re: Who is the best mult-genre star of all time?

Madonna?

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dean Martin

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I kind of think Dean Martin just has to be the winner here.

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Just to ask, why is that surprising? Most good comedians are good writers, since they generally write their own material.

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I agree with you somewhat, but...
There's a big difference between telling a joke that lasts a few lines, and that has the added benefit of being able to use gesturing, vocal impersonations and volume control to heighten the effect of storytelling, as compared to a novel, screenplay, or script where narratives have to stay compelling based on the words alone.

Not all comedians write their own jokes. I'd venture a guess to say most mainstream comedians employ a team of writers to help sustain fresh material.

Further, not every comedian has shown themselves capable of being a good long-form storyteller. They're better at quickly making a setup and then using irony, absurdity, or some astute, comical observation to topple or skew their original point. To be able to paint a robust human portrait that's emotionally and psychologically gripping is a much more difficult feat, imo. It's one thing to write comedy, but it's another ballpark to attempt a sustained drama.