Can You Name These Old-School Comedy Legends?

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name These Old-School Comedy Legends?
Image: WikiCommons

About This Quiz

In show business, the hardest thing to do, they say, is to make people laugh. It's easy to tug at heartstrings if you're a performer. Any audience will always relate to dramatic moments when they see it performed on stage, in film and on TV. It's also easy, they say, to pump up the audience's adrenaline by presenting action-packed stories. It's mighty easy to scare the pants off of people, too! Imagine the popularity of horror stories and their timeless tactics of scaring people.

But comedy? Now that is a totally different planet altogether. They say it's really hard to tickle the funny bone of audiences, because different people respond to different types of humor. What a comedian considers funny might not be so funny to someone else. Some comedy gags or jokes might be offensive to certain groups or sectors. And the thing is, a comedian will not know which is funny, and which is not, to a given audience at a certain time!

Tough, eh? That's the job of a comedian, whether they're performing stand-up, acting in sitcoms, creating comedy movies or something else. That's why you can just imagine how great these old-school legends are, since they became classics in their field, and they became timeless and classic to boot.

So, can you name these very funny men and women from before? Some of them are still active today! Give it a try—and have fun, fun, fun!

George Burns Can you identify this old-school comedy legend?
W.C. Fields
Leon Errol
George Burns
Sylvester Wiere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Talk about a transmedia comedian! George Burns originated in vaudeville, then made his way to radio, then films, and of course TV. He was 100 years old when he left us.

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Charlie Chaplin Do you recognize this old-school comedy legend?
Harpo Marx
Charlie Chaplin
Chico Marx
Zeppo Marx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No one does comedy like Charlie Chaplin. He set the standards for many comedic things today.

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Lucille Ball How about this old-school comedy legend?
Amy Poehler
Tina Fey
Beatrice Lille
Lucille Ball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lucille Ball is undoubtedly the great dame of comedy. Her TV show "I Love Lucy" was such a big hit—and it's still continuing to find audiences in the younger generations.

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Laurel and Hardy What about this legendary duo of comedy?
Laurel and Hardy
Harry and Langdon
Fat and Thin
Cole and Grey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make up one of the earliest comedy buddy teams of cinema. Laurel and Hardy delivered the laughs!

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Phyllis Diller Do you remember this old-school comedy legend?
Phyllis Diller
Kristen Wiig
Ellen DeGeneres
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Have you heard Phyllis Diller's laughter? Even that is funny, like her antics and jokes.

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groucho-marx Who is this old-school comedy legend?
Bill Irwin
Bert Lahr
Groucho Marx
Jimmy Savo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Groucho Marx was one of those comedians who had a quick wit. His words were the funniest of 'em all!

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Joan Rivers Can you name this stylish comedy legend?
Martha Raye
Jane Curtin
Mae West
Joan Rivers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joan Rivers was a pioneer in late-night talk show hosting. But people remember her more for being the original "Fashion Police" host, poking fun at celebs without batting an eyelash!

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Bob Hope Can you tell the name of this veteran comedy legend?
Bob Hope
Harold Lloyd
Chic Johnson
Ole Olsen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bob Hope was well-known for making military personnel laugh. Wherever they were stationed, and whatever the battle situation, Bob Hope was there with his comedic acts to really give hope to these service people.

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The Carol Burnett Show What’s the name of this female comedian?
Carol Burnett
Imogene Coca
Joan Davis
Charlotte Greenwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Who could ever forget "The Carol Burnett Show"? The great comedy lady's show lasted for 11 seasons on air!

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Jerry Lewis Can you recognize this old-school comedy legend?
Max Wall
Mantan Moreland
Jerry Lewis
Dusty Fletcher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jerry Lewis is undeniably the King of Comedy, and he hosted yearly telethons to help children with muscular dystrophy. He passed away in 2017.

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Gilda Radner Could you tell who is this old-school comedy legend?
Gilda Radner
Vicki Lawrence
Rita Rudner
Roseanne Barr
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gilda Radner was one of the pioneering cast members of "Saturday Night Live." She succumbed to ovarian cancer at age 42, back in 1989.

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Buster Keaton Can you recognize this man?
Edgar Bergen
Jack Benny
Buster Keaton
Joe E. Brown
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buster Keaton is another comedic genius who made people laugh during the silent film era of Hollywood. He also made a cameo as one of the "Waxworks" card game buddies of Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard."

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Abbot and Costello Do you know this duo?
Charles and Keith
Benny and June
Samson and Delilah
Abbot and Costello
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Who's on First?" Definitely Abbot and Costello, in our list of great comedic duos.

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Milton Berle What about this one?
Milton Berle
Eddie Cantor
Michael Palin
Peter Cook
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Milton Berle is one of the earliest big TV stars. He was popular during the so-called Golden Age of Television that started in the 1940s.

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Jack Lemmon Can you name this personality?
Billy Gilbert
Stepin Fetchit
Jack Lemmon
Eric Sykes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jack Lemmon is one of the recognizable old-school comedy legends of cinema. He starred with Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot." He also won Oscar awards for his performances, but some of them were dramatic.

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Jackie Gleason Can you identify this comedian?
Chevy Chase
Steve Martin
Spike Milligan
Jackie Gleason
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Everybody knows Jackie Gleason as a funnyman. But he was also a musician who had many albums to his name!

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Peter Sellers Do you know this man?
Peter Sellers
Eric Idle
Danny Kaye
John Belushi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you say Peter Sellers, people remember Inspector Clouseau. He's that clumsily funny detective character in the Pink Panther films.

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Rodney Dangerfield Who’s this one?
Zero Mostel
Rodney Dangerfield
Tim Conway
Phil Silvers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rodney Dangerfield is indeed a whiz of one-liners. He made many comedy movies as well. "I don't get no respect!"

