As a comedian, actress, and writer, former SNL cast member Sarah Silverman has carved out a successful career for herself over the years. Her firebrand kind of comedy may not be to everyone’s tastes, but she is hilarious if you resonate with dark humor and the kind of stand-up that rarely cares to censor itself in any way. Her success as a comedian has seen her do four comedy specials, and earn herself a lot of praise along the way.
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While she’s best known for stand-up, Silverman also has an expansive filmography as an actress, having appeared in various films and TV shows since the early ’90s. She’s also appeared in music videos like Maroon 5’s “Don’t Wanna Know”, and has proven to be a talented voice actor over the years, too.
With a ton of award nominations and wins to her name, including nominations for Grammys and Primetime Emmys, Silverman has become an icon of comedy and has amassed a huge following as a result. Hugely talented and always hilarious, here’s a look back at her funniest movie and TV roles so far.
20 Herself – Funny People (2009)
Funny People was something of a film shout-out to comedians. It starred Adam Sandler as a famous comic, George Simmons, who learns he has a fatal illness. Facing his own mortality, he decides to mentor a struggling young comedian named Ira (Seth Rogen). They become close friends, and Ira helps George leave behind a legacy he can be proud of.
Just a Case of Sarah Being Sarah
Among many other famous comedians that had cameos in the film, Silverman appeared in it for a quick scene. That short scene was enough for her to make audiences laugh, since it was a textbook example of Silverman being herself, and highlighted her audacious and immoderate comedic style. Seeing George in a bar, she has a boozy exchange with him where she laments how many men want to sleep with her, and why she shouldn’t allow them to. Stream Funny People on an Apple TV+ and Starz combo.
19 Josh’s Right Hand – Man Seeking Woman
Between 2015 and 2017, FXX aired a romantic comedy series called Man Seeking Woman that can be described as a surrealist show at best and plain weird at worst. It followed the dating antics of Josh Greenberg (Jay Baruchel), an awkward man who struggles in the dating world after breaking up with a long-term girlfriend. His dating experiences often devolve into surreal situations, such as dating an actual troll and interacting with a monster made of penises.
A Role that Somehow Just Fit Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman has grown a reputation for racy and unashamedly sexualized humor. Given her brand of comedy, providing the voice for Josh’s right hand somehow seemed fitting. It also gave her one of the funniest roles in the show, as she and Josh share a hilarious exchange in which his hands questions their relationship (based on him pleasing himself). Man Seeking Woman isn’t currently available to stream
18 Betsy Ross – Great Minds with Dan Harmon
Great Minds with Dan Harmon was a show with a great concept that featured via History. Conceived by writer Dan Harmon, it stars him and his assistant, Spencer Crittenden, as they construct a time traveling device to bring historical figures back to the present, so they can be interviewed for the History Channel.
A Satirical History
Among other comedic personalities like Jack Balck and Aubrey Plaza who appeared on the show as various historical personalities, Sarah Silverman was chosen for the role of Betsy Ross. As the woman credited for making the second official US flag, Ross was portrayed hysterically by Silverman. In keeping with the show’s satirical history, Silverman depicted her doing things like claiming other designs for the flag originally featured things like a crown and a middle finger. Great Minds with Dan Harmon isn’t currently available to stream.
17 Raving B*tch – The Way of the Gun (2000)
The credit for this one kind of says it all, as Silverman played a foul-mouthed woman who induces a fight between her posse and the film’s main characters in The Way of the Gun. Those main characters were named Parker and Longbaugh, and were played by Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro, who depicted two petty thieves who hit upon a scheme to kidnap and extort a pregnant woman acting as a surrogate.
She Was Hurt for Real in the Infamous Scene
The film’s opening scene sees Silverman’s character unleashing a homophobic, cuss-laden tirade on Parker and Longbaugh. However, what no one expects is for Parker to punch her character right in the face. A shocking scene done in a comical manner, it set the tone for the film, but has an infamous history, as Silverman herself explained to The Guardian. Stream The Way of the Gun on Tubi.
The second time was an accident and I do believe it was my fault. I was shooting a fight sequence with Ryan Phillippe and I leaned in when I shouldn’t have leaned in. He knocked me right off my feet, leaving me with a huge egg on my jaw.
