Comedy Atlas / History / Influences

Comedy Influences

Search any comic, then climb their family tree. Influences sit above, the comics they inspired below. Every line carries its source.

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sourced from an articlesourced from Wikidata onlyTap any comic to re-centre

Who influenced the comics you love? This tree maps 720 documented influence links between 506 stand-up comics and comedy figures, from Richard Pryor, Charlie Chaplin and Coluche and more. Pick anyone to see who shaped them above and who they went on to inspire below. Solid lines are sourced from an article; dashed lines come from Wikidata only.

Every comic and comedy figure, A to Z

506 people, each with a page listing who influenced them and who they influenced. Every link names its source.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z #

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About this data

Influence links come from Wikidata property P737 (“influenced by”) and from statements in English and French Wikipedia articles, each linked as its source. A link means the source says so, not that Comedy Atlas has judged it. Missing a link, or spotted a mistake? Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences below; backgrounds were removed automatically and some may be imperfect.

Photo credits (200 photos)
"Weird Al" Yankovic — Kristine Slipson, CC BY 3.0, source
Adam Sandler — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Adriano Celentano — Collezione Biblioteca Comunale G.D. Romagnosi, Salsomaggiore Terme, Public domain, source
Albert Brooks — Melissa cybermelli@aol.com from New York, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Alexander Pope — Michael Dahl, Public domain, source
Alexandre Astier — AAstierOff, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Alexei Sayle — Chris Boland (www.chrisboland.com), CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Allan Sherman — CBS Television, Public domain, source
Alphonse Allais — unidentified Photograph, Public domain, source
Amy Schumer — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Andrew Dice Clay — LOL Comedy from Hollywood, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Andrew Dismukes — PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0, source
Andy Kaufman — ABC, Public domain, source
Anthony Anderson — Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Anthony Jeselnik — Rooster T Feathers Comedy Club on YouTube, CC BY 3.0, source
Anton Chekhov — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Arie Kaplan — Alex Lozupone, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Artie Lange — dearsomeone at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dearsomeone/, CC BY 2.0, source
Arto Paasilinna — Bff, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ben Stiller — Frank Sun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Benny Hill — Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Bette Midler — Library of Congress Life, CC0, source
Bill Burr — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bill Cosby — The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, CC BY 2.0, source
Bill Hicks — Bill_Hicks_at_the_Laff_Stop_in_Austin,_Texas,_1991_(2).jpg: Angela Davis (Angela D.) from , CC BY 2.0, source
Bill Maher — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY 3.0, source
Bill Murray — Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Billy Connolly — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Billy Crystal — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bing Crosby — AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, source
Blanche Gardin — France 3 Corse ViaStella, CC BY 3.0, source
Bo Burnham — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, source
Bob Hope — NBC Television, Public domain, source
Bob Newhart — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
Bobcat Goldthwait — John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Buster Keaton — Bain News Service, Public domain, source
Carlos Mencia — Staff Sgt. Joshua Garcia, Public domain, source
Carol Burnett — Unknown photographer, Public domain, source
Cem Yılmaz — Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Charlie Chaplin — Strauss-Peyton Studio, Public domain, source
Cheech Marin — Hispanic Lifestyle, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Chevy Chase — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, source
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — fronteirasweb, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Chris Rock — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, source
Conan O'Brien — Montclair Film, CC BY 4.0, source
Cuba Gooding Jr. — Bandit1155, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Curnonsky — Jpbrigand, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dan Aykroyd — Rnunezart, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dana Carvey — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
Danny Kaye — Wikiwatcher1 at en.wikipedia, Public domain, source
Dave Allen — CBS Television, Public domain, source
Dave Barry — Purocafe (talk), crop by Ruhrfisch ><>°°, Public domain, source
Dave Chappelle — John Bauld from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0, source
