Being a stand-up comedian is far from easy. In fact, it is probably one of the hardest fields to work in, since the smallest detail can ruin the entire presentation. If the joke isn't funny or doesn't hit home with the audience, then it's game over. Not everyone has what it takes to make people laugh and to connect with the audience, but those who do often manage to gather hundreds of fans and make millions, like renowned actor and comedian Eddie Murphy.
Updated November 5th, 2022: To ensure this article is fresh, high quality, and up-to-date, additional comedians and content have been added.
Many times, performers who started out in stand-up comedy end up discovering other careers related to film and television, and land great opportunities outside of comedy clubs; oftentimes, the stepping stone used by great performers is precisely stand-up comedy. Some comedians took advantage of their success as stand-up comedians to become comedy writers, while others used it to become the stars of popular sitcoms, especially in the 90s. A few performers made such a smooth transition from comedians to Hollywood stars that it is surprising to hear about their early days in comedy clubs.
That was the case with Lily Tomlin, the American actress, comedian, and screenwriter who launched her acting career by performing stand-up comedy in nightclubs and then went on to become a television and film star, and she's hardly the only one. Check out some well-known actors who started out as stand-up comedians.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey began performing in Toronto nightclubs, where he caught the attention of renowned comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who took him under his wing. The comedian hired Carrey as an opening act, and the two began touring together. Carrey later became a fixture at Los Angeles comedy clubs, where he wowed audiences with his numerous celebrity impersonations. However, his career as a stand-up comedian took an unexpected turn when he decided to try new routines that resulted in booing from the audience. At the same time, the comedian began to raise his profile by appearing on some late-night talk shows, and his flamboyant personality landed him a regular spot on Fox's comedy show In Living Color.
In 1994, Carrey turned to movies and his hits began with comic roles such as Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. His breakthrough performance was in the drama The Truman Show, which brought him international recognition. Once established as a multi-faceted artist, he further consolidated himself in the dramatic genre with films such as The Majestic, Man in the Moon, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Now known as one of the biggest stars in the history of cinema, the actor remains a coveted name in the industry today.
Whoopi Goldberg
The well-known actress and co-host of The View morning show has an utterly enviable acting career. Whoopi Goldberg began studying drama in New York and, after a series of unremarkable stage play appearances, decided to try her hand at stand-up comedy. Her comedy routine, known as The Spook Show, caught the attention of Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols, who offered to transfer her to Broadway. Already established on the billboards, her show became a huge hit and helped her land the main role in Steven Spielberg's film The Color Purple, a part for which she earned an Oscar nomination.
Thereafter, Goldberg continued to take roles in comedy films, such as Jumpin' Jack Flash, Fatal Beauty and The Telephone. She won an Oscar for her work in Ghost, and continued to work in stand-up. And, although she fills her days working as a host of The View, she still continues to take on some acting roles. In fact, she recently voiced her desires to take part in Doctor Who.
Steve Martin
Steve Martin started working in show business as a teenager, first in community theater and then at Disneyland. After studying philosophy and poetry, the young actor began writing his own comedy routines, music and plays. He quickly began venturing into stand-up comedy, and even won his first Emmy Award for comedy writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the young age of 23.
Ten years later, Steve Martin was already a well-known comedian who had cemented his stardom with frequent appearances on television shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Muppet Show and The Tonight Show. Shortly thereafter, he jumped into film acting, taking small comedy roles, after which his strong performance landed him a dramatic role in the musical Pennies from Heaven. Martin continued his acting journey with films such as Father of the Bride, Parenthood, Three Amigos and Grand Canyon. He is currently the star of the series Only Murders in the Building, alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez. With Short, he also starred in the Netflix special Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life.
Emma Thompson
The incredibly talented actress is one of the industry's biggest stars. Winner of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, a British Academy Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, Emma Thompson has managed to surprise audiences with amazing and versatile roles, from dramas to comedies such as Stranger Than Fiction and Nanny McPhee. But before any of this, she also had her stint in stand-up comedy. While at Cambridge, Thompson was a member of the Footlights Dramatic Club.
After graduating she performed solo shows and later joined Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in their comedy shows, The Crystal Cube and Alfresco. In 1988, she launched her own show called Thompson, whose reviews meant a hiatus for her comedy career. She was trashed by critics who considered the show hateful to men. From then on, Emma decided to formalize her career as a professional actress, and became the star we know today, starring in hits such as Dead Again, Howards End and Sense and Sensibility, a film she wrote as well as starred in. In 2021, she co-starred in the remake of Cruella with Emma Stone.
