25 Hilarious and Funniest Comedians from Boston
Boston is home to some of the funniest comedians in the country. From iconic funnymen like Conan O’Brien and Bill Burr to younger talents such as Michael Che, these comics are known for their sharp wit and no-nonsense approach to comedy.
So what is it about Boston comedians that has made them so popular?
One possible explanation is their unique brand of humor. Boston natives have a tendency to be direct and outspoken, which helps create a comedic style that resonates with audiences.
Whether discussing politics or pop culture, these performers aren’t afraid to speak their minds – something many fans appreciate. No matter the reason, in this article, we are highlighting some of the biggest and brightest comedic names to come out of Boston and Massachusetts.
25 Super Famous Comedians Coming Out of Boston, MA
Boston comedians often use local references or slang in their material that only those familiar with the area can truly appreciate the lingo. Here are some of the best who do it well.
Bill Burr
Bill Burr is a stand-up comedian, actor, and podcast host from Canton, Massachusetts. He has been performing stand-up comedy since the late 1990s, and his performances are known for their raunchy dark comedy style that often makes you laugh while cringing at the same time.
His most famous works include his Netflix specials “Paper Tiger” and “Walk Your Way Out,” as well as his long-running FXX show “F Is for Family.”
Louis C.K.
Louis C.K. is an American stand-up comedian, writer, director, and producer who was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. His trademark observational comedic style often deals with issues of sex, relationships, and other issues of the human condition.
He has released five stand-up comedy albums and directed, wrote, produced, and starred in various television shows, including the Emmy Award-winning series “Louie.”
Jane Curtin
Jane Curtin is an American actress and comedian from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is best known for her roles on the sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” in the 1970s as well as her roles in films like Coneheads, Three Men and a Baby, and Aliens in the Attic.
She also played a lead role on the sitcom Kate & Allie, which ran for six seasons.
Mike Birbiglia
Mike Birbiglia is an American stand-up comedian and actor from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He is best known for his engaging storytelling style and observational humor.
He has released four stand-up comedy albums as well as written, directed, and starred in several films, including Sleepwalk with Me, Don’t Think Twice, and The New One.
Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham is an American comedian, writer, musician, director, and poet from Hamilton, Massachusetts. His YouTube videos have garnered millions of views, and he was the youngest person ever to be featured at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival. H
e has since moved on to directing his own feature film, “Eighth Grade,” which won a Screenplay Award at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
Rob Corddry
Rob Corddry is an American comedian, actor, and writer from Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is best known for his work on the Emmy-winning show “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and his comedy website “Children’s Hospital.”
His film credits include Hot Tub Time Machine, Warm Bodies, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Blades of Glory.
Jay Leno
Jay Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host from Andover, Massachusetts. He is best known for being the longest-running host in late-night television history as the host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” from 1992 to 2014.
His trademark observational humor has earned him numerous awards, including two Emmy Awards and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Joe List
Joe List is an American stand-up comedian from Whitman, Massachusetts. His comedy often focuses on his personal life, and he has released two albums, “I Hate Myself” and “Are You Mad at Me?”
He has performed alongside some of the biggest names in comedy, including Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, and Jim Gaffigan.
Steve Carell
Steve Carell is an actor, writer, director, and producer from Concord, Massachusetts. After starting as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he went on to appear in numerous films such as The 40-year-old Virgin, Little Miss Sunshine, and Foxcatcher.
He also created, wrote, and starred in the Emmy Award-winning show “The Office.”
Gary Gulman
Gary Gulman is an American stand-up comedian from Peabody, Massachusetts. His comedy often focuses on his everyday life experiences as well as social issues such as sexism and racism.
He has released five albums, and his Netflix special “Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020.
Denis Leary
Denis Leary is an actor, writer, producer, and comedian from Worcester, Massachusetts. His comedy often draws on his Irish roots and makes use of biting sarcasm to deliver humorous insights into modern life.
His most popular works include “No Cure for Cancer,” the FX sitcom “Rescue Me,” and the movie “The Ref.”
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler is an American actress, comedian, director, and writer from Newton, Massachusetts. She was part of the original cast of Saturday Night Live, where she earned two Emmy Awards for her work.
