From Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo to Jason Alexander as George Costanza, the oft-dismissed sitcom genre has featured plenty of truly iconic performances over the years. When it comes to TV acting, the critical acclaim is usually reserved for dramas. There’s been a lot of praise directed at James Gandolfini’s work inThe SopranosandJon Hamm’s work inMad Menand Rhea Seehorn’s work inBetter Call Saul.
But it takes just as much skill and craft and talent to give a good comedic performance as it does to give a good dramatic performance. Bryan Cranston brought just as much depth and commitment to his turn asa dorky dad inMalcolm in the Middleas he brought to his turn as a meth kingpin inBreaking Bad. So, here are the greatest sitcom performances in TV history.
20Danny DeVito As Frank Reynolds
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005–)
When Danny DeVito joinedthe cast ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiain its second season, he instantly proved to be the missing ingredient. Although he started out as a dysfunctional father figure to the Gang, Frank has since devolved into the epitome of grotesqueness. He’s the most depraved, disgusting human being imaginable, and — whether he’s dribbling peach down his bare chest or sliding naked out of a couch — DeVito has thrown himself into that role without a hint of reservation.
19Jaleel White As Steve Urkel
Family Matters (1989–1998)
Jaleel White’s turn as Steve Urkel proved to be so iconic that he took over the whole show. He’s the go-to example of a breakout character.Family Matterswas conceived as a blue-collar alternative to the more upper-class family unit ofThe Cosby Show. But as soon as White showed up with his suspenders, his high-pitched voice, and his wacky inventions, it promptly becameThe Urkel Show. He became the quintessential nerd archetype of his generation.
18Rip Torn As Artie
The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998)
The titular show-within-a-show inThe Larry Sanders Showis a frivolous, lighthearted talk show, but its producer Artie ran it like he was leading an army into battle. Artie was the hot-tempered middleman between neurotic Larry and his pesky network handlers. Rip Torn played the part to perfection. He could put anyone in their place with a furious rant or an incisive insult, then go straight back to being delighted by Larry’s on-air patter.
17Betty White As Rose Nylund
The Golden Girls (1985–1992), The Golden Palace (1992–1993)
Betty White’s portrayal of Rose Nylund inThe Golden Girlsmade her a national treasure. Rose is sweet, innocent, and not the brightest bulb, but she’s also the funniest character on the show. The running gag ofRose telling bizarre stories from her hometown of St. Olafmight’ve gotten old in the hands of another actor, but White managed to keep it fresh each time, because she brought a real earnestness to every anecdote.
16Matt King As Super Hans
Peep Show (2003–2015)
David Mitchell and Robert Webb each give hilarious performances as the yin and yang at the heart ofPeep Show, but Matt King’s “crack-addled maniac” Super Hans stole the show every time he joined them on-screen. Every word that emerges from Super Hans’ mouth is jaw-droppingly out-of-pocket. Everyone onPeep Showwas great, but none of them got more frequent laughs (or more hysterical laughs) than Hans.
15Andre Braugher As Captain Raymond Holt
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)
When Captain Raymond Holt took over the 99th Precinct at the beginning ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine, the show wrung plenty of laughs out of his no-nonsense by-the-book attitude in contrast to hotshot young detective Jake Peralta, and Andre Braugher developed the perfect style of deadpan line delivery. But as the show went on, Braugher brought a lot of depth to Holt underneath his deadpan facade. It became clear that he’d overcome decades of prejudice to build his career, and he became a much-needed father figure to Peralta.
14Phoebe Waller-Bridge As Fleabag
Fleabag (2016–2019)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge originated her fourth-wall-breaking free spirit Fleabag on stage before adapting her one-woman show for the screen. By then, Waller-Bridge knew exactly who this character was and exactly how to play her.Fleabagis a raw, honest, warts-and-all portrayal of an uninhibited, yet rageful young woman. Waller-Bridge is darkly hilarious in the role, but that’s just one facet of this three-dimensional human being.
13Carroll O’Connor As Archie Bunker
All In The Family (1971–1979), Archie Bunker’s Place (1979–1983)
All in the Familywrung laughter out of America’s political divisions at a time when those divisions were tearing the country apart.The grumpy patriarch, Archie Bunker, was the show’s mouthpiece for extreme conservative views. He’s the ultimate archetype of the angry white man; he hates everyone who isn’t exactly like him. Carroll O’Connor’s razor-sharp performance came from the right place. He ensured that Archie’s character was always satirizing bigotry, not indulging it, which was surprisingly progressive for the ‘70s.
12J.B. Smoove As Leon Black
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)
The 12-season run ofCurb Your Enthusiasmcan be split into two distinctive eras: pre-Leon and post-Leon. Leon Black’s arrival was such a momentous shift in the dynamic that it changed the whole vibe of the series. Outspoken, fun-loving, street-smart Leon was the perfect comedic counterpoint to the curmudgeonly, antisocial Larry David. J.B. Smoove is such a gifted improviser that he could go off on a wild tangent, hit 10 talking points no one saw coming, and still manage to bring it back to the original purpose of the scene.
11Rowan Atkinson As Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean (1990–1995)
Rowan Atkinson’s performance inMr. Beanis a masterclass in physical comedy.Mr. Beanhas achieved global success, because his non-verbal antics transcend the language barrier. Even though he doesn’t say anything, it’s always apparent what he’s thinking and why he’s doing the crazy things he’s doing, because Atkinson plays the slapstick of every absurd scenario with such crystal-clear intention and motivation.