16 Candy Smalls – Santa Inc.
A stop-motion animated Christmas show with adult humor, Santa Inc. was a show that premiered on Max in December 2021. It followed a character named Candy Smalls, a female elf with ambitions of being the first female Santa. It featured Seth Rogen as Santa, with other comedic actors like Leslie Grossman and Craig Robinson also appearing in it.
Dirty Humor and Racy Dialogue
A show that fit Sarah Silverman’s comedic persona well with tons of dirty humor and plenty of racy dialogue that lent a decidedly naughty edge to the Christmas theme, it was very funny if you’re into dark humor. Silverman played Candy Smalls, and as the lead character, was often at the heart of the show’s raunchiest scenes. Stream Santa Inc. on Tubi.
15 Emily – Seinfeld
Seinfeld
- Release Date
- July 5, 1989
- Seasons
- 9
A legendary sitcom, Seinfeld was a legendary sitcom that ran for nine seasons between 1989 and 1998. It starred comedian Jerry Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself. Its impressive run saw it rack up a ton of awards and made icons of its cast members and wacky characters.
She Played Kramer’s Girlfriend
The wackiest of those characters was, of course, Kramer, Seinfeld’s weird and hilarious neighbor, who tended to burst in with a range of inappropriate and crazy antics. In an episode titled “The Money,” Sarah Silverman made a guest appearance on the show. She played Emily, one of Kramer’s love interests, who had some funny exchanges with him and drove him crazy since she wore him out in bed. Stream Seinfeld on Netflix.
14 Becky in School for Scoundrels (2006)
School for Scoundrels was the kind of film that fit Sarah Silverman’s kind of humor to a tee. Starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), the film sees Heder as a shy and nerdy meter reader named Roger, who is smitten by a woman named Amanda (Jacinda Barrett). In order to win her over, he enrolls in a confidence-building class run by a tyrannical instructor, Dr. P (Thornton). However, as the plot thickens, he learns Dr. P also wants Amanda, sparking a fierce rivalry between the pair.
It Felt Like She Was Playing Herself
While Sarah Silverman didn’t have a large role in the film, she played Becky, Amanda’s narcissistic roommate. The role was a hilarious one, as Becky had a dry type of humor that made it feel like Silverman was playing herself. By trying to protect Amanda from Roger, whom she thinks gives off nerdy psycho vibes, Becky’s constant repose is that of a deadpan insult queen. Stream School for Scoundrels on Peacock.
MGM
Dimension Films
13 The Voice of Michelle – Futurama: Bender’s Big Score
A spin-off movie from the original show, Futurama: Bender’s Big Score was a hilarious animated film from the animated series created by Matt Groening (also famous for creating The Simpsons) that also featured a reboot. The film was made alongside three others that, together, comprised season five of the show. Taking place in the future, the show was essentially an adult workplace animated show.
She Became a Well-Known Character
Voicing the character, Michelle, Sarah Silverman added Futurama to her expansive and successful list of voice roles that also included stints with The Simpsons and many other animated shows and films. As Michelle, she was the ex-girlfriend of the main character, Fry, who briefly froze herself before unfreezing at the wrong time and hooking up with Fry again. Futurama: Bender’s Big Score isn’t currently available to stream.
12 Paula Klein – Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
’90s SNL alumni are well-known for going on to forge successful careers as comedic actors, with the iconic skit show often becoming a launch pad for such endeavors. Sarah Silverman was no different, and nor was Andy Samberg, who has enjoyed a very successful solo acting career since leaving the show.
In 2016, his mockumentary musical comedy film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping was a hilarious project written by Samberg himself. It starred the actor as a heavily parodied Justin Bieber-esque version of a musical prodigy named Conner Friel, and followed his life through the lens of a behind-the-music-style documentary layout.
Silverman Provided an Effortlessly Dry Performance
Playing Connor’s publicist, Paula Klein, Sarah Silverman provided an effortlessly dry performance for the character. Presenting her scenes as answers given during a documentary-style project, her lines and delivery were hilarious, and perfectly in tune with her stand-up persona and deadpan wit. Here’s an example of one of her lines from the film that perfectly illustrates how absurdly funny and crude she was. Stream Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Hulu.
“I’d like to get Connor to the point where he’s just kind of everywhere, like oxygen, or gravity, or clinical depression, he’s just….everywhere.”