David Brenner — NBC, Public domain, source
David Cross — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
David Letterman — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from Washington D.C, United States DoD photo by Mas, CC BY 2.0, source
Denis Leary — Adam Freese at https://www.flickr.com/photos/31582437@N05/, CC BY 2.0, source
Dennis Miller — The original uploader was Anetode at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0, source
Dercy Gonçalves — Andréa Farias, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Dick Gregory — Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Dick Van Dyke — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Djuna Barnes — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Don Rickles — John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Donald Glover — Bill Ingalls, Public domain, source
Eddie Izzard — Christopher William Adach from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Eddie Murphy — David Shankbone, Public domain, source
Edward Bulwer-Lytton — Henry William Pickersgill, Public domain, source
Ellen DeGeneres — Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Eric André — Maryanne Ventrice from Brooklyn NY, CC BY 2.0, source
Ernie Kovacs — Dutch Masters Cigars, Kovacs' sponsor., Public domain, source
Evelyn Waugh — Carl Van Vechten (1880–1964), Public domain, source
Federico Fellini — Walter Albertin, World Telegram staff photographer, Public domain, source
Francisco Quevedo — Attributed to Juan van der Hamen, Public domain, source
François Rabelais — anonymous / Unidentified painter, Public domain, source
Gabriel Iglesias — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Gallagher — derivative work: Nightscream (talk) Gallagher_comedian.jpg: Original uploader was Malicedo, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Garry Shandling — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
George Burns — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
George Carlin — Little David Records, Public domain, source
George Lopez — Brooke Army Medical Center, CC BY 2.0, source
Giuseppe Parini — Rijksmuseum, CC0, source
Groucho Marx — ABC Photo, Public domain, source
H. L. Mencken — Unknown, Public domain, source
Hannibal Buress — Ezmosis, CC BY 3.0, source
Harold Lloyd — Daniel Blum, Public domain, source
Harpo Marx — Vandamm Studio, Public domain, source
Hasan Minhaj — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Irwin Corey — NBC Television, Public domain, source
Jack Benny — Photographer not credited, Public domain, source
Jack Black — NickRewind, CC BY 3.0, source
Jack Carroll — University of Salford Press Office, CC BY 2.0, source
Jack Paar — NBC Television, Public domain, source
Jackie Gleason — General Amusement Corporation / James Koll, photographer, Public domain, source
Jackie Mason — Carl Lender at https://www.flickr.com/photos/clender/, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Jacques Tati — Willy Pragher, CC BY 3.0 de, source
Jamie Kennedy — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Jane Austen — Cassandra Austen, Public domain, source
Jane Curtin — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
Jay Leno — US mission to the European Union, Public domain, source
Jeff Garlin — HandsomeJeffGarlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Jerry Lewis — According to Bonhams, the reverse side was stamped with "Paramount Photo by Bud Fraker". A, Public domain, source
Jerry Seinfeld — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
Jim Carrey — SHOWTIME, CC BY 3.0, source
Jim Gaffigan — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, source
Jim Jefferies — Barrylb, CC0, source
Jimmy Carr — Albin Olsson, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Jimmy Kimmel — Erin Scott, Public domain, source
Joan Rivers — Harry Langdon, Public domain, source
Joey Bragg — KidsPickFlicks, CC BY 3.0, source
Joey Diaz — Febrezey2011, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
John Belushi — Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Public domain, source
John Candy — NBC, Public domain, source
John Cleese — Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
John Goodman — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
John Oliver — Neil Grabowsky / Montclair Film Festival, CC BY 2.0, source
Johnny Carson — NBC Television, Public domain, source
Jon Lovitz — Romina Espinosa at http://www.rominaespinosa.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Jon Stewart — Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump, Public domain, source
Jonathan Swift — Charles Jervas, Public domain, source
Jonathan Winters — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Jordan Peele — Kevin Edwards from Palo Alto, CC BY 2.0, source
Josh Peck — NickRewind, CC BY 3.0, source
Judd Apatow — Jay Dixit, CC BY 4.0, source
Karel Čapek — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Karl Kraus — AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, source
Kathy Griffin — nrkbeta, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Kel Mitchell — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, source
