We may all think we're comedians, but sadly, we're not. Good thing there are so many truly funny people out there to make us laugh. Some comedians use their wit and smarts to make clever jokes and poke fun, while others use their physicality and appearance to to keep us doubled over. Formats range from stand up comedy and sketch comedy to talk shows, and subjects include politics, everyday life, and the comedians themselves. Here's a look at the famous comedians who've kept us laughing over the years.
Chutzpah? Check. Self-deprecation? Check. Estrogen? Yes ma'am! Rollicking, quick-witted ladies like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Tina Fey, and Ellen DeGeneres have boldly laughed their way into an industry which even today is still considered a boys' club. Talk about being ballsy.
Browse notable film actresses such as Debbie Harry, Lauren Bacall, and Kathy Bates.
Meet famous people who share a birthday in July. Ernest Hemingway, Milton Berle, Bill Cosby, John Glenn, Selena Gomez, Woody Guthrie, Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Jane Lynch, and many more, are people who were born in July.
In 2012, we said goodbye to many iconic figures—the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong and the first American woman in space, Sally Ride. We lost writers such as Ray Bradbury, Maeve Binchy, Maurice Sendak and Nora Ephron. We said farewell to musicians and singers who left an indelible mark on the soundtrack of our times—among them Whitney Houston, Davy Jones, Donna Summer, Etta James, Robin Gibb, Kitty Wells, Adam Yauch and Ravi Shankar. We also lost great actors such as Ernest Borgnine, Larry Hagman, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jack Klugman and Sherman Hemsley, as well as TV personalities such as Andy Griffith, Phyllis Diller, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius.
Meet famous people such as Julia Child, Princess Diana, John Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Babe Ruth, who died in the month of August.
Browse notable pianists such as Ray Charles, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Sun Ra.
Originally called Toast of the Town, The Ed Sullivan Show ran from 1948-1971 on CBS and was an American staple in the 50s and 60s. The American variety show featured the Who's Who of celebritydom over the decades, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Carol Channing, Lucille Ball, The Jackson 5, and The Doors.
The United Service Organization was founded in 1941, as a way to provide morale to service members through entertainment. Hollywood was happy to promote its patriotism (and its stars), and sent entertainers to combat zones, often in danger, to perform for the troops. From Marilyn Monroe to Stephen Colbert, many of the biggest names in showbiz have put on shows for the American service members around the world. Check out these famous USO entertainers.