deadpans Surrealists and scripted spoofs
galore welcome to watchmojo.com and
today we’re counting down our picks for
the top ten comedy actors of the 1970s
18 years ago they greet him in small
towns by tying yellow ribbon round the
old oak tree then they try and hang him
with it for this list we’re scouring
Hollywood history to find the funniest
comedic actors who ever graced a screen
we’re focusing on performers from both
feature films and television but have
decided to exclude talk-show hosts and
voice actors in order to be a success in
television you have to appeal to
everyone this is part of a series of
videos spanning the decades number 10
John Belushi
born in Chicago this energetic comedian
rose to prominence at the famed second
city and became an original cast member
of Saturday Night Live by 1975 his
impressions were second to none
but it was his equally remarkable brand
of physical comedy that led him to
create The Blues Brothers with fellow
cast member dan Aykroyd
by the end of the decade Belushi’s
legacy was firmly cemented when he
starred as Bluto blue tarski in the john
landis classic Animal House and became
the prototype for collegiate party
animals for generations to come
ah thanks I needed that number 9 John
Ritter oh I feel so used as the son of a
country music legend and an actress John
Ritter was born into a family of
performers I don’t approve of what you
stand but in my book you’re OK after
leaving school he slowly worked his way
up the comedic chain by landing
television parts in iconic shows like
Hawaii five-o The Waltons
mash and the Bob Newhart show oh you let
me down I had you pegged for a happy
hazelnut hoo-hah well just show us how
wrong before snagging the role of his
life as Jack Tripper
on Three’s Company what are you doing
I’m loosening up my wrist I didn’t know
you guys had a practice with a screwball
style of comedy Ritter produced one of
the most unforgettable characters of the
70s and closed off the decade by
starring as president check Roosevelt in
America thon Lucy I am the president
I’ve got an emergency budget meeting at
nine o’clock an emergency foreign policy
meeting at 10:00 charming and uniquely
gifted John Ritter will bring a smile to
anyone’s face just with the mention of
his name what lost Missy know what is
yes number eight Woody Allen the old
lady at the end of the table is that
classic jew-hater
Bourne Alan Stewart conics birth this
Brooklyn raised performer wrote comedy
sketches for NBC as a teenager and hit
the stand-up circuit throughout the 60s
honestly think that I tried to run you
over
you just happened to hit the gas as I
walked in front of the car I did I do it
on purpose
by the mid 70s Woody Allen had already
directed written and starred in a number
of box-office hits but it was the cinema
classics Annie Hall and Manhattan that
established him as the quintessential
quirk of mainstream comedy films you at
Grammy Hall would call you
do thank you this frenetic insecure
manner of speech is often imitated but
never duplicated she said my grandma
never gave gifts you know she she was
too busy getting raped by Cossacks he
hustled his way to the top and set the
bar for all observational comics that
would follow that’s great that’s
terrific
number seven Madeline Kahn would you
want me like this now so soon before our
wedding so near we can almost touch it
this former Broadway star was a Mel
Brooks muse and about danovich beauty
she made her feature debut at almost 30
years of age and was so impressive in
what’s up-dock that she was nominated
for a Golden Globe for her performance
who was what I heard a voice they saw
beautiful end with a natural knack for
inciting laughter Cohn reached the
pinnacle of her career in a trilogy of
mid-70s Mel Brooks films including
Blazing Saddles for which she earned an
Academy Award nomination by the end of
the decade Kahn was going strong with
high anxiety and the chief detective
thus securing her role as the most
hilarious female actor of the decade
open the package quickly I wanted to
look good tonight
number six John Cleese I have no quarrel
with you good tonight this towering Brit
began his career as a scriptwriter
before establishing his own unique and
wonderfully bizarre brand of comedy
Camelot he told me a model after making
numerous appearances on British
television during the late 60s he
co-founded the comedy sketch group Monty
Python which led to a groundbreaking TV
show and cult film series shot in your
general direction
your mother was a hamster and your
father smelt of elderberries in Flying
Circus as well as his other farcical
creation Fawlty Towers his black humor
and stream-of-consciousness
technique provided for spontaneous
moments of comedic brilliance in exactly
30 seconds from now thank you so much
and when combined with his remarkable
script writing and physical humor please
