1

Marx Bros

Image: Braydon Anderson

We’ll start strong with the family of actors considered by many to be the most groundbreaking comedians of their generation: the five Marx Brothers. They truly took the world by storm, leaving an unforgettable mark that forever changed Hollywood.

Throughout a career that lasted over 40 years, the Marx Brothers starred in 14 films, five of which were included in the American Film Institute's list of the greatest 100 comedies of all time. While it is indeed a gargantuan task to select the best moments from this remarkable career, we feel inclined to select 1933’s Duck Soup and 1935's A Night at the Opera as our top picks.

2

Abbot and Costello

Image: Los Angeles Daily News, CC BY 4.0

In the very likely event that you’ve ever played a game of baseball, we can almost guarantee that someone jokingly asked you, "Who’s on first?" in a marked Jersey accent. After all, any American born after the 1950s knows this legendary Abbott & Costello routine, which is considered by many to be one of the finest pieces of comedy ever conceived.

This iconic duo met in New York City in 1935. After Bud Abbott’s comedy partner fell ill before a performance at the Eltinge Burlesque Theater, Lou Costello substituted for him, marking their first unforgettable performance. Many believe the duo’s groundbreaking chemistry was already present in that very first show. Over the course of their nearly 20-year career, Abbott & Costello produced several hilarious routines, including "Niagara Falls," "The Piano Bit," and, of course, "Who’s on First?"

3

Jerry Seinfeld

Image: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0

Years before he starred in his groundbreaking Show About Nothing , Jerry Seinfeld was a scrawny and hilarious comedian making appearances on talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman . While this young comedian’s talent was evident, little did anyone know that Jerry Seinfeld would soon become the world’s most famous comedian.

The TV show Seinfeld ran for 9 seasons between 1988 and 1998, winning a myriad of accolades and awards in the process. Part of the charm was that Jerry’s off-screen persona seemed like a carbon copy of his character: he was witty, sarcastic, and hysterically funny. After Seinfeld concluded, Jerry went on to produce several successful comedy specials, as well as the Emmy-nominated show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee .

4

Johnny Carson

Image: Arthur Osipyan

While Johnny Carson was not the first host of The Tonight Show , he is definitively considered a pioneer in late-night TV history. This groundbreaking comedian hosted the iconic talk show for 30 years, earning the well-deserved title of "King of Late-Night Television" in the process.

It’s difficult to describe how immense Carson’s influence was, not only on the history of talk shows but also in American culture in general. It only takes someone mimicking a swing of a golf club for anyone to realize they are paying tribute to this legendary comedian. Johnny received numerous awards during his lifetime, including six Primetime Emmys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

5

Conan O’Brien

Image: Jay Dixit, CC BY 4.0

Conan O’Brien is truly a blue-collar comedian. Now, by no means are we trying to convey that other comedians didn’t work hard to get where they are; we are simply pointing out that Conan’s comedy resume dates back to his early twenties when he started writing for groundbreaking shows like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons .

In 1993, Conan debuted as a late-night host with Late Night with Conan O'Brien . What followed was a 28-year career filled with hilarity and creativity, which only ended after Conan announced he would be retiring and taking a well-deserved break from performing. However, he still continues to host a hilarious series of podcasts called Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend .

6

Jackie Gleason

Image: Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0

If you happen to visit New York City (or if you are a New Yorker yourself), take a stroll to Port Authority Bus Terminal, and you’ll come across an eight-foot-tall bronze statue of a cheerful and lively bus driver. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice that this is not a homage to any real-life bus driver. In fact, the man depicted in the statue is none other than the legendary comedian Jackie Gleason , portraying Ralph Kramden, his iconic character from The Honeymooners .

First broadcast in 1955, The Honeymooners was a groundbreaking sitcom that depicted the life of bus driver Ralph Kramden and his wife Alice. This show served as the inspiration for countless other sitcoms, including America’s favorite prehistoric family, The Flintstones .

7

Robin Williams

Image: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0

Robin Williams’ legacy expands throughout several generations: People in the ‘70s adored him in Mork and Mindy , he inspired many ‘80s moviegoers with his films Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets’ Society , and he filled the childhoods of millions of ‘90s kids as the wisecracking genie from Aladdin .

