Based on unscientific data gathered from my subjective study of the funniest movies of my time, one could conclude that Bill Murray is the laugh-out-loud-funniest actor of this period. Murray appeared in a record four films from my top 30 funny movie list, including significant or lead roles in films ranked number 4, 11, and 30. He also had a smallish role in Tootsie (#22).
Next funniest would presumably be Ben Stiller with three appearances (two lead or starring roles)--his movies were ranked third, eighth, and twelfth. Steve Martin (3 lead roles--in films ranked #1, #16, #26), Adam Sandler (3 lead roles--in films ranked #18, #23, #27), Chevy Chase (3 lead roles--in films ranked #17, #25, #30), and Jim Carrey (3 lead roles--in films ranked #20, #24, #29) would finish out the top five.
However, this is different from my subjective list of those whom I
believe to be the funniest people appearing in my Top 30 funny movie list: 1) Steve Martin, 2) Will Ferrell, 3) Steve Carell, 4) Bill Murray, 5) Robin Williams, 6) Gary Cole, 7) Vince Vaughn, 8) Owen Wilson, 9) Ben Stiller, 10) Peter Falk, 11) Albert Brooks, 12) Kevin Kline, 13) Gene Wilder, 14) John C. McGinley, 15) Robert DeNiro.
To me, some of the most surprising names to appear on this 3-part movie list are: Angela Lansbury, Mandy Patinkin, Max van Sydow, Rob Schneider (honored only by association), Morgan Freeman, Carl Weathers, and Debbie Reynolds.
A few names one might expect to see more on a list of the funniest movies: Billy Crystal (he's unfortunately not as funny as he thinks he is), Albert Brooks (he's more witty and clever, than laugh-out-loud-funny), Mel Brooks (I haven't had enough exposure to his works), and Dan Aykroyd (see Billy Crystal).