Alabama’s funniest people: 19 who make us cry laughing

Alabama is funny, and not just when we’re the butt of jokes.

Believe it or not, this state sent some of comedy’s biggest jokesters into the world and managed to make it a better place because of it.

From standup legends to hilarious comic actors (living or departed), this list has enough talent to keep you laughing for days.

Charles Barkley

The Leeds native goes viral whenever he opens his mouth, and we can’t stop laughing. Along with his co-panelists on TNT’s Emmy-winning “Inside the NBA,” the former Auburn superstar and NBA Hall of Famer owns the sports commentary space simply by being himself, one of the most endearing personalities in all of media. Trading barbs with Shaquille O’Neal or cracking on cities like San Antonio and Galveston during NBA playoff coverage, Barkley is a constant joy with self-deprecating humor and a penchant to roast anyone in the room or on the court, all in good fun. And Barkley doesn’t just do it on TNT either. He has hosted “SNL” four times, between 1993 and 2018. He has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” many times.

Brett Butler

Born in Montgomery, Butler rose to standup fame during the 1980s, making her debut on “The Tonight Show” in 1987 and later performing on Dolly Parton’s variety series “Dolly.” In 1993, Butler landed the hit ABC sitcom “Grace Under Fire” (created by Chuck Lorre) on which she played Grace Kelly, a divorced single mother and recovering alcoholic. She earned two Golden Globe nominations and a People’s Choice Award for her performance, which ran through 1998. She even reprised the role on shows like “Ellen” and “The Drew Carey Show.”

Courteney Cox

She previously appeared in a Bruce Springsteen music video and the Jim Carrey film “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” before landing the gig on “Friends,” one of the highest-rated shows on TV during its 10-season run on NBC, 1994-2004. The series provided a breakthrough role for Cox, who was born and raised in Birmingham, and cemented her fame as an actress. Her character, Monica Geller, was a neat-freak chef who could be bossy, obsessive, anxious, wacky, kind and caring. Her breathless comic timing matched that of her talented castmates, especially the late Matthew Perry, whose character Chandler Bing shared a memorable on-screen romance with Cox’s Geller. After getting snubbed 10 seasons straight, Cox finally landed an Emmy nomination in 2021 for producing HBO Max’s “Friends: The Reunion.” Shimmying with a turkey on her head or screaming her signature “I know!” catchphrase, Cox has the chops.

Fannie Flagg

Born Patricia Neal in Birmingham, the author rose to fame as a panelist on the popular ‘70s and ‘80s game show “Match Game” before writing the 1987 novel “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe,” which she adapted into the Oscar-nominated screenplay for the 1991 film “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Flagg also wrote for and appeared on the show “Candid Camera” and even appeared in the films “Five Easy Pieces,” “Stay Hungry” (filmed in Alabama), “Grease” and “Crazy in Alabama.”

Walton Goggins

Born in Birmingham and raised in Georgia, Goggins has enjoyed a long and acclaimed career in Hollywood in both big studio films and television series as well as independent productions. Early credits include “The Apostle,” “Switchback,” “Major League: Back to the Minors” and “The Bourne Identity.” Goggins earned fame and good reviews on the FX series “The Shield” in which he played Det. Shane Vendrell. His most notable role came in the FX series “Justified,” in which he played Boyd Crowder. While other film credits include “Lincoln,” “Django Unchained,” “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “The Hateful Eight,” he has established himself as one of the great modern comedy actors thanks to his work with fellow funnyman Danny McBride on HBO shows like “Vice Principals” and “The Righteous Gemstones.” On the latter, he plays evangelist Baby Billy Freeman. He will appear on season three of HBO’s “The White Lotus.”

Tony Hale

Born in West Point, New York, Hale graduated from Samford University in Birmingham. The two-time Emmy winner is best known for his supporting role as Selina Meyer’s body man Gary Walsh in “Veep,” an HBO political comedy that aired 2012-2019. He’s also known for his incredible work as Buster Bluth in “Arrested Development,” and has credits in many movies and TV shows like “The Heat,” “Hocus Pocus 2,” “The Angry Birds Movie,” “Toy Story 4″ and “The Mysterious Benedict Society.”

Glenn Howerton

Didn’t know Dennis was from Alabama, did you? The “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star and co-creator was actually born in Japan, but he moved to Alabama at age 10. He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery before moving to Miami where he attended New World School of the Arts. He also entered Julliard School’s Drama Division in 1996. Howerton would have various TV gigs like “That ‘80s Show” and “ER” before landing his career-defining work as possible psychopath Dennis Reynolds on “Always Sunny.” In 2023, he starred in the animated series “Velma” as well as the film “BlackBerry.”

Jermaine ‘FunnyMaine’ Johnson

Johnson has emerged as one of the state’s funniest people thanks to his weekly Alabama football reaction videos and his standup comedy offering unique takes on Southern culture. Johnson claims Birmingham and Opelika as his hometowns. He became a professional comedian in 2005 and has since featured for Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Rickey Smiley and others. He frequently tours the U.S., has appeared on SEC Network programming like “Out of Pocket,” and his YouTube channel has more than 113,000 subscribers and millions of views.

Orlando Jones

You likely best remember Jones, a Mobile native, as an original cast member in the sketch comedy show “MADtv,” as well as spokesman for 7 Up in the Y2K era. He moved to South Carolina at a young age and later attended high school and college there. He appeared in notable films like “Office Space,” “The Replacements” and “Drumline.”

