Comedy comes in many flavours, and angry comedy stands out. Some comedians excel at turning frustration into laughs. In this post, let’s explore the top ten comedians who have made their mark using anger as their comedic style. The top 10 angry comedians in the world are;
1. George Carlin
George Carlin, born on May 12, 1937, and passing away on June 22, 2008, was a well-known American comedian and social critic. He was often called “the dean of counterculture comedians” and gained fame for his dark humour about politics, language, psychology, religion, and taboo topics.
His famous “seven dirty words” routine played a big role in the 1978 Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, where the government’s power to control indecent material on public airwaves was affirmed.
Carlin did 14 stand-up specials for HBO, starting with “George Carlin at USC” in 1977. Later in his career, he focused on critiquing American society. He was a regular on The Tonight Show during Johnny Carson’s era and hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. His last comedy special, “It’s Bad for Ya,” was recorded shortly before he died of heart failure in 2008.
Posthumously, he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2008 and ranked second on lists of top comedians by Comedy Central in 2004 and Rolling Stone in 2017.
Carlin also had roles in movies like Car Wash, Outrageous Fortune, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, The Prince of Tides, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Scary Movie 3, and Jersey Girl. He voiced characters in Tarzan II and Cars and narrated the American dubs of Thomas & Friends.
He faced heart problems for three decades, including heart attacks and medical procedures. He passed away at 71 due to heart failure in 2008. His ashes were scattered in New York City and over Spofford Lake in New Hampshire.
Carlin’s comedic influences included Danny Kaye, Jonathan Winters, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Nichols and May, Jerry Lewis, the Marx Brothers, Mort Sahl, Spike Jones, Ernie Kovacs, and the Ritz Brothers.
Many comedians, like Bill Burr and Chris Rock, considered Carlin a major influence. After his “seven dirty words” routine, broadcasters adopted the “Carlin Warning” to remind performers of forbidden words during live broadcasts.
2. Lewis Black
Born August 30, 1948, Lewis Niles Black is an American comedian and actor. Known for his lively routines turning into passionate rants about history, politics, religion, and trends, he hosted “Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil” on Comedy Central. He regularly shares “Back in Black” commentary on The Daily Show, a tradition since Craig Kilborn hosted.
Recognized for his comedy, Black secured the 51st spot on Comedy Central’s 2004 list of the greatest comedians and ranked 5th in 2008 and 11th in 2010. In 2015, he voiced Anger in Pixar’s Inside Out and will reprise the role in Inside Out 2.
Beyond comedy, Black is a spokesperson for the Aruba Tourism Authority and has supported voting rights as an ACLU “ambassador for voting rights” since 2013.
Black resides in Manhattan and Chapel Hill, North Carolina when not touring. Raised in a middle-class Jewish family in Silver Spring, Maryland, his Russian Empire immigrant grandparents came from Chornyi Ostriv and Białystok. His paternal grandfather, originally Leib Blech, later adopted Louis Black.
A 1966 graduate of Springbrook High School, Black draws inspiration from comedians like George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Bob Newhart, and Shelley Berman.
3. Sam Kinison
Samuel Burl Kinison, born December 8, 1953, and passing away on April 10, 1992, was an American comedian and actor. Formerly a preacher, Kinison turned into a stand-up performer, known for passionate outbursts and a distinctive scream. Starting with unpaid gigs, he became a regular at The Comedy Store, connecting with comedians like Robin Williams and Jim Carrey.
Known for blunt observational humor, particularly about women and dating, Kinison quickly gained popularity, securing spots on The Tonight Show, Late Night, and Saturday Night Live. Sadly, at the height of his career, Kinison lost his life in a car accident.
In 1988, Kinison received a Grammy nomination for the single “Wild Thing” from his album Have You Seen Me Lately? He posthumously won a Grammy in 1994 for Best Spoken Comedy Album, Live from Hell.
On California’s Needles Highway on April 10, 1992, Kinison collided with Troy Pierson’s pickup truck. Before the crash, Pierson had consumed alcohol, and while trying to pass another vehicle, his pickup crossed into Kinison’s lane. Kinison, with his wife, was en route to a sold-out show in Laughlin, Nevada.
Despite seeming unharmed, Kinison, not wearing his seat belt, succumbed to internal injuries while sitting on the roadside. He was 38. His wife, injured but recovering, was promptly taken to a hospital in Needles.
An autopsy revealed multiple injuries, leading to Kinison’s death within minutes. Pierson pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, receiving probation, community service, and a license suspension.
Reportedly, Kinison’s last words were, “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.” He then questioned, “But why?” before saying, “Okay, okay, okay.” A friend recounted that Kinison, hearing the right answer from an unseen voice, relaxed.
On April 15, 1992, a funeral service took place in California. Kinison was laid to rest in a family grave plot in Oklahoma. His gravestone reads, “In another time and place, he would have been called a prophet.”
4. Bill Hicks
Samuel Burl Kinison, born on December 8, 1953, shifted from being a preacher to a lively stand-up comedian known for his strong opinions and distinctive scream. Starting with unpaid gigs, he became a regular at The Comedy Store, connecting with comedians like Robin Williams and Jim Carrey.
