Alfa
James Murray
Phil Wang
Amy Ashton
Rodrigo Torres
Dan Ahdoot
Bill Devlin
Stuart Goldsmith
Dalia Malek
Josh Nasar
Jc Coccoli
Asif Ali
Stephen Furey
Richard Sarvate
Kate Quigley
Mitch Marchand
Franco Escamilla
Kristal Adams
L.J. Brown
Mark Smalls
Celeste Barber
Emmy Blotnick
Chad Prather
Dave Rubin
Skip Clark
Greta Titelman
Hooter Moreno
Danny Jolles
Suli Mccullough
Andre Kelley
Jess Hilarious
Jonathan Van Ness
Joleen Lunzer
Doboy
Rebecca Kohler
Xander Beltran
David Saitzyk
Brian Quinn
Malcolm Hatchett
Brandi Denise
Zack Chapaloni
Rosebud Baker
Michael Rapaport
Fahim Anwar
Manon Mathews
Sydnee Washington
Walter Hong
John Nguyen
Katie Boyle
Josh Potter