11 Herself – History of Swear Words
History of Swear Words is a hilarious parody-style documentary from Netflix that examines the history of six, well-known swear words that enjoy a prominent place in modern culture. Between etymology experts, the show also had celebrity guests and comedians give their opinions about the words in question.
Sarah Silverman Was Made for the Show
Sara Silverman starred as one of the comedians on the show in four separate episodes. Playing herself, her takes on the words featured in each episode made for some very funny segments in which she used them and provided her views on them in her typically risqué style that effortlessly poked fun at the subject in a very raw way. Stream History of Swear Words on Netflix.
10 Jane – Frasier
Frasier
- Release Date
- September 16, 1993
- Seasons
- 11
An iconic show, Frasier was one of the most successful sitcoms in history, sweeping Primetime Emmys by the bucket load and endearing itself to an army of fans. A spin-off from another iconic sitcom, Cheers, the show was rebooted in 2023, which saw Kelsey Grammer reprise his role as Dr. Frasier Crane, a neurotic and snobbish psychiatrist and media personality whose family and love lives often make for some very funny antics.
The Line That Became a Running Joke
In an episode from the final season of the show’s first run titled “Maris Returns,” Sarah Silverman played one of Frasier’s patients when he tries to reestablish his private clinical practice. Playing a woman named Jane, the character realizes she knows Frasier since he dated her sister. As much as they try to keep things professional, Jane keeps bursting out laughing, until she reveals that her sister and she had a running joke between them about Frasier, since he once called her sister M’lady in bed. Stream Frasier on Paramount+.
9 Heather Nowzick – The League
the league
- Release Date
- October 29, 2009
- Seasons
- 7
The League was a very funny sitcom that aired on FX between 2009 and 2015. Featuring a range of hysterically funny characters and famous guest stars, mostly notably from the NFL, the show revolved around a fantasy football league and its players. Semi-improvised, it often featured wacky and outrageous scenes from the range of talented comedic stars that appeared in it.
Her Appearances Were Raunchy and Crude
Sarah Silverman appeared in a couple of episodes of the show. She played Heather Nozwick, the sister of one of the main characters on the show. Heather went to school with many of the participants in the league, and slept her way through all of them back then. Her appearances were raunchy and crude as ever, but also hilarious, with her always sexualizing everything, once even managing to do this during a sorbet tasting scene. Stream The League on Hulu.
8 Lori in Bored to Death
Created by comic author, Johnathan Armes, Bored to Death was a comedy series that ran on HBO between 2009 and 2011. It starred Jason Schwartzman as a fictionalized version of Ames himself, struggling as a writer in New York, and who moonlights as an unlicensed Private Investigator. Making for funny and brilliant co-stars, Zach Galfinakis and Ted Danson play his friends in the show.
The show often featured great comedic guest appearances from the likes of Oliver Platt, Kristen Wiig, and even Johnathan Ames himself. In a very funny episode titled “I Keep Taking Baths Like Lady Macbeth,” Silverman appeared as Lori, a therapist who does friendship counseling for Johnathan (Schwartzman) and George (Danson) when the two have a fallout. In her typically quirky and offbeat way, Silverman was hilarious in the role, as she made both men give her a foot massage as a way to gauge their respective personality traits. Stream Bored to Death on Max.
7 The Voice of Vanellope von Schweetz – Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Proving her versatility, in 2012, Sarah Silverman joined John C. Reilly to voice the main characters in the hit animated film, Wreck-It Ralph. A delightful animated kids film, it was produced by Walt Disney Animated Studios, and proved highly successful. It revolved around a video game antagonist character named Wreck-It Ralph, who is disgruntled at being the bad guy in his game. Ralph and the others socialize outside their games, and at a support meeting for other unhappy villains, Ralph decides to try and change his fate.
A Very Successful Outing for Silverman
Sarah Silverman voiced the character Vanelllope von Schweetz, a confident little girl from a game called Sugar Rush who joins forces with Ralph. As a glitch in her game, Vanelllope has her own agenda to fix, but the pair soon become allies. Silverman was great as she portrayed Vanellope as a mix of childish, hilarious, and sweet, making her one of the standout characters in the film, which was very successful and went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Stream Wreck-It Ralph on Disney+.
6 Beth – I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
A sweet little independent romantic comedy, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With starred Jeff Garlin as James, an improv comedian who struggles with weight insecurities and depression. Quitting a job with a reality show whose pranks go overboard, he lives with his mother and is dumped by his girlfriend and his agent. James feels like he’s at an all-time low, until he meets Beth, a quirky ice cream parlor employee.
