Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (Movie)
2009 / Director: Robert Townsend / Avg Rating: 8.4 out of 10
Directors Robert Townsend and Quincy Newell offer this comprehensive and hilarious examination of the history, evolution and cultural significance of African American comedy in America, from the earliest minstrel shows to the latest HBO special. Featuring interviews with cultural critics and loads of comedic clips, this program features appearances by a who's-who of black comedians including Chris Rock, Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg and many more.
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) (Movie) (6)
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Jack Spade
Damon Wayans...Leonard
Chris Rock...Rib Joint Customer
Robert Townsend...(Uncredited)
Shawn Wayans...Pedestrian
Marlon Wayans...Pedestrian - Platinum Comedy Series: Roasting Shaquille O'Neal (2002) (Movie) (6)
Bill Bellamy...himself
Tommy Davidson...himself
Dick Gregory...himself
D. L. Hughley...himself
Mo'Nique...herself
Steve Harvey...himself - Richard Pryor: I Ain't Dead Yet, #*%$#@!! (2003) (Movie) (6)
Eddie Griffin...Himself
Steve Harvey...Himself
D. L. Hughley...Himself
Chris Rock...Himself
Robert Townsend...Himself
George Wallace...Himself - Dying Laughing (2017) (Movie) (5)
Chris Rock...Himself
Faizon Love...Himself
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Himself
Tommy Davidson...Himself
D. L. Hughley...Himself - Hollywood Shuffle (1987) (Movie) (5)
Robert Townsend...Bobby Taylor
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Donald
Damon Wayans...Body Guard #2 / Willie
Paul Mooney...President of NAACP
Franklyn Ajaye...Body Guard #1 - The Meteor Man (1993) (Movie) (5)
Robert Townsend...Jefferson Reed
Marla Gibbs...Mrs. Reed
Eddie Griffin...Michael
Bill Cosby...Marvin
Faizon Love...Maurice - This is Stand-Up (2020) (Movie) (5)
Bill Bellamy...
Eddie Griffin...
D. L. Hughley...
Chris Rock...
Keenen Ivory Wayans...
- Before They Were Kings: Vol. 1 (2004) (Movie) (4)
D. L. Hughley...Himself
Steve Harvey...Himself
Chris Rock...Himself
George Wallace...Himself
- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) (Movie) (4)
Shawn Wayans...Ashtray
Marlon Wayans...Loc Dog
Faizon Love...Rufus
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Mailman
- I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac (2012) (Movie) (4)
Angela Bassett...Herself
Bill Bellamy...Himself
D. L. Hughley...Himself
Chris Rock...HImself - Norbit (2007) (Movie) (4)
Katt Williams...Lord Have Mercy
Marlon Wayans...Buster
Eddie Griffin...Pope Sweet Jesus
Charlie Murphy...Floyd the Dog (voice) - 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2021) (Movie) (3)
Angela Bassett...Self
Michael Eric Dyson...Self
Chris Rock...Self - 3 Strikes (2000) (Movie) (3)
Faizon Love...Tone
George Wallace...Pops Douglas
Mo'Nique...Dahlia
- Bamboozled (2000) (Movie) (3)
Damon Wayans...Pierre Delacroix
Tommy Davidson...Womack / Sleep'n Eat
Paul Mooney...Junebug
- Bebe's Kids (1992) (Movie) (3)
Faizon Love...Robin Harris (voice)