Her acting credits include films such as Baby Mama and Sisters and television shows like Parks and Recreation and Welcome to Sweden.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling is an American actress, comedian, producer, and writer from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is best known for creating and starring in The Mindy Project, which ran on Fox for six seasons.
She has also written two books and appeared in numerous films, including Ocean’s 8, Late Night, and A Wrinkle in Time.
Steven Wright
Steven Wright is an American stand-up comedian from Cambridge, Massachusetts, who is known for his deadpan delivery of surreal one-liners.
He was named the “funniest person in America” by MTV in 1989 and has released several comedy albums as well as starring in a few films such as Natural Born Killers and Half Baked.
Doug Stanhope
Doug Stanhope is an American stand-up comedian from Worcester, Massachusetts whose dark humor often centers on taboo topics such as death, suicide, drug use, racism and sexism.
He has appeared on shows such as The Man Show and his own show “The Doug Stanhope Podcast”.
Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan is an American stand-up comedian, television host, actor and martial arts color commentator from Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts.
He hosts the podcast Joe Rogan Experience which is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with millions of listeners each month.
Jason Mantzoukas
Jason Mantzoukas is an American actor, comedian and writer from Nahant, Massachusetts. He was a regular cast member on The League and has appeared in films such as The House, Dirty Grandpa and My Spy.
His comedic writing credits include The LEGO Batman Movie and The Dictator.
Dane Cook
Dane Cook is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer from Boston, Massachusetts, who is most famous for his comedy albums Harmful If Swallowed and Retaliation.
He has appeared in numerous films such as Good Luck Chuck and My Best Friend’s Girl, and he was part of the original cast of HBO’s Tourgasm.
B.J Novak
B.J Novak is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer and director from Newton, Massachusetts. He is best known for his role on NBC’s hit show “The Office,” where he both wrote scripts and played Ryan Howard.
He is also the author of several books, including “The Book with No Pictures”, which was a New York Times best seller.
Jenny Slate
Jenny Slate is an American actress, comedian and writer from Milton, Massachusetts. She first gained recognition for her role on Saturday Night Live, and she has since had recurring roles in films such as Zootopia and The Secret Life of Pets 2 as well as television shows like Parks and Recreation and Kroll Show.
Her stand-up comedy special “Stage Fright” premiered on Netflix in 2019.
Bryan Callen
Bryan Callen is an American actor and stand-up comedian from Gill, Massachusetts. He is best known for his roles in films such as The Hangover, Old School, and Bad Santa 2 and on television shows like How I Met Your Mother and MADtv.
He has also written two books and released several comedy albums.
John Krasinski
John Krasinski is an American actor, director and producer from Newton, Massachusetts. He first gained recognition for his role on NBC’s hit show “The Office,” where he played Jim Halpert.
His directing credits include the critically acclaimed film A Quiet Place, which was co-written by him alongside Scott Beck and Bryan Woods.
Ziwe Fumudoh
Ziwe Fumudoh is an American comedian, writer, and producer from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
She is best known for her work on The Rundown with Robin Thede and Desus & Mero, as well as her comedy web series “Baited,” which premiered on Showtime in 2020.
Conan O’Brien
Conan O’Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, podcaster, and producer from Boston, Massachusetts, who first gained recognition for his stint hosting NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
He now hosts the popular late-night talk show “Conan” on TBS, and he is the host of the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” which has garnered millions of listeners each episode.
Patrice O’Neal
Patrice O’Neal was an American stand-up comedian, actor, radio personality, and author from Boston, Massachusetts. He gained recognition for his appearances on shows such as The Office and Arrested Development as well as through various comedy specials, including Elephant in the Room, which premiered on Comedy Central in 2011.
His work often touched on issues such as racism and sexism while incorporating elements of physical comedy. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 41 due to complications from a stroke he suffered earlier that year.
Only the Best Comedians are From Boston
Boston has been home to some of the most beloved comedic talent of all time. From Bill Burr to Conan O’Brien, Boston has played a major role in the evolution and development of comedy. This city is full of wit and humor that can be hard to ignore.
The culture of Boston also plays an important role in fostering the growth of great comedians. It’s a city with a strong sense of pride and resilience that can often be seen reflected in their comedy.
With plenty of Irish pubs around town, it’s no wonder why so many comedians find inspiration here – they only need to look around them for jokes!