was at the top of his game I didn’t
expect the Spanish Inquisition
nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition
number five Benny Hill for almost seven
decades this English comedian kept folks
cackling away especially during his
brilliant run on the small screen Benny
Hill not only starred in his own comedy
program but also wrote voraciously
throughout the 70s how anybody could
think that I’m trying to get my hands on
anything that is not rightfully mine
I shall never his slapstick style of
humor and spectacular impressions
inspired would be performers half his
age and the closing runoff sequence
became an integral part of pop culture
he’ll thrived with his edgy comedy and
innovative production techniques as he
challenged viewer perceptions of what it
meant to be politically correct
number four Richard Pryor inspired by
Bill Cosby yet intrigued by the early
70s counterculture movement Richard
Pryor made a significant turn towards
artistic independence in the early 70s
though his television show was canceled
after only four episodes over creative
differences
he’s more than 20 film credits of the
decade established him as a true
crossover star with writing and starring
credits and Blazing Saddles and
box-office hits like the Mack
blue-collar and Silver Streak there was
a physique for the lake priors
commanding stage presence influenced a
young Eddie Murphy as well as many
others and he undoubtedly played by his
own rules
number three Gene Wilder this icon of
comedy made his film debut in the 1967
classic Bonnie and Clyde and just one
year later he became one of the most
prominent names in comedy by earning an
Academy Award nomination for his work in
Mel Brooks the producers that kicked off
the 70s on the right foot and soon came
his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in
Mel Stuart’s 1971 film intervention
ninety-three percent perspiration six
percent electricity four percent
evaporation and two percent butterscotch
Ripple a trilogy of Mel Brooks
collaborations and a burgeoning
partnership with Richard Pryor that
established Wilder as a legitimate
box-office giant maybe you should eat
something first
no thanks sick he committed fully to his
unforgettable characters and his
over-the-top high jinks kept audiences
in stitches if you’re blue and you don’t
know where to go – why don’t you go
where fashion see number two Mel Brooks
are you crazy
don’t ever go for it and then again they
might little red devils they love toys
may I try one please do sir I kill thank
you they say is it effective it’s one
thing to write and direct legendary
seventies films a few of which are
considered some of the funniest movies
of all time it’s quite another to
consistently steal the show as well work
work work work work work work work hello
boys have a good night’s rest
mister whether it was as Governor
William J lahpet Amane and Blazing
Saddles or a Richard H Thorndyke
in high anxiety Mel Brooks was a master
of farcical scenarios that often had
viewers crying from laughter come on we
possibly even better known as a comedy
director his roles were few and far
between but when he did appear on camera
Brooks owned every minute and that’s how
you do it in show business
what is this a game show why don’t I be
in a Pinto I’m sorry so we’re going
after 30 before we unveil our top pick
here are a few honorable mentions what
in the hell do you think you’re doing
here this is a closed set yes on you I’m
working for Mel Brooks not in the face
Wow what was that shit man you just did
the most acid I’ve ever seen anybody eat
in my life
no bed not that thank you very much
it’s my piece I found it and I’m gonna
put it up for auction I just decided but
his hand mine we partners daily and I
want to sell well what was his name
Cruz Oh Inspector Clouseau
number one Peter Sellers get over ten
years after first appearing in the
career-making role of the bumbling
Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther
Peter Sellers reprised his iconic roles
twice during the 70’s and displayed what
it meant to truly be a comedic genius
what sort of stupid question is that are
you bland
yes
I see yes yeah from the walk to the top
sellers always brought a unique identity
to his characters and he book ended his
Pink Panther rolls with equally
extravagant performances in the
optimists of nine elms.young
with an uproarious contrast of highbrow
characters and lowbrow humor sellers
found a way to sell every aspect of his
performance through extraordinary
preparation and a natural gift for
comedy I’ve seen it done before in a
film on television at all it did hurt do
you agree with our list who’s your
favorite comedy actor of the 70s that’s
why I don’t drink so much take acid
either why dudes take acid they do they
take acid and go see the excesses for
more mind-blowing top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
like create