George Wallace...Card Player #4 (voice)
Reynaldo Rey...Lush (voice) - CB4 (1993) (Movie) (3)
Chris Rock...Albert / MC Gusto
Charlie Murphy...Gusto
Tommy Davidson...Weird Warren (uncredited)
- Comedian (2002) (Movie) (3)
George Wallace...Himself
Chris Rock...Himself
Bill Cosby...Himself
- Dance Flick (2009) (Movie) (3)
Shawn Wayans...Baby Daddy
Marlon Wayans...Mr. Moody
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Mr. Stache
- Eddie Murphy: One Night Only (2012) (Movie) (3)
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Himself
Chris Rock...Himself
Charlie Murphy...Himself
- Feeding America Comedy Festival (2020) (Movie) (3)
Chris Rock...Self
Marlon Wayans...Self
Tommy Davidson...Self
- In Remembrance of Martin (1986) (Movie) (3)
Julian Bond...Self
Dick Gregory...Self
Bill Cosby...Self
- Jackie's Back! (1999) (Movie) (3)
Reynaldo Rey...Cadillac Johnson (Retired Pimp)
Chris Rock...Chris Rock
Robert Townsend...Robert Townsend
- Of Boys and Men (2008) (Movie) (3)
Robert Townsend...Holden Cole
Angela Bassett...Rieta Cole
Faizon Love...Roman
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003) (Movie) (3)
Chris Rock...Himself
Sherri Shepherd...Woman At Golf Course
Sherri Shepherd...Woman at Golf Course - Scary Movie (2000) (Movie) (3)
Marlon Wayans...Shorty Meeks
Shawn Wayans...Ray Wilkins
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Slave
- Soul Plane (2004) (Movie) (3)
D. L. Hughley...Johnny
Mo'Nique...Jamiqua
Sommore...Cherry - Stand (2009) (Movie) (3)
Dick Gregory...Self
Michael Eric Dyson...Self
Cornel West...Self - Steppin : The Movie (2009) (Movie) (3)
Mo'Nique...Aunt Carla
Faizon Love...
Dick Gregory...Himself
- The Black List: Volume One (2008) (Movie) (3)
Chris Rock...Himself
Louis Gossett Jr....Himself
Keenen Ivory Wayans...Himself - The Brothers (2001) (Movie) (3)
D. L. Hughley...Derrick West
Bill Bellamy...Brian Palmer
Marla Gibbs...Mary West
- The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & Badder (1994) (Movie) (3)
Eddie Griffin...Himself
Paul Mooney...Himself
Robert Townsend...Himself
- The Perfect Holiday (2007) (Movie) (3)
Faizon Love...Jamal
Charlie Murphy...J-Jizzy
Katt Williams...Delicious
- Thugaboo: A Miracle on D-roc's Street (2006) (Movie) (3)
Charlie Murphy...Big Kid (voice)
Marlon Wayans...Dirty/Money (voice)
Shawn Wayans...Slim/Cheapie (voice)
- Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness (2006) (Movie) (3)
Shawn Wayans...Slim (voice)
Charlie Murphy...Big Kid (voice)
Marlon Wayans...... (voice)
- Who's Your Caddy? (2007) (Movie) (3)
Faizon Love...Big Large
Sherri Shepherd...Lady G
Garrett Morris...Reverend - 4 Little Girls (1997) (Movie) (2)
Andrew Young...Self - SCLC
Bill Cosby...Self - Educator - A Decade of Struggle (1980) (Movie) (2)
Dick Gregory...Self
Andrew Young...Self
- A Rage in Harlem (1991) (Movie) (2)
Reynaldo Rey...
George Wallace...Grave Digger
- All Star Comedy Jam: Live from Dallas (2010) (Movie) (2)
Mo'Nique...Herself
Paul Mooney...
- And the Oscar Goes To... (2014) (Movie) (2)
Louis Gossett Jr....
Chris Rock...
