Five Famous Funny People With Ties To Maine

Personally, I think Maine has some of the funniest people around. Whether it's folks who are from here (which most who are already possess a hardy sense of humor, in my humble opinion) or transplants "from away" who spend time here, Maine is full of folks who know how to make people laugh...or at the very least, crack a smile.

We're humble enough not to get too ruffled when the jokes "on us, and we're clever enough to "give" what we get sometimes, if the situation deems it so.

Read More: Bangor and Maine 'Saturday Night Live' Sketches Are Hilarious

Over the years, some pretty well-known people have called the Pine Tree State home, either born and raised or seasonal. A few you may already know about. But some you may not.

Here are 5 Famous Funny People With Ties to Maine

(In no particular order, mind you.)

1.) Tim Sample

A legendary "Maine Humorist", many of us grew up listening to "Bert and I" records (yup, some of us are THAT old.) Tim Sample has been representing "Maine" humor for decades, regaling audiences with stories from his own life growing up in small-town Maine. While he may be a bit of a snowbird these days, heading for warmer weather in the winter (who could blame him?) Sample and his wife still show up in spots around the state, primarily in the southern counties and Downeast.

2.) Bob Marley

While Sample represented a good deal of Mainers with his humor and stories, Bob Marley certainly rounds out the rest with his stand-up routines. Marley, while venturing out west for a while in his youth, has become a recognized comedian in his own right, representing Maine on some pretty impressive platforms. He moved back to Maine about 20 years ago, and spends a great deal of time still touring with his routines based on characters from his life in New England, and growing up in a big Maine family. He also has a large online following and does regular check-ins

3.) Timothy Simons

Now this guy, I actually have some experience with, as we were in the same History of the Theatre class up at the University of Maine in Orono, in the early 2000s.

In fact, according to the University's own website:

"Timothy Simons was a young man from Readfield, Maine, looking for new friends during his first year at the University of Maine."

Well, that young man from Readfield, Tim Simons, grew up and made the big time, most notably as a star of HBO's "Veep".

From what I remember of him from class, he was a super tall man with hearing aids that he would purposefully crank up so loud they caused feedback, which made the entire class laugh. His entrances into the room were "Kramer-esque" to say the least: hilariously disruptive and always loud and random. I was delighted to see that energy and talent put to good use on the big and small screen.

4.) Karen Morgan

While she started out as "from away", comedienne Karen Morgan (who is also a licensed lawyer, by the way) calls Cumberland County home. A mom looking for something different to do, Morgan got into comedy and quickly made a name for herself with stories about her life as a mom in Maine. She has several "Dry Bar Comedy Specials" you can check out online.

5.) Juston McKinney

While he was born just to the south of the state, he became a transplant to Maine at a very young age. Actory/Comedian Juston McKinney has starred in a number of movies and has even done a TED Talk! McKinney is also still touring the stand-up circuit, with a couple of gigs booked in Maine this fall.

Honorable mentions:

Chris Elliott

He's known for the comedic characters he created as a writer and actor on Late Night with David Letterman, and for films like Groundhog Day and Scary Movie 2. Chris Elliott spent many summers in Harpswell, Maine. According to sources, his father (who was also in the entertainment business) has a house in Cundy's Bay.

Earlier this year, the Portland Press Herald reported that another generation of Elliotts, Abby Elliott, who is also an actor on the television series "The Bear," has taken up the tradition of spending time in Vacationland.

Emma Willman

Raised in Blue Hill, Maine, Emma Willman is a stand-up comedian and actress who incorporates a lot of her experiences growing up in what she calls a "small town" into her act. She made her TV debut on Late Night with Stephen Colbert and has also appeared in several sitcoms.

Anna Kendrick

One of the most recent names to come out of Maine and go straight into the entertainment industry is Anna Kendrick. Kendrick soared to fame thanks to her breakout role in "Pitch Perfect", and then (if you can believe it) shot even higher voicing the role as Poppy in the animated movie "Trolls."

If you've ever seen this Deering High School grad in interviews, you know that, as funny as some of the characters she's played have been, Kendrick is also insanely witty in person, on the spot.