What’s perhaps most astounding about Williams’ acting is the remarkable range he displayed. The fact that his performances in drama could move us to tears doesn’t diminish the effectiveness of his comedy chops. Not only that, but hundreds report that off-screen, Williams was an incredibly kindhearted and warm person, always ready to go the extra mile to make someone smile.

8

Chris Rock

Image: Maarten van den Heuvel

Don’t let the title of his Emmy-nominated TV show fool you: Not everybody hates Chris Rock . In fact, we are willing to go even further and state that, despite being known for his crude and sarcastic style, he is still one of America’s most beloved comedians.

Chris Rock's first jump to prominence came when he joined the main cast of Saturday Night Live in 1990. After that, he went on to perform in several stand-up specials and provided hilarious comic relief in films such as Lethal Weapon 4 , The Longest Yard, and Death at a Funeral .

9

Steve Martin

Image: Marianna Diamos, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0

In 1967, thousands of American families tuned in to watch another episode of the extremely popular game show The Dating Game . While that particular installment came and went without a second thought, it marked legendary comedian Steve Martin ’s first appearance on national television. Little did anyone know that it wouldn’t be by any means his last.

It was only a few years after that appearance on The Dating Game that Martin took the world by storm. By the mid-1970s, he was already showcasing his hilarious routines on shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson , The Muppets, and Saturday Night Live . Today, at 79 years old, Martin continues to be as hysterical as ever, starring in the acclaimed show Only Murders in the Building .

10

Charlie Chaplin

Image: Edo Nugroho

While it is true that Charlie Chaplin was English, it would feel wrong not to include such a Hollywood legend in this list. In that regard, we have reserved the last spot for someone who many consider to be the best comedian of all time. Chaplin’s career goes as far back as the early days of cinema, first appearing as his iconic "Tramp" character in the 1914 film Kid Auto Races at Venice .

What’s perhaps most remarkable about Chaplin’s legacy is not only his hilarious and groundbreaking skits but also his unique ability to both inspire and entertain his audience. We’ll close this article by remembering what is probably his most famous line of dialogue (and that’s saying something for a mostly silent actor): the final speech in his 1940 film The Great Dictator .

1

Levi Strauss

Image: Eric Prouzet

Although his name will forever be associated with American business pioneers, Levi Strauss was not born in the United States. That's right! The inventor of the iconic blue jeans was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1829. In 1847, he came to America along with his siblings in search of new opportunities, settling in New York. Eventually, he moved to San Francisco, where his famous company would be founded.

2

Irving Berlin

Image: Sandra Grünewald

While he can be considered one of the most American of Americans, Irving Berlin was actually born in Russia. That's right; the legendary composer and lyricist was born in 1888 in what was then the Russian Empire, and his family immigrated to the US when he was just a child. How lucky for us! Can you imagine life without classics like "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and "There's No Business Like Show Business"? Neither can we!

3

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Carlos Eduardo

Although he became a naturalized US citizen in 1882, Alexander Graham Bell was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He arrived in the United States in 1871, where he worked as a teacher and researcher. It was in America, in 1876, that he made his most famous invention: the telephone.

4

Elizabeth Taylor

Image: Color Crescent

Elizabeth Taylor, our Cleopatra, wasn't born in the United States. As you probably know, she saw the world for the first time in England in 1932 and moved to America in 1939, just before World War II started. But here's an important detail: Her parents were American! So, she was a US citizen from birth; she just happened to be born overseas.

5

Alfred Hitchcock

Image: Usha Kiran

Yes, Alfred Hitchcock was born in England, but we probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of enjoying cinema classics like Rear Window (1954), Vertigo (1958), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963) if he hadn't come to live and work in America. Although he was already a successful director in his home country, Hitchcock decided to come to the United States in 1939, drawn by the promise of Hollywood's growing film industry.

6

Audrey Hepburn

Image: Paige Johnson

Although she became an American citizen in the 1950s and won our hearts on the big screen, the legendary Audrey Hepburn was actually born in 1929 in Brussels, Belgium. In 1945, she settled in England, where she began taking ballet classes and started landing modeling and acting roles. Finally, in 1951, she came to America to star in the Broadway production of Gigi .