- Back Home Again (2021) (Movie) (2)
Marlon Wayans...Mr. Tortoise (voice)
Sherri Shepherd...Mrs. Tortoise (voice)
- Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Playboy Mansion Valet
Chris Rock...Parking Valet
- Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011) (Movie) (2)
Faizon Love...Kurtis Kool
Sherri Shepherd...Beverly Townsend
- Bill Bellamy: Crazy Sexy Dirty (2012) (Movie) (2)
Bill Bellamy...Himself
Tommy Davidson...Himself
- Blood Brothers: Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali (2021) (Movie) (2)
Cornel West...SelfTodd Boyd...Self
- C'mon Man (2012) (Movie) (2)
Marla Gibbs...Mrs. Crabtree
Tommy Davidson...Himself
- Car Wash (1976) (Movie) (2)
Franklyn Ajaye...Theodore Chauncy "T.C." Alcott (The Fly)
Garrett Morris...Slide
- Colors (1988) (Movie) (2)
Damon Wayans...T-Bone
Damon Wayans...Officer Porter
- Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav (2007) (Movie) (2)
Sommore...Herself
Katt Williams...Himself
- Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen (1988) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Himself
Thea Vidale...Herself - Coneheads (1993) (Movie) (2)
Eddie Griffin...Customer
Garrett Morris...Captain Orecruiser
- Cooley High (1975) (Movie) (2)
Garrett Morris...Mr. Mason
Robert Townsend...Basketball Player in Gym Class
- Def Comedy Jam 25 (2017) (Movie) (2)
D. L. Hughley...Self
Bill Bellamy...Self
- Def Comedy Jam Classics: Volume Two (2006) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...Self
D. L. Hughley...Self
- Def Comedy Jam, Vol. 7 (2000) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...
Chris Rock...
- Divine Intervention (2008) (Movie) (2)
Reynaldo Rey...Deacon JonesShang Forbes...Deacon Thomas
- Eat Drink Laugh: The Story of The Comic Strip (2014) (Movie) (2)
George Wallace...Himself
Chris Rock...Himself
- Farce of the Penguins (2007) (Movie) (2)
Damon Wayans...Hey, That's My Ass! Penguin (voice)
Mo'Nique...Vicky (voice)
- Foolish (1999) (Movie) (2)
Eddie Griffin...Miles 'Foolish' Waise
Marla Gibbs...Odetta
- Friday (1995) (Movie) (2)
Faizon Love...Big Worm
Reynaldo Rey...Red's Father
- Friday After Next (2002) (Movie) (2)
Katt Williams...Money Mike
Sommore...Cookie
- Ganked (2005) (Movie) (2)
Kel Mitchell...Ricky Barry
Katt Williams...Shane Ross - Good Hair (2009) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Himself
Paul Mooney...Himself
- Guess Who (2005) (Movie) (2)
Niecy Nash...Naomi
Sherri Shepherd...Sydney - Hair Show (2004) (Movie) (2)
Mo'Nique...Peaches
Niecy Nash...Debra
- Harlem Nights (1989) (Movie) (2)
Reynaldo Rey...Gambler
Charlie Murphy...Jimmy
- Heckler (2007) (Movie) (2)
Tommy Davidson...Self
George Wallace...Self
- I Am Comic (2010) (Movie) (2)
Franklyn Ajaye...Himself
Tommy Davidson...Himself
- I Am Richard Pryor (2021) (Movie) (2)
Bill Cosby...Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
Paul Mooney...Self - Actor and Comedian (archive footage)
- Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (2012) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Himself
Katt Williams...Himself
- Irish Jam (2006) (Movie) (2)
Eddie Griffin...Jimmy McDevitt
Mo'Nique...Pyscho
- John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020) (Movie) (2)
Sheila Jackson Lee...Self
Elijah Cummings...Self (archive footage) - Just for Laughs Stand Up, Vol. 1: Best of the Uptown Comics (2005) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...Himself
George Wallace...Himself
- Katt Williams: 9 Lives (2010) (Movie) (2)
Katt Williams...Himself
Steve Harvey...Himself
- Latham Entertainment Presents: An All New Comedy Experience (2003) (Movie) (2)
Sommore...Herself
D. L. Hughley...Himself
- Life's Essentials with Ruby Dee (2014) (Movie) (2)
Angela Bassett...Self
Cornel West...Self
- Little Man (2006) (Movie) (2)
Marlon Wayans...Calvin
Shawn Wayans...Darryl
- Little Richard (2000) (Movie) (2)
Garrett Morris...Carl Rainey
Reynaldo Rey...Sugarfoot Sam
- Lottery Ticket (2010) (Movie) (2)
Charlie Murphy...Semaj
Bill Bellamy...Giovanni
- Love Songs (1999) (Movie) (2)
Robert Townsend...