Sweet and Funny
Although Beth is nice to James, the film still has a dark comedic edge that earned it positive reviews from critics. Sarah Silverman played Beth, and she was great in the role as she portrayed her offbeat humor and quirky outlook on life. One of her more nuanced roles, Silverman, was both endearingly sweet and funny in the film. Stream I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With on Tubi.
5 The Voice of Ollie – Bob’s Burgers
Bob’s Burgers is a very funny adult swim show made by Fox. It’s been running since 2011 and is still going strong, having been nominated for many prestigious awards in that time. It follows the adventures of Bob and Linda Belcher, a couple who run a burger joint with their children.
A Sibling Affair
Sarah Silverman and her real-life sister, Laura Silverman, voice twin characters, Ollie and Andy, respectively. Again proving how talented she is as a voice actress, Sarah and Laura both bring plenty of great humor and comedic timing to their roles, adding some great nuances to what is already a very funny show. Stream Bob’s Burgers on Hulu.
4 Lt. Silverman – History of the World, Part II (2023)
A comedy sketch show made as a sequel to the 1981 film by Mel Brooks, History of the World, Part II was well received critically and earned itself a Primetime Emmy nomination. It depicts historical events as parodies, with a range of famous stars and comedians taking part in them.
Back to Her Roots
Going back to her sketch comedy roots, Sarah Silverman played the character of Lt. Silverman, and was in fine form as she produced some great satirical comedy that fit in perfectly with her usual repertoire. The show’s hilarious skits are not for anyone who is easily offended, as it mocks everything from Sigmund Freud to biblical figures. Stream History of the World, Part II on Hulu.
3 Ruth – A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
A movie packed with extreme racy humor at times, A Million Ways to Die in the West was a critic’s nightmare but a comedy audience’s dream. Hysterically funny at times, it was a comedy-western that followed the exploits of Albert Stark, a kind but cowardly sheep herder living in the wild west, whose daily tasks include not dying. Featuring Seth MacFarlane in the lead, it also had some surprising turns by major stars like Charlize Theron and Liam Neeson.
The Kind of Raunchiness That Made Her Fit Right in
Playing Ruth, a sex worker from a saloon brothel, Silverman’s character’s exchanges with her boyfriend (played by Giovanni Ribisi) were some of the funniest parts of the film and contained the kind of raunchy humor she’s best-known for. Despite knowing what she did for a living, Edward still maintained a loving relationship with her, even allowing her to “save herself for marriage” when it came to him, despite seeing multiple clients a day for work. Stream A Million Ways to Die in the West on DIRECTV.
2 Herself – Comedy Central Roast of James Franco
As a comedian known for her razor wit and irreverent comedy, Sarah Silverman was an ideal candidate for Comedy Central Roast specials. Her appearance on the Comedy Central Roast of James Franco was particularly memorable, since everyone knew exactly what they would get with her, yet she still managed to pull out some real whoppers that caught everyone off guard.
Scathing and Unapologetic
Just as her stand-up comedy specials had become synonymous with Silverman’s full-tilt humor that never held anything back, seeing her name on a Roast line-up immediately let viewers know things were going to get racy. One of the most memorable roasters of the night, Silverman’s jabs were scathing and unapologetic, shocking and delighting audiences in equal measure, though always quick-witted and hilarious too. Stream The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco on Paramount+.
1 The Sarah Silverman Program
Enjoying the limelight in her own show for three seasons between 2007 and 2010, The Sarah SilvermanProgram was a Comedy Central sitcom that featured the comedian/actress at her very best. Playing a fictionalized version of herself, Silverman portrayed herself as an unemployed single woman who makes all kinds of irresponsible decisions with hilarious results.
Made for Her Irreverent Style
Co-created by Silverman, the show was the perfect way for her to show off the best of her raunchy comedy and irreverent style. Often racy, the show did also have a lot more depth beyond its shock value, and saw Silverman earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for it. It’s still seen as the most fitting legacy of her successful career in a very male-dominated industry.
Silverman may have begun starring in dramatic films like Maestro, showing just how much range she has, but she’s still best-known and best-loved for her hysterically funny characters like the one from the show. Stream The Sarah SilvermanProgram on Paramount+.