Jamie Foxx
Celebrated comedian, actor and singer Jamie Foxx has been a respected and dynamic performer in Hollywood for over thirty years, proving he can truly do it all through with his diverse resume. The recipient of countless prestigious accolades including an Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe Awards, the charismatic Foxx is not afraid to try his hand at any entertainment medium. The funnyman began his career back in 1989, when he decided to partake in an open mic night at a comedy club after his girlfriend dared him to try. Realizing he had a natural talent for telling jokes (a gift he possessed even as a child), Foxx set out to seriously pursue comedy and his stand-up.
Adopting the stage name "Jamie Foxx" as a tribute to comedian Redd Foxx and since it sounded ambiguous, he worked in comedy clubs until landing a monumental role in the hit sketch show In Living Color in 1991. Foxx would go on to take the industry by storm, receiving his own sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show in 1996 and transitioning to film with roles in critically-acclaimed hits like Ali, Collateral, Dream Girls and Horrible Bosses. He attracted widespread praise for his commanding performances in the Quentin Tarantino hit Django Unchained and Ray Charles biopic Ray, for which he won an Oscar. Foxx currently hosts the game show Beat Shazam and in 2021 reprised his role as Electro in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Robin Williams
As a comedian, Robin Williams was known for his improvisational skills and quick timing, qualities that continued to benefit him in his acting journey. This successful actor began his career as a comedian in the 1970s. Before turning to comedy, Williams had studied acting at the Julliard School, which he later dropped out of to devote himself entirely to stand-up comedy. Shortly thereafter, he caught the attention of television producer and director Gary Marshall, who cast him as Mork in the hit series Happy Days, a character that would later move to a show of his own: Mork & Mindy. The series became a huge success, and the actor became a familiar face to the audience.
By 1980 came his first movie role, playing Popeye, a part that brought him great recognition, but a film that failed commercially. Finally, Robin Williams established himself as a renowned actor with Good Morning Vietnam, which earned him his first Oscar nomination, and later with Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King. His first Oscar came in 1998 for his leading role in Good Will Hunting. He also established himself as an actor for the children's audience with his roles in Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji and Aladdin. The actor passed away in 2014 after a long struggle with depression, and 2018 saw the release of the documentary Come Inside My Mind, which tells a bit of his life's background.
Bette Midler
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Bette Midler began acting in theater as a teenager, and had her first Broadway role in Fiddler on the Roof by 1966. However, subsequent roles were few and far between, so Midler began performing stand-up comedy by 1970. In her show she portrayed a variety of characters and also sang, which earned her a devoted fan base. Two years later, she released her first album, The Divine Miss M, which earned her a Grammy Award, and she started making frequent appearances on late-night television shows.
A few years later, Bette went one step further and made her film debut with The Rose, a rock musical based on Janis Joplin's life for which she was nominated for an Oscar. She also worked on hits such as Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Outrageous Fortune, Ruthless People and Beaches.She earned another Oscar nomination for her war film For the Boys, which she also produced, and starred in the Disney children's hit Hocus Pocus alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, reprising her role in 2022 for the highly-anticipated sequel.
Chris Rock
The wisecracking comedy heavy-hitter Chris Rock is without-a-doubt one of the most revered comedians of his generation, having provided uproarious entertainment for fans for over three decades. Not only is he a legend in the stand-up world, but Rock has also had a decorated film and television career that spans all the way back to his days as a featured player on Saturday Night Live. His comedy dreams began in 1984 at 19 when he took the stage in the New York City club Catch a Rising Star, catching the eye of future fellow great Eddie Murphy, who had been watching his act. Murphy would become a huge presence in Rock's life and served as a mentor, giving him his first break with a role in Beverly Hills Cop II.
Rock would go on to land a highly-coveted spot as a cast member on SNL in 1990, earning a reputation as the Bad Boys of SNL alongside newcomers David Space, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and Rob Schneider. His three-year tenure at the hallowed comedy series led to Rock gaining widespread exposure, and he ultimately became a major television and film star. With roles in popular films like the Madagascar franchise, I Think I Love My Wife, The Longest Yard and Grown-Ups, Rock found immense success on screen.
Rock created the critically-acclaimed show Everybody Hates Chris based on his childhood and starred in FX's hit series Fargo while continuing doing stand-up specials and touring. In 2022, he placed No. 5 on Rolling Stone's list of the 50 Best Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.
Michael Keaton
As a young school student, Michael Keaton already stood out from the crowd with his parodies and jokes. That's why, when the time came to study at college, he decided to take the plunge and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an actor. In the beginning, Michael tried to make a name for himself as a comedian, presenting some stand up shows in his hometown. To support himself, he worked as a cab and ice cream truck driver, and it wasn't until 1975 that he officially debuted on television.
After triumphing in Ron Howard's Night Shift and then Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, Keaton was considered a comedy actor only. At least, he was until he suited up as a superhero in Burton's Batman. From that role on, his career did nothing but rise, positioning him as one of the best actors in the industry. He has starred in outstanding movies such as Birdman, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Spider-Man: Homecoming and even directed some of them, like The Merry Gentleman.