Louis Gossett Jr....
- Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Marty / Additional Zebras (voice)
Sherri Shepherd...Mom (voice)
- Madea Goes to Jail (2009) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...Self
Sherri Shepherd...Self
- Meet the Blacks (2016) (Movie) (2)
Charlie Murphy...Key Flo
Paul Mooney...Klansman
- Mo' Money (1992) (Movie) (2)
Damon Wayans...Johnny Stewart
Marlon Wayans...Seymour Stewart
- Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Himself
George Wallace...Himself
- Nationtime (1972) (Movie) (2)
Dick Gregory...HimselfWalter Fauntroy...Himself
- Panther (1995) (Movie) (2)
Angela Bassett...Dr. Betty Shabazz
Chris Rock...Yuck Mouth
- Precious (2009) (Movie) (2)
Mo'Nique...Mary
Sherri Shepherd...Cornrows
- Punchline (1988) (Movie) (2)
Damon Wayans...Percy
George Wallace...Man with Arm in Cast
- Repos (2006) (Movie) (2)
Katt Williams...Mr. Henderson
Thea Vidale...Coffee's Mama
- Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013) (Movie) (2)
Paul Mooney...Self
Damon Wayans...Self (archive footage)
- Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special (2015) (Movie) (2)
Garrett Morris...Self
Chris Rock...Self
- Scary Movie 2 (2001) (Movie) (2)
Shawn Wayans...Ray Wilkins
Marlon Wayans...Shorty Meeks
- Scary Movie 3 (2003) (Movie) (2)
Eddie Griffin...Orpheus
D. L. Hughley...John Wilson
- Scary Movie 6 (Movie) (2)
Marlon Wayans...Shorty
Shawn Wayans...Ray
- Shaq's All Star Comedy Roast 2: Emmitt Smith (2003) (Movie) (2)
Mo'Nique...
Dick Gregory...
- She Ball (2020) (Movie) (2)
Faizon Love...
Marla Gibbs...
- Super Spy: The Final Exit (2003) (Movie) (2)
Garrett Morris...Man In Shadow
Reynaldo Rey...Fast Eddie
- The Cookout 2 (2011) (Movie) (2)
Charlie Murphy...Coach Ashmokeem
Faizon Love...David Turner
- The Fighting Temptations (2003) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...Miles Smoke
Faizon Love...Prison Warden
- The Ladykillers (2004) (Movie) (2)
Marlon Wayans...Gawain MacSam
George Wallace...Sherriff Wyner
- The Last Boy Scout (1991) (Movie) (2)
Damon Wayans...James Alexander 'Jimmy' Dix
Eddie Griffin...M.C.
- The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner (2001) (Movie) (2)
Tommy Davidson...Himself
Dick Gregory...Himself
- The One and Only Dick Gregory (2021) (Movie) (2)
Dick Gregory...Self
Chris Rock...Self
- The Original Kings of Comedy (2000) (Movie) (2)
Steve Harvey...Himself
D. L. Hughley...Himself
- The Players Club (1998) (Movie) (2)
Faizon Love...Peters
Charlie Murphy...Brooklyn
- The Queens of Comedy (2001) (Movie) (2)
Mo'Nique...Herself
Sommore...Herself
- Think Like a Man (2012) (Movie) (2)
Sherri Shepherd...Vicki
Steve Harvey...Himself
- Top Five (2014) (Movie) (2)
Chris Rock...Andre
Sherri Shepherd...Vanessa
- Treasure n tha Hood (2005) (Movie) (2)
Reynaldo Rey...Willie
Katt Williams...Reverend Ike
- Undercover Brother (2002) (Movie) (2)
Eddie Griffin...Undercover Brother
Robert Townsend...Mr. UB
- What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) (Movie) (2)
Dick Gregory...Himself
Stanley Crouch...Himself - White Chicks (2004) (Movie) (2)
Shawn Wayans...Kevin Copeland
Marlon Wayans...Marcus Copeland