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Richard Pryor Can you name this comedian?
Ian Carmichael
Red Skelton
Richard Pryor
Ben Turpin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Richard Pryor was known for his stand-up humor that also included social issues of the time. Racism was one theme prominent in his jokes.

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George Carlin Can you tell the name of this guy?
Sam Kinison
Freddie Prinze
Russell Peters
George Carlin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

George Carlin was more of a counterculture kind of comedian. But his humor is also philosophical, in a way.

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Andy Kaufman What’s the name of this one?
Andy Kaufman
Bernie Mac
Garry Shandling
Woody Allen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andy Kaufman was a different kind of comedian. He became popular in the '70s.

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Fanny Brice Do you know this pioneering woman of comedy?
Goldie Hawn
Jane Lynch
Fanny Brice
Tracey Ullman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fanny Brice is indeed the star of comedy on stage and in radio. Barbra Streisand portrayed her life in the movie musical "Funny Girl."

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Don Rickles Do you recognize this man?
Robert Klein
Dick Gregory
Don Rickles
Redd Foxx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Don Rickles was a regular guest on many late-night talk shows. He was also the voice of Mr. Potato Head in the Toy Story films.

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Lily Tomlin Could you tell who this woman is?
Jean Stapleton
Doris Roberts
Amy Sedaris
Lily Tomlin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lily Tomlin is a very versatile comedian. She has appeared on films, on Broadway, in TV, and now streaming media. "And that's the truth.... pfffft!"

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Jimmy Durante Can you recognize this comedian?
Jimmy Durante
Dick Van Dyke
Robin Williams
Flip Wilson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jimmy Durante is known as a versatile performer. He did comedy and made music, too, during the '20s, up until the '70s. "Ha cha cha!"

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Mel Brooks How about this really funny man?
Jonathan Winters
Victor Borge
Mel Brooks
Billy Wilder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mel Brooks is undeniably the king of comedy parodies. He also became a director of comedy films.

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Sid Caesar What about this truly funny legend?
Harry Corbett
Terry-Thomas
Mack Sennett
Sid Caesar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sid Caesar was a comedian that was advanced for his years. He influenced many other generations of comedians after him.

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Cloris Leachman Who is this funny lady?
Cloris Leachman
Bernadette Peters
Kathy Griffin
Katey Sagal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cloris Leachman is already in her 90s, but she's still very active as of 2018! Good for her, and good for us who love her style!

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Moe, Larry and Curly Can you guess who this is?
Jun, King and Austria
Snap, Crackle and Pop
Moe, Larry and Curly Joe
Tito, Vic and Joey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Moe, Larry and Curly Joe were one incarnation of the group known as The Three Stooges. Their physical slapstick comedy style originated way back in the '20s!

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Mary Tyler Moore Take a wild guess! Who’s this lady?
Mary Tyler Moore
Bette Midler
Rue McClanahan
Diane Keaton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mary Tyler Moore is indeed an icon of television. She enhanced the spunky feminist image of a working woman, back when this kind of persona wasn't well-televised yet.

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Bea Arthur Who’s this?
Bea Arthur
Rhea Perlman
Gracie Allen
Megan Mullally
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bea Arthur is best remembered for being Dorothy in "The Golden Girls." But she was also an accomplished singer, even performing in Broadway musicals.

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Redd Foxx Can you name this person?
Lee Evans
Dick Emery
Redd Foxx
Norman Wisdom
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Redd Foxx starred in "Sanford and Son" in the '70s. But he was already popular as a comedian who came out with recordings of his act during the '50s and '60s.

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Bob Newhart What’s the name of this person?
Bob Newhart
Tommy Cooper
Joe DeRita
Bing Crosby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bob Newhart's style of comedic delivery reflects a deadpan style. And that really makes it very funny, for he's good at pulling it off.

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W.C. Fields Do you know this celebrity?
W.C. Fields
Bill Cosby
Charley Chase
Eric Morecambe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

W.C. Fields was a Ziegfield Follies veteran. He was also a famous comedian of the silent film era.

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Moms Mabley Who do you think is this?
Carol Kane
Shelley Long
Moms Mabley
Barbara Eden
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Moms Mabley was indeed like a mother to many other stand-up comics of her time. She was also very edgy and didn't have a filter in choosing taboo topics for comedic material.

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Gene Wilder Can you tell us the name of this legendary funny man?
Gene Wilder
Hal Roach
Leo Gorcey
Sidney James
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gene Wilder starred in many comedy films in his lifetime. But his Willy Wonka version stuck with many generations, especially when he sang "Pure Imagination."

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Fatty Arbuckle What about this man from the past?
Charlie Hall
Billy Gilbert
Fatty Arbuckle
James Finlayson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Another comedian of the silent film era was Fatty Arbuckle. But a murder accusation overshadowed his work at the end of his career.

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Betty White Who’s this classy comic lady?
Betty White
Teri Garr
Vivian Vance
Laraine Newman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We can't seem to detach Betty White's naive Rose persona from "The Golden Girls" whenever we see her act in other roles. But she also had film roles where she was such a fighter, but in a comedic way, still.

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Estelle Getty And this truly funny person is…
Penny Marshall
Fran Drescher
Estelle Getty
Sandra Bernhard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Estelle Getty was hilarious in her "The Golden Girls" role of Sophia, mother of Dorothy. She won awards for her television work.

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Madeline Kahn What’s the name of this old-school comedy legend?
Madeline Kahn
Nora Dunn
Carole Lombard
Jamie Lee Curtis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Madeline Kahn was a frequent collaborator of Mel Brooks in his films. She was Elizabeth in "Young Frankenstein." She had a healthy film, TV and theater career before succumbing to ovarian cancer in 1999.

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