Our ranking of the most valuable comedians is based on Forbes’ Star Currency survey. Conducted in fall 2008, the survey polled hundreds of entertainment industry professionals to rate 1,400 actors on critical financial metrics, such as their abilities to attract financing for films and drive box office revenues.
No 1. Adam SandlerAge (as of April 10, 2009): 42
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 9.61 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 10
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No.12
Hollywood’s most desirable funnyman has a long track record of leading silly but profitable comedies, like Big Daddy, Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy. Sandler has also flexed his serious chops in 2002’s Punch Drunk Love and 2004’s Spanglish. His much anticipated Funny People, in which Sandler plays a successful Hollywood comedian diagnosed with cancer, should provide another opportunity to blend humor and humanity.
No 2. Will FerrellAge (as of April 10, 2009): 41
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 9.56 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 13
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 15
One of Hollywood’s hottest comedic talents, Ferrell is putting his touch on film, television (HBO’s Eastbound and Down) and the emerging world of Web video (Funnyordie.com). Ferrell recently took to the Broadway stage to satirize former President George W. Bush in a controversial one-man show.
No. 3. Ben Stiller(my fav.)Age (as of April 10, 2009): 43
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 9.50 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 15
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 18
Born to comedian parents, Stiller broke into show business on Broadway and later produced well-regarded but little-watched comedy shows for MTV and Fox. He soon branched out into directing (Reality Bites, The Cable Guy), but developed into an economic force in Hollywood after taking starring roles in There’s Something About Mary and Meet the Parents. That film, along with its sequel, Meet the Fockers, grossed $850 million at box offices worldwide.
No. 4. Jim CarreyAge (as of April 10, 2009): 47
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 9.42 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 16
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 19
Canadian comic won Hollywood stardom with 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Carrey has since proven himself as a crowd-pleasing funnyman in sophomoric flicks like Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar, and earned respect as a serious actor in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Man on the Moon. Controversial new flick I Love You, Philip Morris, starring Carrey and Ewan McGregor as prison lovers, premiered at Sundance in January but has yet to find a theatrical distributor.
No. 5. Vince VaughnAge (as of April 10, 2009): 39
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 8.39 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 28
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 32
Chicago-bred funnyman had his breakout role as a wannabe Hollywood player in 1996’s Swingers. Later took on dramatic roles in Psycho remake and Domestic Disturbance. His career has been reignited by collaborations with fellow Bankable comedian listers Ferrell and Stiller in Old School, Starsky and Hutch, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
No. 6. Steve CarellAge (as of April 10, 2009): 46
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 8.05 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 31
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 36
Now one of Hollywood’s most desired comedic talents, Carell says he once considered a career as a mailman and attorney. Good thing he opted for comedy. Films led by the ex-Daily Show correspondent have garnered both nods from critics and huge box office revenues. Among his successes: 40 Year Old Virgin and Anchorman.
No. 7. Eddie MurphyAge (as of April 10, 2009): 48
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 7.66 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 37
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 49
Murphy launched his career with a raunchy stand-up routine but has recently been collecting huge paychecks for his work on movies aimed at kids. His turn as oddball Donkey in Dreamworks’ Shrek series has helped generate $2.2 billion in world box office revenue. The SNL alum also carried successful comedies Dr. Doolittle and The Nutty Professor, as well as appeared in a dramatic role in 2006’s critically acclaimed Dreamgirls.
No. 8. Sacha Baron CohenAge (as of April 10, 2009): 37
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 7.64 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 38
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 50
The Cambridge-educated comedian got his start in university productions of Fiddler on the Roof. Baron Cohen’s career took off after creating the character Ali G, a moronic television interviewer, for a British sketch show. That personality inspired an HBO series, which in turn led to the hugely successful film Borat ($261 million worldwide gross), a faux documentary featuring Baron Cohen as an awkward Kazakhastani journalist touring the U.S. He stars as a flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter in the highly anticipated Bruno, which hits theaters in May 2009.
No. 9. Jack BlackAge (as of April 10, 2009): 39
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 7.60 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 40
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 53
Show biz lifer made a few bucks as a teenager starring in a 1982 Activision videogame commercial. His breakout role came 18 years later as pompous record store clerk in High Fidelity with John Cusack. During a 2009 Oscars presentation, Black joked that he made much more money for animated work (Kung Fu Panda, Shark Talk) than live action flicks (King Kong, Tropic Thunder).
No. 10. Robin WilliamsAge (as of April 10, 2009): 57
Star Currency Cumulative Score: 7.45 (out of 10)
Star Currency Ranking (Among Actors): No. 65
Star Currency Ranking (Among All Actors/Actresses): No. 48
Williams launched his career as a wacky alien in NBC’s Mork & Mindy in the 1970s. He later honed his comedy chops as a stand-up and went on to star in big-grossing comedies: The Birdcage ($185 million worldwide gross) and Mrs. Doubtfire ($219 million). He won acclaim for his dramatic work, as well, including an Oscar in 1998 for his role as a sympathetic but tormented psychologist in Good Will Hunting.
SOURCE : FORBES
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