George Lindsey

Best known for playing good-hearted Mayberry mechanic Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show,” the Fairfield native also appeared as the character on “Mayberry R.F.D.” and “Hee Haw.” AL.com’s Bob Carlton reports Lindsey grew up in Jasper, where, as a child of the Great Depression, he got the inspiration for Goober, the character who would come to define his career, while hanging out at his Aunt Ethel’s gas station where the mechanics wore felt beanies to keep the grease out of their hair, a garment that would become one of Goober’s trademarks. He passed away in 2012.

Matt Mathews

The TikTok star from McCalla has earned fame for his videos of farm life, though he doesn’t grow any crops on the 11-acre spread. Often sporting a bathrobe and hanging with chickens named Fluffy and Sister, Mathews’ unique delivery on camera has garnered him millions of followers and made him a social media star via TikTok and Instagram. From AL.com’s Mary Colurso: “I hate it here!” Mathews will moan, trudging out to the barn on a rainy day to feed the horses. “Come on, Fluffy, hell!” he scolds, addressing the sassy hen who struts, pecks and otherwise rules the roost. Mathews has gone on tour with his brand of comedy and even developed a new reality TV show “Doin’ the Most.”

Jim Nabors

The Sylacauga native earned fame for playing the lovable bumpkin character Gomer Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” Before catchphrases like “Shazam!” and “Golly” caught on, Nabors attended the University of Alabama. Along with his successful TV career, Nabors was an accomplished baritone vocalist featured on “The Carol Burnett Show” while also signing a recording deal with Columbia Records.” He died in 2017.

Paula Poundstone

Born in Huntsville, the popular standup comic and author began a career in the 1980s and had a series of HBO comedy specials. She would later appear as a backstage commentator on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” during the 1990s and was a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s weekly quiz show “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me.” Poundstone would also appear on “A Prairie Home Companion.” She also appeared in the Disney/Pixar hit “Inside Out” in 2015 and is set to provide a voice in the 2024 sequel.

Glenn Shadix

Born in Bessemer, Shadix attended Birmingham-Southern College before living in New York and then pursuing his acting career in Hollywood. He quickly collaborated with director Tim Burton, playing snarky interior decorator Otho in “Beetlejuice.” Burton would also cast Shadix in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Planet of the Apes.” Shadix also appeared on shows like “Cheers,” “Roseanne” and “Seinfeld” and in films like “Bingo,” “Demolition Man” and “Multiplicity.”

Dusty Slay

The Opelika native often jokes about his Alabama upbringing in his standup act, referencing time spent in a trailer park. He was once the youngest comedian to ever perform at the Grand Ole Opry. He’s released a standup special on Comedy Central and appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” You can see his perfectly timed comedy on Netflix’s “The Standups” and his special “Workin’ Man.”

MORE: How Alabama native Dusty Slay became the hottest comedian on Netflix

Rickey Smiley

The standup comedy legend, actor and radio host is a Birmingham icon, especially after his career blew up after hosting BET’s standup series “ComicView.” He currently hosts the nationally syndicated “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” based in Atlanta via WHTA Hot 107.9. He also starred in the sitcom “The Rickey Smiley Show” for TV One. Smiley appeared in the films “Friday After Next,” “First Sunday” and “Baggage Claim” and the TV shows “Def Comedy Jam,” “Showtime at the Apollo” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Smiley is also well known for his hilarious prank phone calls on the radio.

Channing Tatum

Yes, Magic Mike has comedy skills. Few knew as much after the Cullman native broke through in Hollywood thanks to his dance moves in “Step Up.” He appeared in other films like “Coach Carter” and “She’s the Man” before becoming a superstar after “Dear John” and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” But Tatum’s comic talents didn’t really show up until 2012′s “21 Jump Street” in which he co-starred with Jonah Hill. He quickly became a go-to for starring roles and cameos in movies like “This is the End,” “The Lego Movie,” “22 Jump Street,” “The Hateful Eight,” “Hail, Caesar!” and “Free Guy.” If you had any doubts, wait for his “My name is Jeff” delivery in the “Jump Street” clip above.

MORE: Channing Tatum’s 10 best movies ranked

Whitmer Thomas

Born in Gulf Shores, Whitmer took an introspective look at his life in the HBO special “The Golden One,” a deeply personal hour that’s equal parts stand-up comedy, documentary film and original musical, performed at the famed Flora-Bama bar in Perdido Key. His late mother Jenny Thomas was a musician who regularly performed at the venue. “The Golden One” mixes in documentary footage as Whitmer reunites with long-estranged relatives, including his father and his mom’s twin sister. He’s also an actor who has appeared on shows like “The Walking Dead” and in the independent film “Sword of Trust,” also filmed in Alabama. He was also a guest on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast. Another silly highlight that got some of us through the early days of the pandemic: His original and utterly surreal song “Big Baby.”

MORE: Whitmer Thomas on staying creative, funny and sincere during crisis

Roy Wood Jr.

The comedian, writer, actor and producer who grew up in Birmingham and emerged as a jokester making prank phone calls on radio station 95.7 JAMZ long excelled as a correspondent on “The Daily Show,” which he guest hosted before leaving the satirical news program in 2023. Though that luminous run came to an end, Wood still makes us laugh and think while illuminating social and political issues in America through standup and social media. Wood enjoyed one of the highest honors a comedian can have when he served as featured entertainer at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2023, following in the footsteps of Sinbad, Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Wanda Sykes and Trevor Noah. In 2022, Wood appeared on the “WTF with Marc Maron Podcast,” one of the most popular podcasts in the world, during which Maron spent much of it showering Wood with praise during his intro as well as in the interview itself.

MORE: Conan O’Brien praises Roy Wood Jr.: ‘You’re always funny’