Kevin Hart — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Kevin James — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Larry David — David Shankbone, Public domain, source
Larry Wilmore — Clparish, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lewis Black — U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth, Public domain, source
Louis C.K. — ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS, CC BY 2.0, source
Lucian of Samosata — William Faithorne, Public domain, source
Lucille Ball — CBS Television, Public domain, source
Ludvig Holberg — Unknown, Public domain, source
Mae West — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, source
Marcel Marceau — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Marina Rollman — Louis Longpré from Grenoble, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Martin Short — Library of Congress Life, CC0, source
Marty Feldman — AVRO, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, source
Michelle Wolf — Erin Nekervis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Mickey Rooney — Studio publicity still, Public domain, source
Mike Birbiglia — Photographer: Brian Friedman. Copyright holder: Mike Lavoie, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mike Myers — DoD News, CC BY 2.0, source
Mikhail Bulgakov — Moisej Nappelbaum, Public domain, source
Milton Berle — Harry Warnecke / Gus Schoenbaechler, CC0, source
Mindy Kaling — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, source
Molière — Pierre Mignard I, Public domain, source
Monica Vitti — Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mort Sahl — NBC Television, Public domain, source
Naoto Takenaka — Hu Bing, CC BY 3.0, source
Nipsey Russell — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Norm Macdonald — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Pat Condell — Pat Condell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Paul Rodriguez — Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Peter Sellers — Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Pierre Étaix — Odile etaix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Randy Newman — Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ray Bradbury — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, source
Raymond Devos — Philippe Roos from Strasbourg, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Red Skelton — Adam Cuerden, Public domain, source
Richard Kind — Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Richard Lewis — AllinLewis, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Richard Pryor — GAC=General Artists Corporation (management)/Photographer:Berk Costello, New York City/Mis, Public domain, source
Ricky Gervais — Thomas Atilla Lewis at https://www.flickr.com/people/51761894@N00, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Robin Williams — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Rodney Dangerfield — Press photo, photographer unknown, Public domain, source
Romain Bouteille — Saïda Churchill, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Roscoe Arbuckle — Photographer uncredited, Public domain, source
Rosie O'Donnell — chattingjason (Jason Chatting), CC BY 2.0, source
Rowan Atkinson — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Roy Campbell — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Russell Peters — gdcgraphics at https://www.flickr.com/photos/gdcgraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Sam Kinison — The World Famous Comedy Store, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Sandra Bernhard — Slomotion777, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sarah Silverman — Ali Shaker/VOA, Public domain, source
Seth Meyers — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Seth Rogen — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, source
Shelley Berman — Gannett Company Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Public domain, source
Stan Laurel — US Department of Agriculture, Public domain, source
Stanisław Lem — Courtesy of Lem's secretary, Wojciech Zemek. Resize and digital processing by Masur., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Stephen Colbert — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, source
Steve Allen — UPI or AP, Public domain, source
Steve Carell — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, source
Steve Harvey — Avito C.Dalan for the Philippine News Agency, Public domain, source
Steve Martin — David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Steven Wright — 48states at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Stewart Lee — Paul Christopher, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Tim Allen — MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Tom Green — Kristen Wong, Public domain, source
Tom Hanks — Eva Rinaldi from Abbotsford, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Tom Smothers — gnuish (Gnuish (talk)), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Totò — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, source
Trevor Noah — Web Summit Qatar, CC BY 2.0, source
Vic Reeves — Martin SoulStealer from London, England, CC BY 2.0, source
W. C. Fields — Harry Warnecke / Lee Jennings Elkins, CC0, source
Whitney Cummings — Ashley Graham, CC BY 3.0, source
Will Ferrell — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source