Famous for his straightforward observational humor, especially about women and dating, Kinison gained popularity on shows like The Tonight Show, Late Night, and Saturday Night Live. Sadly, a fatal car accident cut short his career just as it was reaching its peak.
In 1988, Kinison got a Grammy nomination for “Wild Thing” from his album Have You Seen Me Lately? He posthumously won a Grammy in 1994 for Best Spoken Comedy Album, Live from Hell.
Kinison’s tragically short life ended on April 10, 1992, in a collision with Troy Pierson’s pickup truck in California. Before the crash, Pierson, under the influence, tried to overtake another vehicle, crossing into Kinison’s lane. Kinison, with his wife on the way to a show, succumbed to injuries at the scene. His wife, injured but recovering, was taken to a hospital.
An autopsy revealed multiple injuries, leading to Kinison’s swift death. Pierson pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, getting probation, community service, and a license suspension.
Reportedly, Kinison’s last words were, “I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.” He questioned, “But why?” before calming down with an “Okay, okay, okay,” having heard the right answer from an unseen voice.
A funeral service for Kinison occurred on April 15, 1992, in California. He was laid to rest in a family grave plot in Oklahoma, with his gravestone reading, “In another time and place, he would have been called a prophet.”
William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian and satirist, touching on social issues like religion, politics, and philosophy with a touch of dark humor.
Starting his comedy career at 16 at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas, Hicks extensively toured the U.S. in the 1980s. Despite gaining recognition in the UK during his 1991 tour, Hicks also stood out as a guitarist and songwriter.
Hicks succumbed to pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at 32. In the years following his death, his work gained acclaim, and he developed a cult following. In 2007, he ranked sixth on Channel 4’s “100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics” list and rose to No. 4 in 2010. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine placed him 13th on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
On June 16, 1993, Hicks got a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer spreading to his liver. Despite weekly chemotherapy while recording his album, Arizona Bay, he continued to tour. Hicks, who often joked about the uncertainty of each performance being his last, performed his final show at Caroline’s in New York on January 6, 1994, before moving back to his parents’ house in Little Rock.
In his last weeks, Hicks re-read J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and made farewell calls to friends before ceasing to speak on February 14, 1994. He was buried in the family grave plot in Magnolia Cemetery, Leakesville, Mississippi.
5. Denis Leary
Denis Colin Leary, born August 18, 1957, is an American actor and comedian. From Massachusetts, he gained fame as a stand-up comedian on MTV with the funny song “Asshole” and specials like No Cure for Cancer (1993) and Lock ‘n Load (1997).
In the ’90s, he took on roles in films such as Judgment Night (1993), Gunmen (1994), Operation Dumbo Drop (1995), and Wag the Dog (1997). Moving to the 2000s, he created and starred in The Job (2001–2002) and co-created Rescue Me (2004–2011), earning two Emmy nominations. Leary continued in films like The Amazing Spider-Man and Draft Day and did voice work in A Bug’s Life and Ice Age.
The Amazon series Modern Love drew from Denis and wife Ann Leary’s story, inspiring “Rallying to Keep the Game Alive.” From 2015 to 2016, Leary wrote and starred in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll on FX.
Married since 1989, Denis and Ann met at Emerson College. They have two kids, Jack (1990) and Devin (1992). Ann, an author, wrote An Innocent, a Broad, about their son’s premature birth. She also wrote Outtakes From a Marriage (2008) and The Good House (2013). Her essay in The New York Times about their marriage inspired Modern Love’s Episode 4: “Rallying to Keep the Game Alive.”
6. Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor Sr., born on December 1, 1940, and passing away on December 10, 2005, was a famous American stand-up comedian and actor. Known for his sharp observations and captivating storytelling, he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest stand-up comedians ever. Pryor earned awards, including a Primetime Emmy, five Grammys, and the first Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 1998.
In 1974, he won the Writers Guild of America Award and secured the top spot on Comedy Central’s list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. His accolades continued in 2017, with Rolling Stone ranking him as the foremost among the 50 best stand-up comics in history.
Pryor’s contributions include concert films and recordings like Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin’ (1971), That N‘s Crazy (1974), …Is It Something I Said? (1975), Bicentennial N (1976), Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979), Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982), and Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983). In acting, he primarily appeared in comedies but also dramas like Paul Schrader’s Blue Collar (1978) and action films like Superman III (1983). His notable collaborations with actor Gene Wilder include Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991).
Pryor drew inspiration from various comedic figures, including Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Gleason, Red Skelton, Abbott and Costello, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Woody Allen, Dick Gregory, Bill Cosby, Redd Foxx, and Lenny Bruce.
On December 10, 2005, Pryor had his third heart attack at his Los Angeles home. Despite his wife’s efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at a local Westside hospital at 7:58 a.m. PST, at the age of 65. His widow, Jennifer, said, “At the end, there was a smile on his face.”
