Summary

The 1970s launched the careers of some of the best comedy actors to engagement . Films and TV shows were modify and developing in the 1970s , and it was a groundbreaking time for the writing style . Some ofthe good movies of all timewere originally put out in the ‘ 70s , and certain title greatly inspired the future of cinema . The 1970s were an interesting meter for moving picture , and it was common for a lot of title to mix genres to produce something new .

In fact , some of themost underrated fantasy movies were from the 1970s . The glorious matter about funniness , even in the ‘ 70s , was that it was applicable to any other genre of film and TV show . Satirical telecasting shew andsitcoms of the ‘ 70swere exceedingly pop , and these title kick off or continued the ever - growing popularity of many performer ' career . Whether they were big stars of TV , pic , or both , there were some impressive and spectacular comedy player in the seventies .

The best comedy shows are a combination of new gems and followup seasons of existing favorites , commingle comedy with legal action , music , sport , and more .

Collage of Abbott Elementary, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Shoresy

10Gene Wilder

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Many know the late Gene Wilder as the iconic Willy Wonka in the original version ofWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory , amovie adaptation of the Roald Dahl bookof the same name . After plain off the 10 with his stellar performance as the screaming and eccentric chocolate factory owner , Wilder later star in several other brilliant comedy pic . For example , he asterisk as the soaker Jim the Waco Kid inBlazing Saddlesalongside Mel Brooks in 1974 .

Wilder also co - wroteYoung Frankensteinwith Brooksin the same yr , which earned them an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay . In fact , a significant ball of the titles Wilder was involved in during the ‘ LXX was in coaction with Brooks and fellow comedic doer Richard Pryor . Together , Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor ’s moviesdominated the ‘ 70s . While Wilder was a prominent cinematic figurethroughout his intact calling , which spanned across multiple X , his comportment in the 1970s was unmatchable .

9Mel Brooks

Blazing Saddles

Actor and movie maker Mel Brooks really uprise to fame in the ‘ 70s , following his success withThe Producersin 1969 . Brooks ’ most popular titles includedBlazing Saddles , but in 1975 , he return to the earthly concern of boob tube . Although his showWhen Things Were Rotten , which was released in 1975 and only lasted for one season , did n’t get the upright reception , it did help inspire his later 1993 movieRobin punk : homo in Tights .

Brooks ’ first leading function as a performing artist , however , did n’t come until 1976 withSilent Movie , which he also co - write . While the motion picture received mixed reviews , Brooks was praised for his comedic timing . Mel Brooks ’ success in parody moviesmade him a standout in the 1970s , especially the likes ofHigh Anxiety , which earn him two Golden Globe nominating address — one for Best Actor and the other for Best Motion Picture .

8Madeline Kahn

What’s Up Doc

Madeline Kahn starred in some ofMel Brooks and Gene Wilder ’s good celluloid , too , includingHigh Anxiety , Young Frankenstein , andBlazing Saddles . However , outside her collaborations with the two men , Kahn also look inWhat ’s Up Doc . The film was her feature first appearance at the eld of 30 , andKahn provided such a magnificent performance as the hysterical Eunice Burnsthat she obtain her first Golden Globe nomination in 1973 for New Star Actress of the Year .

She added so many extra level to every film she featured in

Alongside her filmdom career , Kahn was a mythic field of operations performer , too . The Broadway legend appeared in multiple comedy plays throughout the ‘ 70s , but her most far-famed wasIn the Boom Boom Room , which gain her her first Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in 1974 . Kahn ’s unbelievable comedic tempo and memorable delivery in all of her function , leading or supporting , made her an telling material body in the ‘ 70s , and she append so many extra layers to every motion picture she featured in .

Ben-Stiller’s-$128M-Dark-Comedy-Lands-On-Netflix’s-Global-Charts-18-Years-Later

7Peter Sellers

The Return Of The Pink Panther

Peter Sellers was best known as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the originalThe Pink Panthermovies , which cement his position as one of the biggest comedic legend of his coevals . Peter Sellers ’ portrayal of the handless and prodigal Clouseaumade him a staple fiber in democratic culture for decades after its release , and he exhort Steve Martin ’s carrying out in the revival of the enfranchisement . However , Sellers ’ talents were also displayed in other roles . A lot ofPeter Sellers ’ moviesin the ‘ 70s were perceived as complete failures , although in later years , discernment for the titles grew .

For example , his persona as the satirically sexually insatiate Queen Victoria in 1974’sThe Great McGonagallwas ab initio a ended washout , but he was afterwards praised for the sheer absurdity of his characterisation of the Danaus plexippus . After a menstruum of ill wellness while filmingThe Pink Pantherseries , Sellers ’ career depart to skyrocket once again , and he had appearance in titles such asThe Muppet Show , which garner him an Emmy nomination , andThe Prisoner of Zenda .

6Richard Pryor

The Richard Pryor Show

Richard Pryor revolutionized the world of stand - up funniness in the 1970s because of his viciously reliable observational humor , which provided hysteric social commentary on unremarkable life sentence . After he compose for shows such asSanford and SonandThe Flip Wilson Show , Pryor made his breakthrough with several drollery album , which earned him multiple Grammy Awards . In 1975 , Pryor was one of thefirst to be a guest host forSaturday Night Live , which premiered in the same year . He was the very first black server of the show .

However , some of Pryor ’s best execution were in his own variety show , The Richard Pryor Show . While the show was offset after only four episode , the content of the episodes was well ahead of their time . In these four curt episode , Pryor portray the first contraband President of the United States , parodiedStar Wars , and shone a light on gunman fury in America . These skit were wildly unappreciated at the time , but in recent years , they have been psychoanalyse and lionize for Pryor ’s gritty attitude to society while still insure the employment of drollery for good translation .

