Richard Jeni Biography (1957-2007)

Comedian, actor, writer. Born on April 17, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York. Richard Jeni was a popular stand-up comedian with great timing and explosive delivery. He mined his own experiences for his act, often drawing from his New York roots and Catholic upbringing. Jeni caught the nation’s attention with his first comedy special, Richard Jeni: The Boy…

Jim Carrey Biography (1962-)

Actor, comedian. Born James Eugene Carrey, on January 17, 1962, in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Carrey got his start with a spot doing stand-up at a Toronto comedy clubwhen he was just 15 years old. By 1979, he had left the factory janitorjob he had taken in 1978 to help support his family and was making hisliving as opening act…

Adam Sandler Biography (1966-)

Actor, comedian, musician. Born on September 9, 1966, in New York City. Raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, as one of seven children, Sandler was always the class clown. However, he never aspired to be a comedian until age 17 when his brother encouraged him to perform at a Boston comedy club.

Sandler continued to perform after he left Boston to…

Bill Cosby Biography (1937-)

(born July 12, 1937, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.) American comedian, actor, and producer, who played a major role in the development of a more positive portrayal of blacks on television.

Cosby left high school without earning his diploma and joined the U.S. Navy in 1956. While enlisted he passed a high school equivalency exam, and after his discharge he received an…

Hugh Laurie Biography (1959-)

Comedian, actor. Born James Hugh Calum Laurie on June 11, 1959 in Oxford, England. Laurie’s father, William “Ran” Laurie, was a medical doctor and Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing. His mother, Patricia Laurie, was a writer whose occasional essays were published by the London Times. The youngest of the family, Laurie has two older sisters and an older brother.

Laurie’s…

Charlie Chaplin Biography (1889-1977)

(born April 16, 1889, London, England—died December 25, 1977, Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland) British comedian, producer, writer, director, and composer who is widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of the screen and one of the most important figures in motion-picture history.

Named after his father, a British music hall entertainer, Chaplin spent his early childhood with his mother, the singer Hannah…