After his passing, Pryor was cremated, and his ashes were given to his family. In 2019, Jennifer scattered his ashes in the bay at Hana, Hawaii. Michael Hunter, a forensic pathologist, attributes Pryor’s fatal heart attack to coronary artery disease, which was a result of his long-term tobacco use.
7. Chris Rock
Christopher Rock, born on February 7, 1965, is a famous American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. He gained popularity in the 1980s for his bold stand-up comedy on topics like race, relationships, and observations. Rock has won three Grammy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and received a Golden Globe nomination.
Ranked No. 5 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups and No. 5 on Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Stand-Up Comics, Rock is widely recognized. In 2023, he became the most searched “Chris” in the U.S.
Starting as a stand-up comedian, Rock made a mark on Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 1990 to 1993 and starred in films like New Jack City and Boomerang. His breakthrough came with Bring the Pain in 1996, leading to successful specials like Bigger & Blacker and Never Scared.
Rock expanded into TV with “Everybody Hates Chris” and hosted HBO’s “The Chris Rock Show.” His career includes starring roles in films such as Lethal Weapon 4 and The Longest Yard, and TV appearances in Empire and Fargo.
Known for discussing family, politics, romance, and race, Rock’s humor reflects his teenage experiences, like being bused to an almost all-white high school. He questions the expectation for entertainers, especially black ones, to be role models.
Rock, a two-time host of the Academy Awards, faced controversy in 2022 when slapped by Will Smith. Despite occasional incidents, he remains true to himself.
A passionate New York Mets fan, Rock openly expresses frustrations in interviews. He has strong political opinions, labeling George W. Bush as the “worst president ever” in 2008.
In May 2021, Rock criticized cancel culture, saying it stifles creativity. He emphasized the audience’s role in signaling what works and the importance of comedians having the right to fail.
Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy, as well as other comedians, have influenced Rock’s comedy. Comedians such as Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart cite him as an influence.
8. Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers, a famous comedian, was known for her bold and sometimes controversial humor. Her unique New York accent added flair to her direct and self-deprecating style, targeting celebrities and politicians. She gained fame in 1965 as a guest on The Tonight Show and made history in 1986 as the first woman to host a late-night talk show, The Late Show with Joan Rivers.
In her 55-year career, Rivers used tough and satirical humor, earning awards like an Emmy and a Grammy. Beyond stand-up, she hosted The Joan Rivers Show and co-hosted Fashion Police on E! She faced criticism for her jokes on sensitive topics but defended them as a way to bring attention through humor. Her catchphrase, “Can we talk?,” became a symbol of her comedic style.
According to biographer Victoria Price, Joan Rivers’ humor broke down gender-specific taboos and paved the way for other women in comedy. Despite criticism, she embraced her satirical style, acknowledging that being a satirist meant not conforming to political correctness.
9. Bill Burr
William Burr, born June 10, 1968, is a well-known American comedian. He’s famous for using anger as his main humor source. With stand-up specials like “You People Are All the Same” (2012) and “Paper Tiger” (2019), Burr earned a Grammy nod. Rolling Stone ranked him 17th in the “50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time” in 2017.
Burr hosts the Monday Morning Podcast since 2007 and helped start the All Things Comedy network in 2012. He created, co-wrote, and voiced the lead in “F Is for Family” (2015–2021). His roles in “Chappelle’s Show,” “Breaking Bad” (2011–2013), “The Mandalorian” (2019–present), and “The King of Staten Island” (2020) showcase his versatility. In 2023, he directed “Old Dads,” his first feature film.
Known as a “comedian’s comedian,” Burr’s humor is labeled “rage-fueled” by Rolling Stone. He portrays himself as the “loud guy in the bar” with “uninformed logic.” In an interview, he embraced being the “dude, bro” guy. The Montreal Gazette sees him as a “cynic and a contrarian” against political correctness. The New York Times praised him in 2013 as “one of the funniest, most distinctive voices in the country.”
Burr covers various topics, from childhood to his dog, with a mischievous grin. Influenced by legends like Pryor and Carlin, Burr’s ability to use anger in comedy secures his place among the top comedians.
10. Doug Stanhope
Doug Stanhope, born on March 25, 1967, is an American comedian, author, actor, activist, and podcast host. He’s known for his sharp and often direct take on life, delivering his stand-up with a drink in hand. Politically, he leans towards libertarianism and once supported the Free State Project, aiming for 20,000 libertarians to migrate to a low-population state.
Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, Stanhope’s parents divorced when he was ten, and he lived with his older brother Jeff. In 1998, he convinced his mother to move near him in West Hollywood. Battling emphysema, she later requested an assisted suicide, a story he shared in his stand-up and second book.
At 12, Stanhope’s school expressed concern about his drawings, and he left school at fifteen. Before pursuing comedy full-time, he worked in telemarketing and questionable legal activities under the influence of comedians like Monty Python.
Living in various places, including Las Vegas and currently in Bisbee, Arizona, Stanhope released his latest special, “The Dying of a Last Breed,” in 2020 and authored “No Encore for the Donkey.” In 2022, he announced a fall tour in the US, UK, and Ireland. In 2023, he produced and starred in “The Road Dog” with his former partner Khrystyne Haje.