Whose Line Is It Anyway? has been a reliable source of comedic entertainment for American audiences for over two decades now, spanning an original series run from 1998 to 2007 and a revival series from 2013 to the present. The series has undergone many changes during its run, including changing hosts, from Drew Carey to Aisha Tyler, rotating sketches in and out, and changing recurring players.
But throughout, the show has been the same, fun-loving, giddy and entertaining series, with a reliable core cast of players that includes Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady. In addition to these three stars, the series has an impressive cast of comic talent, though some are more talented and frequently used than others.
10 Jonathan Mangum
One of the newest additions to the Whose Line universe is comedian Jonathan Mangum, who also happens to be Wayne Brady’s co-host on Let’s Make A Deal.
Appearing in fewer episodes than any other performer on this list, Jonathan has nevertheless made a real name for himself, thanks to his physical comedy and his bizarre talent for impressions ranging from the Swedish Chef to Rick Astley.
9 Kathy Greenwood
Both in its original run and its revival series, Whose Line has struggled to find a reliable major female comedian player. But in the original series, the very best of them was none other than Kathy Greenwood.
Kathy was willing to get just as ridiculous and committed to every bit as the major players were, playing a key role in some of the series’ most memorable moments, including the Party Quirks skit, when Ryan Stiles slams his head into the desk lights.
8 Chip Esten
Before he was known as Charles Esten from series like Nashville, Chip Esten was a recurring player on Whose Line known for his musical abilities, above everything else.
With strong vocal talents and dance skills to match, Chip always steals the scene in sketches like Greatest Hits, Duet, and Bartender, a skit which is sadly underutilized since it leads to some of his funniest performances in the entire series.
7 Brad Sherwood
One of the most versatile performers in the series is also one of the most frequent recurring cast members, Brad Sherwood. With a knack for impressions, including a spot-on impression of the B-52’s, Brad excels in games such as Greatest Hits and Questions Only.
Known for his signature bowling shirts, Brad is not just gifted musically, but also in prop comedy and his commitment to ridiculous characters, as seen in sketches like Weird Newscasters and The Dating Game.
6 Greg Proops
One of the snarkier members of the Whose Line cast of comedians is Greg Proops, who offers a necessary dose of sarcasm and cheekiness to the series whenever he appears.
Gifted at celebrity impressions running the gamut from Judge Judy to John Wayne, Greg is a major asset to the series in many skits. He is often willing to make fun of other cast members, including former host, Drew Carey.
5 Jeff Davis
Though he may only be a recurring player, and one of the less frequently used ones at that, Jeff Davis is arguably one of Whose Line‘s biggest assets in the talent department.
Jeff is one of the best celebrity impersonators in the series and incredibly gifted at musical celebrity impressions, in particular, when he’s paired in surprising duets with Wayne Brady. He also tends to break character more often than most, with his winning, boyish laughter.
4 Gary Anthony Williams
Easily the most successful addition to the series in its revival run is comedian Gary Anthony Williams. With an incredible vocal range, he’s a great partner with Wayne Brady in all music-related sketches.
As an experienced voice actor, Gary is also quite gifted at dialects, accents, and character-defined voices, which makes him a real standout in games that require a deep commitment to ridiculous characters.
3 Ryan Stiles
Often the target of many jokes in both the original and revival series due to his large stature and flashy taste in shoes and patterned shirts, Ryan Stiles is the perfect foil to every cast member, though his rapport with frequent scene partner Colin Mochrie is one of the highlights of the series.
In addition to this beloved dynamic, Ryan also maintains a loving rivalry with longtime friend and costar Drew Carey, throughout the original series’ run.
2 Wayne Brady
It’d be quite hard to find a more talented hyphenate currently working in the world of television than Wayne Brady. Gifted in comedic timing, physical comedy, music, dance, and so much more, Wayne is arguably the jack of all trades and master of all in the Whose Line cast.
From his infectious laughter to his perfect improvisations during each and every sketch, but especially the musical ones, Wayne steals every skit he’s in, whether in the original series or the revival.
1 Colin Mochrie
It takes a particular amount of comedic talent to be both the person who makes every cast member break with laughter, while also never breaking at any time. Colin Mochrie, therefore, might just be the most talented and funniest member of the cast, purely due to his commitment to every bit, no matter how ridiculous.
Whether he’s taking the lead with the last leg of an Irish drinking song, leading the news in Weird Newscasters, selling albums in Greatest Hits, or trying to save the day in Improbable Mission, Colin is a certified comedic genius.
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