5John Cleese

Monty Python & Fawlty Towers

John Cleese was a huge star throughout the 1970s and was famous for his over - the - top , slapstick characters . The two most salient projects Cleese was best known for were one ofthe best sitcom of all time , Fawlty Towers , and as a member of the drollery troupeMonty Python . Monty Pythonspawned several films , includingFlying Circus , the Holy Grail , andLife of Brian , as well as multiple telly shows . While his characters were dissimilar , Cleese brought an incredible tier of humor and gift to each of his use .

However , Cleese ’s talents were n’t qualify to just performance . He also co - wrote two of theMonty Pythonfilms , which were rewarded with multiple BAFTA Awards over the days . Cleese ’s comedic talents were also exhibit in many other movie and TV show function as well , such as Nearly Headless Nick intheHarry Pottermovies , King Harold in theShrekseries , and Archie Leach in A Fish call Wanda , the latter grant him with an Oscar for Best Actor . While Cleese may have become a huge whizz in the ‘ 70s , he continued to be a vast winner for 10 after .

4Mary Tyler Moore

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Mary Tyler Moore , the iconic nominal personality ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show , create a huge legacy throughout her life history , but the ‘ 70s were a peculiarly notable era . Her portrayal of Mary Richards inThe Mary Tyler Moore Show ’s good episodeswas revolutionary , andMoore ’s depiction of a single career - focused woman challenged gender function . Her presence on goggle box screen was massively empowering , yet her use of humor and wit did n’t debase the seriousness of the theme that was at handwriting . The show was a monumental winner through the ‘ 60s and ‘ 70s , and Moore received several Golden Globe nominations for it .

However , Moore ’s astonishing calling was so much more thanThe Mary Tyler Moore Show . She was also a spectacular figure in politics in the ‘ 70s , and Moore used her position and comical skills to encourage the general populace to be more politically involved . Moore ’s dedication to the feminist crusade was not only reflected in her piece of work but also her personal life . Even though Moore dedicated a set of the ‘ LXX toThe Mary Tyler Moore Show , her work on it set her up for a huge movie career throughout the ‘ fourscore and beyond .

3Alan Alda

MASH

Alan Alda ’s career take aim off massively in the seventies , mainly because of his role as Hawkeye Pierce inMASH , his most famous role . Throughout the course of the show , which first began in 1972 , Alda won five Emmy Awards out of 21 nomination . He was also a part ofMASH ’s composition team and contributed to multiple sequence , include “ Goodbye , Farewell and Amen , ” one ofthe skillful situation comedy finales ever . Alda ’s portrait of Hawkeye was praised for what he brought to the character , primarily his bright pacingbut also the excess grade of humanity he add together to the state of war doctor .

Even though Alda was mainly focussed onMASHin the ‘ 70s , he also asterisk in a few celluloid , including 1978’sSame Time , Next Year , for which he was constitute for a Golden Globe . He also seem as Bill Warren in the funniness anthology movieCalifornia Suitein the same twelvemonth , alongside playact legend Michael Caine and Jane Fonda . Although Alda ’s comedy skills through carrying out were firm , his true talent shone within composition and directing , both forMASHand future projects in the decades that followed .

2Carol Burnett

The Carol Burnett Show

The legendary Carol Burnett was a staple personality in the 1970s , and among the celebrated female comedians at that time , she stood above them all . At the peak of her career , The Carol Burnett Showlaunched as a variety show that parodied various tv set serial and film at that meter . Burnett buy the farm from famous to a superstar with her titular show , and it led to the spinoffMama ’s Family , which was also a monolithic succeeder . During and afterThe Carol Burnett Showended in 1978,Carol Burnett ’s well rolesallowed her career to carry on to soar .

While filmingThe Carol Burnett Show , she starred in comedy - drama movies like 1972’sPete ‘ n ’ Tillieand 1974’sThe Front Page . Even though her later undertaking veered forth from comedy and she submit on more dramatic roles , Burnett ’s wittiness was still hugely relevant to the genre overall . In 2019 , she was the first recipient of the Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award for Television , which has since been awarded to the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Ryan Murphy .

1Bob Newhart

The Bob Newhart Show

Bob Newhart ’s comical talents were nothing short of spectacular throughout his calling , but especially in the ‘ 70s . Newhart was fuck for his deadpan delivery and bumbling stutter , which he show in several roles . From 1972 to 1978 , he portrayed psychologist Robert Hartley inThe Bob Newhart Show , which earn him two Emmy nominations . Despite primarily being a telecasting star , Newhart also look in a few films during the 1970s .

He was praise for his character ’s nonsensical nefarious timbre

For example , he impersonate tobacco publicizing executive director Merwin Wren in the 1971 movieCold Turkey , and he was praised for his character ’s derisory nefarious qualities . He also star in the satirical comedy movieCatch-22as Major Major Major , which was unbelievably comic , especially because of his fibre ’s fearful destiny and incessant comparison to Henry Fonda . Although there were so many glorious comedy actors in the seventies , Bob Newhart stood out because his use of humour was unequaled at the fourth dimension , and he did n’t feel the need to be flashy and robustious to be mirthful .

Ben Affleck as Christian drumming his hand on the table while talking to Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Marybeth in The Accountant 2

Madeline Kahn as Lili Von Shtupp from Blazing Saddles and Peter Sellers as Insp. Jacques Clouseau from The Pink Panther.

Custom image by Yeider Chacon