Television sitcoms have long been one of our most cherished sources of entertainment, the best of which offer a gateway to a colorful world of tear-inducing laughter. Some of them have been the subject of great controversy as they walked the thin line of the tolerable, while others have been vehicles for social change and the breaking of barriers.
In this article, we pay homage to the unforgettable performances that have graced our screens and left an indelible mark on the realm of TV comedies. We celebrate the actors who have shown extreme performance depth, tickled our funny bones, and challenged our preconceptions. From perfectly-timed comedic delivery to tear-inducing moments of drama, these iconic actors have left an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences worldwide.
10 Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards in The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a popular 1970s sitcom that aired for seven seasons. It tells the story of Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), a single woman navigating her career and relationships in a male-dominated workplace while stumbling from one awkwardly funny situation to another. Moore managed to smartly walk on thin ice while challenging societal norms and putting a spotlight on issues concerning women's equality.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show had extremely high viewership ratings and received 29 Emmy Awards, including three consecutive wins for outstanding comedy series and several best actress awards for Moore. Adding to her many talents, Moore has also been hailed as "one of the best actors in TV history at playing drunk" by Vox for her performance in Chuckles Bites the Dust (episode 7 of season 6).
9 Larry David as Himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is a mockumentary series that has been running for more than two decades, in which Larry David plays a fictionalized version of himself. As the creator and star of the show, David brings his unique blend of wit, neuroticism, and unfiltered honesty to the forefront, delivering a masterclass in improvisational humor. Throughout the show, David navigates everyday situations with an uncanny ability to find the most awkward and cringe-worthy moments. Armed with his careless grumpy old man behavior, David fearlessly confronts social norms and etiquette, turning even the most basic human interactions into a circus fest.
Thanks to his brilliant razor-sharp performance and comedic depth, David has solidified Curb Your Enthusiasm as a timeless classic in television comedy, earning it a whopping 92% Rotten Tomatoes score from both the critics and the audience.
8 Betty White as Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls
Rose Nylund, played by Betty White, is one of the key characters in The Golden Girls (1985 - 1992), a series about four widows who enjoy their shared experiences and friendship in the face of life's hardships. White's comedic timing is impeccable as she delivers Rose's innocent yet hilariously offbeat remarks, often becoming the source of many memorable one-liners, such as "My mother always used to say: 'The older you get, the better you get, unless you're a banana.'" Her chemistry with the rest of the cast is also undeniable, and her ability to seamlessly blend humor with moments of emotion adds heart and depth to the show's dynamic.
Betty White won her third Primetime Emmyin the very first season of The Golden Girls, and her tour de force performance remains in the hearts of viewers to this day.
7 Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing in Friends
It isn’t easy to reach a consensus on who deserves the top performance spot in the most popular sitcom in history – namely Friends. However, there’s a reason why Chandler Bing has repeatedly come to the top of people’s lists; it’s that perfect mixture of charm coupled with an endless well of sarcastic comebacks and a 180-degree character arc. Perry’s seamless transition between humor and vulnerability also makes Chandler one of the most quotable and memorable characters in the show.
In 2002, Matthew Perry was nominated for an Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series award but narrowly beaten by Ray Romano for his role in Everybody Loves Raymond.
6 Leah Remini in The King of Queens
Leah Remini's performance as Carrie Heffernan in The King of Queens stands out as one of the most badass female characters in sitcom history. Here, Remini delivers an addictive blend of wit, sass, and warmth hardly any other character in the genre can come close to match. As the no-nonsense wife of Doug Heffernan (Kevin James), she effortlessly navigates the comedic highs and emotional nuances of the role (in some cases, she can also be quite scary!). Whether engaging in humorous banter with Doug or asserting her strong personality, she brings a relatable authenticity to the character that has resonated with audiences all over the globe.
Acknowledging Leah's outstanding performance, James told the Philly Voice that he "was definitely the weak link for sure as far as acting was concerned on the show", adding that Leah and Jerry Stiller (as Arthur Spooner) "had done a crazy amount of things".
5 Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean in Mr. Bean
Even though it consists of only 15 episodes, Mr. Bean has cemented itself as a cultural phenomenon for comedy lovers worldwide. With impeccable physical comedy and a unique brand of silent humor, Rowan Atkinson brings the endearing and bumbling character of Mr. Bean to life. With a heavy reliance on facial expressions, hilarious physical movements, and almost no dialogue, Atkinson has created a cultural phenomenon relatable to children and adults of all backgrounds.
Apart from the one and only season of the series, Mr. Bean's return can be witnessed in two subsequent feature films as well as a more recent animated version of the show. Currently, the British comedy gem rocks a flawless 100% critics score and 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
4 Jaleel White as Steve Urkel in Family Matters
Family Matters is a '80s/'90s sitcom that follows the various misadventures of Papa Carl Winslow (played by Reginald VelJohnson) and his family, at the core of which mostly stands their annoying nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White). White's ability to seamlessly switch between Urkel's clumsy, hilarious persona and his smooth alter ego Stefan Urquelle showcases his astounding versatility as an actor.
White's comedic genius and charisma breathed life into the show, making Urkel a standout and beloved figure that would come to overshadow even Papa Winslow. Comedians Key and Peele take this relationship to another level in a hilarious sketch Comedy Central sketch called – you guessed it – "Family Matters".
3 Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy in Married... With Children
Married... With Children is Ed O'Neill's most memorable performance by far. In this bold, unapologetic sitcom, he steps into the shoes of Al Bundy, a disgruntled shoe sales guy (not an easy pun to resist) tired of family life. Here, O'Neill masterfully embodies an iconic blend of sarcasm, cynicism, and unfulfilled dreams.
Al's often outrageous antics have caused audiences to both laugh and empathize with his plight, and throughout the show's run, his consistent deliveries of standout performances created a character that has become a cultural icon (and the face of many popular memes).
Married with Children still boasts an incredible 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
2 Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes in Seinfeld
Seinfeld, the highest-grossing sitcom of all time, features several titans of comedy, all of whom have had an impeccable track record in comedy, including Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, the late Jerry Stiller, and of course, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Through her role as Elain Benes, the Veep star secured one of the most memorable performances in TV history.
As Jerry Seinfeld's hilarious and eccentric best friend, she effortlessly steals every scene she's in. Elaine's sassy personality, quirky dance moves, and memorable catchphrases have become iconic, leaving a lasting impact on pop culture, with Far Out Magazine dubbing her "The greatest TV character of all time".
1 Ricky Gervais as David Brent in The Office UK
Inspired by his own experiences as an office manager, Ricky Gervais's iconic performance as David Brent in The Office added a new dimension to endearment mixed with second-hand embarrassment. As both the co-creator and lead actor in the series, Gervais showcases his comedic genius in full force. His portrayal of Brent, the cringe-worthy, yet lovable office manager, is an unparalleled comedic masterpiece that inspired more than a dozen countries around the world to create their own spin-offs of the show, the most notable being the US version.
And just like that, Brent and The Office turned Gervais into an overnight success at a time no one in the world had ever heard of the Brit. In a sit-down with the BBC, Gervais recalled his own surprise at the show's unexpected take-off: "I didn't have huge ambitions, it was never, 'This is going to be a massive hit,". Throughout the years, the original series won numerous awards including a Best Actor in a Television Series Golden Globe for Gervais.