Who is the best supporting actor in a sitcom?

Second billing, first laugh. These performers turned side parts into the reason people tuned in.

1

Michael Richards

Played Kramer on Seinfeld and won three Emmys for supporting actor in a comedy.

2

Matthew Perry

Played Chandler Bing on Friends and gave the show its sarcastic register.

3

Jason Alexander

Played George Costanza on Seinfeld across seven supporting-actor nominations.

4

David Hyde Pierce

Played Niles Crane on Frasier and won four supporting-actor Emmys.

5

Rainn Wilson

Played Dwight Schrute on The Office, the show's most imitated character.

6

Sean Hayes

Played Jack McFarland on Will & Grace and won the supporting-actor Emmy in 2000.

7

Danny DeVito

Played dispatcher Louie De Palma on Taxi, a supporting part that dominated the show.

8

Christopher Lloyd

Played Reverend Jim on Taxi before Doc Brown, winning two comedy Emmys.

9

John Ratzenberger

Played Cliff Clavin on Cheers, a walk-on audition that became eleven seasons.

10

Woody Harrelson

Played Woody Boyd on Cheers and won a supporting-actor Emmy in 1989.

11

Nick Offerman

Played Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, the show's most quoted figure.

12

Neil Patrick Harris

Played Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother across four Emmy nominations.

13

Ty Burrell

Played Phil Dunphy on Modern Family and won two supporting-actor Emmys.

14

Tracy Morgan

Played Tracy Jordan on 30 Rock, the show's engine of chaos.

15

Jack McBrayer

Played the relentlessly cheerful page Kenneth Parcell on 30 Rock.

16

Matt LeBlanc

Played Joey Tribbiani on Friends and carried the character into a spinoff.

17

Andre Braugher

Played Captain Raymond Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, deadpan against a loud squad.

18

Danny Pudi

Played Abed Nadir on Community, the character who narrated the show's own tropes.

19

Wayne Knight

Played Newman on Seinfeld, a recurring part that became the show's villain.

20

Aubrey Plaza

Played April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, deadpan opposite relentless optimism.