# Mt. Rushmore of comedic actresses **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291 "2026-02-02T03:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/21 "2026-02-02T04:26:41Z")
> [@bump](#): > > For the fourth, I’m leaning toward someone more modern, but Madeleine Kahn is definitely a contender. I would totally blow up any one without Madeline. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/22 "2026-02-02T05:01:08Z")
I feel this kind of monuments should be reserved for the legends. Lucille Ball Fanny Brice Moms Mabley Mae West ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/23 "2026-02-02T13:03:22Z")
ZaSu Pitts Madeline Kahn Diane Keaton Thelma Ritter ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/24 "2026-02-02T13:14:49Z")
Wondering if Catherine O’Hara would’ve made as many lists if she had not been in the news so recently. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/25 "2026-02-02T13:19:37Z")
The “George Washington” spot should be reserved for Mabel Normand. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/26 "2026-02-02T13:22:05Z")
Lucille Ball Carol Burnett Katharine Hepburn Goldie Hawn ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/27 "2026-02-02T13:35:10Z")
Bernadette Peters Sarah Silverman Emma Stone Jaime Pressley ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/28 "2026-02-02T13:35:17Z")
Carol Burnett Madeline Kahn Irene Dunne Gertrude Berg Gertrude Berg was a one-woman entertainment industry — a comedic trailblazer long before Lucille Ball. She created, produced, wrote every script for, and starred in **The Goldbergs** , which ran from 1929–1949 on radio and then jumped to television in 1949–1956. She wasn’t just ahead of her time; she was out there building the road while everyone else was still tying their shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/29 "2026-02-02T16:26:42Z")
It’s sort of what inspired me to start the thread. I’m not sure I would’ve considered her before, but upon reflecting on all that she’s done over the past 50 years (prompted by tributes), classic comedy movies and TV and improv, she stands out to me as one of the greats. Even her guest appearances on shows, from Curb Your Enthusiasm to Modern Family, were always incredibly fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/30 "2026-02-02T16:58:04Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Even her guest appearances on shows, from Curb Your Enthusiasm to Modern Family, were always incredibly fun to watch. Comedy is so taste dependent. I didn’t want to dump in the threads after her death; maybe I should do a deep dive to appreciate more of her work. But my general impression is that when I see her in a show/film, her role is likely to be the aspect I like least. In ensemble casts, hers is generally among my least liked roles. Just my personal taste. She is never anyone I looked for. And when I encountered her, she never really impressed me - other than some roles negatively. For example, her character in Schitt’s Creek was by far my least favorite. Yet others loved her in that role. Neither of us is entirely right/wrong. Not sure I have any 4 nominees for this thread. Figure Lucille Ball and Carl Burnett are likely MUSTS. And I recall watching both of their shows as a kid. But if I watch them now, I don’t find them entertaining at all. Makes me think more than I ought as to what exactly merits Mt Rushmore-like inclusion. I suspect it would likely come down to performers who significantly influenced the genre AND had huge accomplishments AND lengthy careers. So I think Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett qualify. Who else? Imogene Coca? Gracie Burns? Maybe Diane Keaton more recently. While a long career of solid performances merits recognition, I’m not sure it gets you carved into the side of a mountain. Also, recency militates against inclusion. IMO, with few exceptions, some time is generally required to allow evaluation of someone as a true giant of their industry. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/31 "2026-02-02T17:01:31Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnette, [Betty White](https://youtu.be/F_tVJ2rHHSA?si=Z6CXzMor7-2Th0kE) Other than correcting Carol Burnett’s name, this is what I came to post. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/32 "2026-02-02T17:19:15Z")
Just a reminder of why narrowing to four is so hard. When Mt. Rushmore was designed, there had only been 28 presidents, not counting the current Coolidge. And they all had the same job to make for easier comparisons. Picking a top four wasn’t wildly contested. Lists here wander through vaudeville, radio, television, and movies, stand-up and sketch, improv and scripted, lead roles and backups, celebrities and the forgotten. This is HARD. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/33 "2026-02-02T17:47:30Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Lists here wander through vaudeville, radio, television, and movies, stand-up and sketch, improv and scripted, lead roles and backups, celebrities That actually might offer a way to narrow things down - identify the “GIANT” in each genre. It seems many of the nominees are TV heavy - Lucy, Carol, MTM, BW…. If you say max 1 TV, 1 vaudeville/radio, 1 film, and 1 standup etc., might make it easier. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/34 "2026-02-02T18:02:21Z")
So by this logic Mt Rushmore should only have one President? IMO this proposal changes the entire premise of the OP, to be like Mt Rushmore. This is Cafe Society, so I guess nobody is truely wrong in their picks. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/35 "2026-02-02T18:05:40Z")
Alternatively, you could consider what got each of the four presidents onto the mountain and make your comedic actress picks accordingly. Washington: the originator, the foundation. Jefferson: the architect, the writer Lincoln: the unifier, the pain processor T. Roosevelt: the modern addition, expanding into new territories This wouldn’t necessarily give you the four “best” but would create more of a structure to make your picks. Obviously, each category is subjective. How one defines “unifier” or “architect” is just one person’s opinion. For this my picks might be: Lucille Ball Carol Burnett Betty White Melissa McCarthy (Ball and White and McCarthy replacing Louis-Dreyfus and O’Hara and MTM on my original list) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/36 "2026-02-02T18:52:28Z")
No particular order: Madeline Kahn Gilda Radner Carol Burnett and #4, more of an honorable mention: Frances McDormand whose very small part in _Raising Arizona_ steals the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/37 "2026-02-02T20:45:10Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Jefferson: the architect, the writer Tina Fey. She’s the only modern comedy actress I can think of worthy of this honor. She’s a writer, actor and producer and created one of the best sitcoms of all time, among other things. Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. I’m not sure #4. I didn’t watch classic comedy much, so my reference point is mainly 1983 onward. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/38 "2026-02-02T21:26:36Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Gracie Allen Yep > [@silenus](#): > > Lucille Ball Right > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > [Betty White](https://youtu.be/F_tVJ2rHHSA?si=Z6CXzMor7-2Th0kE) Good one ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/39 "2026-02-02T22:16:45Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Gracie Allen I used to watch **The Burns and Allen Show** in the 50’s. Watching reruns several years later I got a kick out of noticing her eyes. George would be talking, leading up to a straight line for Gracie to response; as he spoke she’d be looking at him, and although she was playing a doofus the look in her eyes showed she was sharp as a tack. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-rushmore-of-comedic-actresses/1027291/40 "2026-02-02T22:27:47Z")
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