Dick Van Dyke Quotes

The first time I heard Richard Pryor, I knew he would be a major force in the world of comedy.

Mel Brooks is one of the few authentic geniuses working in comedy in America today.

I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.

I think the Canadian sense of humor is dryer than America's and juicier than Britain's. I think it's a cross between the two of them, really.

At the end of the day, I want to be part of the same conversation as Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor.

I think in my case, I had no choice but to have a good sense of humor. I grew up with my dad, Danny Thomas, and George Burns and Bob Hope and Milton Berle and Sid Caesar and all those guys were at our house all the time and telling jokes and making each other laugh.

Emperor Sid Caesar is gone to eternity himself now. He takes with him the gratitude of every one of us who first learned the relief of laughter from this genuinely great performer.

No one will ever be as good as Phil Hartman. He was such an amazing genius, and may be the best sketch performer of all time.

The truth is, I've never thought of myself as the Michael Jordan of comedy. And that's a good thing. You know why? Because I'm not. Wasn't that Richard Pryor? Yes, it was. I know what I am: I'm funny!

I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best, which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating.

On the comedy side of what I love as a filmmaker are Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and Eddie Murphy; those are my favorites.

Eddie Murphy was the Michael Jordan of comedy. He had a full range of abilities.

I think Joan Rivers is such an untapped legend that people just don't appreciate, because they grew up with her on QVC, or they grew up with her on E!, or they grew up watching her do the things that in their minds the more prestigious comics wouldn't have taken or done.

Wit - the salt with which the American humorist spoils his intellectual cookery by leaving it out.

The king of comedy is dead. Richard Pryor was the king of comedy. The rest of them are the king of copycats.

I think American guys tend to be a bit more forward, a bit more chatty and open than the Brits. The Brits seem to have a darker sense of humor, though I have met some Americans who have adopted bits of the British dry sense of humor as well.

Richard Pryor is, in my mind, the most honest comedian. He bared his soul to people. I think that's why everybody loved him so much.

I was very sad to hear of the death of Ronnie Barker, who was such a warm, friendly and encouraging presence to have when I started in television. He was also a great comic actor to learn from.

Dick Van Dyke was my first idol. He's an amazing physical comedian, like a classic clown, but also very smart and not afraid to show vulnerability.

I grew up on Don Knotts and Jerry Lewis and all the guys from Second City.

I like Bill Murray a real lot. I like Andy Kaufman.

I'm a huge fan of Steve Martin. He's hilarious, but he has this depth to him and this way of dealing with the difficult things in life with a sense of humor that I think has helped me as an actress.

What we've discovered is that Americans seem to love our saucy humor.

To a crowd that loves improv, Robin Williams is like Chuck Berry.

Joan Rivers, who said to Marcel Marceau, Can we talk? Never got a dinner!