7

Isaac Asimov

Image: Phillip Glickman

Science fiction as we know it wouldn't be the same without the incredible work of Isaac Asimov. However, we may never have had the opportunity to enjoy his brilliant writing if his family hadn't immigrated to America. Asimov was born in 1920 in Petrovichi, Russia. His parents decided to move in 1923, just a year after the Soviet Union was established. At only 3 years old, he arrived in the US, and by the age of 8, he was a full American citizen.

8

Charles Chaplin

Image: Mimi Di Cianni

The unforgettable Charlie Chaplin was born in London in 1889. Before he turned 20, he arrived in the US as a young performer with a vaudeville company. Here, he found fame and became a global icon of silent film. Surprisingly, even after living and working here for over 40 years, he never officially became an American citizen, but Americans embraced him wholeheartedly all the same.

9

Albert Einstein

Image: WikiImages

Albert Einstein, one of the most famous scientists in the world, was born in Germany. And he chose to be American! He was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879, and later became a US citizen in 1940.

His first trip to America was in 1921, when he came to New York as a renowned scientist. Then, in 1933, he returned for good and accepted a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where his former house still stands.

10

Joseph Pulitzer

Image: Jorien Loman

Joseph Pulitzer revolutionized the press in America and around the world, but before becoming a renowned US citizen, he lived in Hungary, the place where he was born in 1847. At the age of 17, he left Europe in search of greater opportunities and arrived in the US in 1864. Here, he went on to become a pioneering journalist and newspaper publisher, even giving his name to the prestigious awards honoring excellence in journalism and the arts.

1

Manifest Destiny

Image: Wayne Hollman

(1840s – Westward Expansion)

Coined in 1845 by journalist John L. O’Sullivan, "Manifest Destiny" justified America’s push westward, claiming it was the nation’s divine right and duty. Though sometimes controversial, it shaped the national mindset and defined 19th-century American expansionism.

2

Talk turkey

Image: Tyler Donaghy

(1800s – Rural America)

"Talking turkey" originally meant speaking plainly, especially during trade or bargaining sessions around Thanksgiving time. The phrase evolved from settlers' interactions with Native Americans and each other.

3

The whole nine yards

Image: Museums Victoria

(1940s – WWII era)

This phrase likely originated in World War II aviation. Fighter pilots reportedly gave "the whole nine yards" when they unloaded all their ammunition —about 27 feet of bullets. It now means going all out, and its roots in wartime tales made it a lasting piece of American lingo.

4

Cold turkey

Image: Andres Siimon

(1920s – Prohibition era)

"Cold turkey" first emerged in drug withdrawal circles during the 1920s, describing a sudden and complete stop, often painful and abrupt. It became more widespread during Prohibition, when people abruptly quit drinking.

5

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps

Image: Nathan Dumlao

(1930s – Great Depression)

Originally a sarcastic quip about doing the impossible, the phrase took on a new life during the Depression, urging Americans to self-rely and push through adversity. By WWII, it had become a proud motto for working-class Americans.

6

Loose lips sink ships

Image: John Kostyk

(1940s – WWII propaganda)

Created by the U.S. Office of War Information, this saying warned citizens and soldiers against careless talk that might aid enemy spies. It was one of the most effective propaganda slogans of WWII.

7

Duck and cover

Image: Stephen Cobb

(1950s – Cold War drills)

Coined in a 1951 civil defense film, this phrase taught schoolchildren to seek shelter from nuclear blasts. While its actual effectiveness was debatable, "duck and cover" captured the anxious era of nuclear tension. It’s since become shorthand for futile emergency preparedness.

8

Jump on the bandwagon

Image: Museums of History New South Wales

(19th century – American politics)

Originating in the 1848 campaign of circus showman Dan Rice, politicians literally used bandwagons to draw crowds. The term evolved as others "jumped on" to align with the popular cause. It now refers to any late but enthusiastic adoption of a trend.

9

Cut to the chase

Image: Jeremy Yap

(Hollywood – silent film era)

Early films often built up slowly, so impatient viewers and editors began saying, "cut to the chase" —the action scene. Now it means getting straight to the point.

10

Put a sock in it

Image: Denny Müller

(1920s – Gramophone era)

Before volume knobs, people muffled early gramophones by stuffing socks in the horn. The phrase quickly became slang for "be quiet."