Where have all the comedians gone?

Today, we lost another comic legend.  The one and only Dom DeLuise passed away at 75.  I first remember Dom DeLuise as Burt Reynolds sidekick Victor/Captain Chaos in the "Cannonball Run".  He was over the top with his comedy, leaving his pride at the door.  He did whatever it took to make the audience happy.  Drama was not his forte.  He wasn't trying to be suave or romantic.  He had only one goal:  make em laugh.  He will be missed.

The loss of Dom highlights another problem with the movie industry;  the loss of great comedic character actors.  Where have all the bit players gone?  What happened to all the actors who were willing to play comedic support in every movie they appeared in?  They didn't want to be leading men or women; all they wanted to do was make em laugh.  

All the great ones seem to be passing on.  Don Knotts, the king of comedic support, passed on in 2006, and comedy has not been the same without him.  He could still make em laugh well into his 60's with his part in "Pleasantville", but time caught up with him.  Ditto John Candy.  He has been gone for 15 years.  Nobody was better at making what could be a really s#itty movie into comedy gold (example A: "Splash".  Without him, this movie really sucks.  If you don't believe me, watch it, but skip all the scenes with John Candy and you will be utterly dismayed at how bad this movie is).  Bernie Mac passed away before mainstream America really had a chance to embrace him.  Bernie didn't even have to say anything to be funny.  Just him being himself on screen, without saying a word was guaranteed extra laughs.  The same could be said for Rodney Dangerfield.  I have never completely forgiven TNT for not having a "Pray for Rodney" weekend marathon right before his heart surgery.  He brought so much and asked for so little in return.  Ditto Ted Knight.  He's been gone for 20 years.  

Most of these actors tried, and failed, to be leading men.  They had the chance to carry a movie on their own, and it usually sucked.  Bad.  But unlike other actors, they recognized the limit of their ability, and went back to doing what they did best - adding laughs to a movie.  I feel like there is some stigma attached to this ability; it is as if you can only be measured as an actor based on your ability to carry a movie, not to add support.  I've ranted before on where have all the bad guys gone; I think it would be fun to be a Hollywood villain.  I think it would be just as good to be a supporting comedic actor.  You don't have to worry about your looks, your part, or your Hollywood legacy.  All you gotta do is make em laugh.

The prospects out there seem to be slim.  Not many folks seem to be stepping up to the plate.  Frontrunners include Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, and Jack Black.  They are not interested in Dramas (or at least not anymore).  Ben Stiller is tailor made for the role of comedy support.  Ditto Jack Black.  Janeane Garofalo, well, lets just say her 60 second appearance in "The Cable Guy" made that movie, and it is one of the best bit parts ever.  Jorge Garcia could do it.  Even in "Lost" he could make the mundane funny (still laughing over his flinging of the Hot Pocket!) Tina Fey could do it, but she still has to prove the comedic range beyond "30 Rock" and Sara Palin.  Still, she has the ability. Steven Wright could pick up the mantle, except that he dropped off the face of the Earth.  Ditto for Eddie Deezen (the perpetual nerd) and Curtis "Booger" Armstrong. 

I know it is selfish for me to wish that more actors would focus on just the bit comedy roles.  If I were an actor, I would probably want to go for the limelight and the leading roles.  To me, being comedic character support would be the greatest gig ever.  No worries about your roles, no pressure on your legacy; all you gotta do is make em laugh.