Funniest big man of all time

[caj]

Who would you choose as the funniest heavy set comedy actor of all time?

Would it be John Candy, Chris Farley, Jackie Gleason, John Goodman, Alan Hale Jr, Hardy (of Laurel & Hardy), or someone else?

[j9ac9k]

John Candy for me. Farley might've taken that crown, but sadly didn't live long enough to expand his repertoire.

[frankiedetroit]

Jim Gaffigan is probably in this category by now, and I think he's one of the funniest comedians ever. John Belushi would be a close second.

I also always liked Patrice O'Neal and Ralphie May's comedy routines (and loved Patrice on The Office), and Lou Costello never failed to crack me up when I was a kid.

Whoops -- I see you say actor. So I'd go with Belushi, as Gaffigan hasn't had many comparative roles.

[Frobisher]

Marlon Brando

[achilles]

John Candy.

[From The Shadows]

I can't choose between Gleason, Candy, Castello and Hardy. I used to get up early on Sundays to watch 'Laurel and Hardy', 'Abbot and Costello' Bringing them to a whole new generation. I loved when they parody Lou Costello on Looney tunes and stay up late on weekends to watch 'Honeymooners.' Candy was important to Gen X.

I never liked Farley, though. And Goodman that was great on Rosanne it was more of a dramedy, and he wasn't a straight-out comedian like others.

[numberthirty]

Marlon Brando

Along that line...

While I don't know that he ever completely saw himself in these terms?

"Old Man..." Orson Welles.

My Doctor Told Me To Stop Having Intimate Dinners For Four. Unless There Are Three Other People.

[numberthirty]

Past that...

[ChrisIII]

Candy did a hilarious Welles impression.

[From The Shadows]

Candy did a hilarious Welles impression.

Jackie Gleason did a pretty good one too from Jane Eyre.

[Jokerz79]

3-way tie for me with Candy, Costello, and Arbuckle.