[gigster]

I'm going out on a limb and proclaiming the great W. C. Fields as our greatest comic Actor.

[gigster]

Aside from being a spectacularly talented juggler( see yoube-theoldfashioned way7.WMV) he was hilariously funny as the put-upon everyman. Some of his aliases include Filthy NcNasty, T. Frothingill Bellows, Elmer Prettywillie, J. Effingham Bellweather, Mr. Muckle, and Professor Eustace P. McGargle. Watch him in The Dentist, The Fatal Glass of Beer, and Never give a Sucker an even Break. No current actor or actress( They're Actors and actresses in my book) can come close with physical comedy or funny hand/eye coordination

[Liberty Valance]

I'm starting to appreciate William Powell and Myrna Loy more as I get older.
Asta too. ;o)

[KevinB]

Laz!

[henkster]

Peter Sellers. Inspector Clouseau and three roles in “Dr. Strangelove.”

[Moonman62]

I’m going to go with four and not say that one was better than the other:

Bob Hope
Jackie Gleason
Bill Murray
Steve Martin

Funny how three of the four were really into golf.

[anton]

Jack. No doubt about it.

[trisham]

Time to milk the elk!

[chajin]

Now, since you didn’t ask :-) comic actress: Myrna Loy, Lucille Ball, Whoopi Goldberg. Laura Linney hasn’t done enough to make the list, but she has the ability and has shown it.

[Kickass Conservative]

Barack Hussein Obama (1), Hillary Rodham Clinton (2), William Jefferson Clinton (3), any Democrat Politician (4).

[Uncle Miltie]

I’m 83, and I feel like a 20-year-old, but unfortunately there’s never one around.

[KevinB]

Al Franken!

[Doogle]

Laurel and Hardy...
Peter Sellers...Pink Panther series

[yarddog]

I would not put him among the great comedians but for a serious actor, Leslie Nielsen had a remarkable comedic career in his last years.

I think the first movie I saw him in was, “Forbidden Planet”.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Children! I love them. Baked with gravy and mashed potatoes.

Go away kid, you bother me.

Prestidigitation!

Only Mae West could match him with short, one liners that left you laughing in the aisles.

“Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me”? to Cary Grant.

[skr]

Don’t like the unclean stuff, but Robin Williams was hilarious and no slouch in the acting department.

[Sirius Lee]

I don’t know who is/was the greatest, but John Ritter was one of the most underrated.

[dforest]

Rodney Dangerfield and Redd Foxx.

Two funny ones!

[trisham]

I couldn’t think of anyone when I first read this thread. Now, I’m seeing so many that I love. Thank you, gigster! So many wonderful memories. :)

[BBB333]

I love comedy and I agree with almost every response here, however to quote Voltaire:

“God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”

[ColdOne]

One more fav of mine is Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby. Arsenic and Old Lace too.