galore welcome to watchmojo.com and
today we’re counting down our picks for
the top ten comedy actors of the 1970s
18 years ago they greet him in small
towns by tying yellow ribbon round the
old oak tree then they try and hang him
with it for this list we’re scouring
Hollywood history to find the funniest
comedic actors who ever graced a screen
we’re focusing on performers from both
feature films and television but have
decided to exclude talk-show hosts and
voice actors in order to be a success in
television you have to appeal to
everyone this is part of a series of
videos spanning the decades number 10
John Belushi
born in Chicago this energetic comedian
rose to prominence at the famed second
city and became an original cast member
of Saturday Night Live by 1975 his
impressions were second to none
but it was his equally remarkable brand
of physical comedy that led him to
create The Blues Brothers with fellow
cast member dan Aykroyd
by the end of the decade Belushi’s
legacy was firmly cemented when he
starred as Bluto blue tarski in the john
landis classic Animal House and became
the prototype for collegiate party
animals for generations to come
ah thanks I needed that number 9 John
Ritter oh I feel so used as the son of a
country music legend and an actress John
Ritter was born into a family of
performers I don’t approve of what you
stand but in my book you’re OK after
leaving school he slowly worked his way
up the comedic chain by landing
television parts in iconic shows like
Hawaii five-o The Waltons
mash and the Bob Newhart show oh you let
me down I had you pegged for a happy
hazelnut hoo-hah well just show us how
wrong before snagging the role of his
life as Jack Tripper
on Three’s Company what are you doing
I’m loosening up my wrist I didn’t know
you guys had a practice with a screwball
style of comedy Ritter produced one of
the most unforgettable characters of the
70s and closed off the decade by
starring as president check Roosevelt in
America thon Lucy I am the president
I’ve got an emergency budget meeting at
nine o’clock an emergency foreign policy
meeting at 10:00 charming and uniquely
gifted John Ritter will bring a smile to
anyone’s face just with the mention of
his name what lost Missy know what is
yes number eight Woody Allen the old
lady at the end of the table is that
classic jew-hater
Bourne Alan Stewart conics birth this
Brooklyn raised performer wrote comedy
sketches for NBC as a teenager and hit
the stand-up circuit throughout the 60s
honestly think that I tried to run you
over
you just happened to hit the gas as I
walked in front of the car I did I do it
on purpose
by the mid 70s Woody Allen had already
directed written and starred in a number
of box-office hits but it was the cinema
classics Annie Hall and Manhattan that
established him as the quintessential
quirk of mainstream comedy films you at
Grammy Hall would call you
do thank you this frenetic insecure
manner of speech is often imitated but
never duplicated she said my grandma
never gave gifts you know she she was
too busy getting raped by Cossacks he
hustled his way to the top and set the
bar for all observational comics that
would follow that’s great that’s
terrific
number seven Madeline Kahn would you
want me like this now so soon before our
wedding so near we can almost touch it
this former Broadway star was a Mel
Brooks muse and about danovich beauty
she made her feature debut at almost 30
years of age and was so impressive in
what’s up-dock that she was nominated
for a Golden Globe for her performance
who was what I heard a voice they saw
beautiful end with a natural knack for
inciting laughter Cohn reached the
pinnacle of her career in a trilogy of
mid-70s Mel Brooks films including
Blazing Saddles for which she earned an
Academy Award nomination by the end of
the decade Kahn was going strong with
high anxiety and the chief detective
thus securing her role as the most
hilarious female actor of the decade
open the package quickly I wanted to
look good tonight
number six John Cleese I have no quarrel
with you good tonight this towering Brit
began his career as a scriptwriter
before establishing his own unique and
wonderfully bizarre brand of comedy
Camelot he told me a model after making
numerous appearances on British
television during the late 60s he
co-founded the comedy sketch group Monty
Python which led to a groundbreaking TV
show and cult film series shot in your
general direction
your mother was a hamster and your
father smelt of elderberries in Flying
Circus as well as his other farcical
creation Fawlty Towers his black humor
and stream-of-consciousness
technique provided for spontaneous
moments of comedic brilliance in exactly
30 seconds from now thank you so much
and when combined with his remarkable
script writing and physical humor please
was at the top of his game I didn’t
expect the Spanish Inquisition
nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition
number five Benny Hill for almost seven
decades this English comedian kept folks
cackling away especially during his
brilliant run on the small screen Benny
Hill not only starred in his own comedy
program but also wrote voraciously
throughout the 70s how anybody could
think that I’m trying to get my hands on
anything that is not rightfully mine
I shall never his slapstick style of
humor and spectacular impressions
inspired would be performers half his
age and the closing runoff sequence
became an integral part of pop culture
he’ll thrived with his edgy comedy and
innovative production techniques as he
challenged viewer perceptions of what it
meant to be politically correct
number four Richard Pryor inspired by
Bill Cosby yet intrigued by the early
70s counterculture movement Richard
Pryor made a significant turn towards
artistic independence in the early 70s
though his television show was canceled
after only four episodes over creative
differences
he’s more than 20 film credits of the
decade established him as a true
crossover star with writing and starring
credits and Blazing Saddles and
box-office hits like the Mack
blue-collar and Silver Streak there was
a physique for the lake priors
commanding stage presence influenced a
young Eddie Murphy as well as many
others and he undoubtedly played by his
own rules
number three Gene Wilder this icon of
comedy made his film debut in the 1967
classic Bonnie and Clyde and just one
year later he became one of the most
prominent names in comedy by earning an
Academy Award nomination for his work in
Mel Brooks the producers that kicked off
the 70s on the right foot and soon came
his iconic portrayal of Willy Wonka in
Mel Stuart’s 1971 film intervention
ninety-three percent perspiration six
percent electricity four percent
evaporation and two percent butterscotch
Ripple a trilogy of Mel Brooks
collaborations and a burgeoning
partnership with Richard Pryor that
established Wilder as a legitimate
box-office giant maybe you should eat
something first
no thanks sick he committed fully to his
unforgettable characters and his
over-the-top high jinks kept audiences
in stitches if you’re blue and you don’t
know where to go – why don’t you go
where fashion see number two Mel Brooks
are you crazy
don’t ever go for it and then again they
might little red devils they love toys
may I try one please do sir I kill thank
you they say is it effective it’s one
thing to write and direct legendary
seventies films a few of which are
considered some of the funniest movies
of all time it’s quite another to
consistently steal the show as well work
work work work work work work work hello
boys have a good night’s rest
mister whether it was as Governor
William J lahpet Amane and Blazing
Saddles or a Richard H Thorndyke
in high anxiety Mel Brooks was a master
of farcical scenarios that often had
viewers crying from laughter come on we
possibly even better known as a comedy
director his roles were few and far
between but when he did appear on camera
Brooks owned every minute and that’s how
you do it in show business
what is this a game show why don’t I be
in a Pinto I’m sorry so we’re going
after 30 before we unveil our top pick
here are a few honorable mentions what
in the hell do you think you’re doing
here this is a closed set yes on you I’m
working for Mel Brooks not in the face
Wow what was that shit man you just did
the most acid I’ve ever seen anybody eat
in my life
no bed not that thank you very much
it’s my piece I found it and I’m gonna
put it up for auction I just decided but
his hand mine we partners daily and I
want to sell well what was his name
Cruz Oh Inspector Clouseau
number one Peter Sellers get over ten
years after first appearing in the
career-making role of the bumbling
Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther
Peter Sellers reprised his iconic roles
twice during the 70’s and displayed what
it meant to truly be a comedic genius
what sort of stupid question is that are
you bland
yes
I see yes yeah from the walk to the top
sellers always brought a unique identity
to his characters and he book ended his
Pink Panther rolls with equally
extravagant performances in the
optimists of nine elms.young
with an uproarious contrast of highbrow
characters and lowbrow humor sellers
found a way to sell every aspect of his
performance through extraordinary
preparation and a natural gift for
comedy I’ve seen it done before in a
film on television at all it did hurt do
you agree with our list who’s your
favorite comedy actor of the 70s that’s
why I don’t drink so much take acid
either why dudes take acid they do they
take acid and go see the excesses for
more mind-blowing top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
like create
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