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Needless to say it's a question that will never have a commonly agreed on answer to say the least...in fact what "best entertainer" even means can be debated (although IMO it's not so mysterious)......BUT.......
IMO this comes down to:
Sammy Davis Jr
Dean Martin
Judy Garland
...I might be missing a few but I can't think who it'd be.
To me basically this means people who were great and beloved over a long time and in numerous ways. eg Sammy Davis wasn't just one of the best dancers (mostly tap) ever, but could sing so well too.....and also many don't realize he had a fantastic comedic ability, could play the drums, and could even do some impressive impersonations of famous celebs.
Dean wasn't far behind versatility-wise. Didn't play any instruments but a great singer, competent actor, extremely underrated as a genuinely "funny guy" and like SD simply had a charm about him that made him irrepressible (his variety show rode on this and was simply classic stuff). These 2 don't IMO seem to get enough credit for making the "Rat Pack," - both more so than Frank Sinatra.
Judy Garland was mostly a singer and somewhat an actor - but had such an "irresistable force" thing about her with that booming voice and ability to grab the heartstrings of an audience like few before or since that she easily is on the short list.
Some others of mention might include Frank Sinatra but I think he's a notch below - he was almost entirely a singer when you get right down to it (granted one of the best) and could be such a horse's ass to boot.
PS and oh btw: Michael Jackson? Not....wrote some great pop tunes, had a few great dance moves, the end. Was so odd and even creepy and reclusive - hardly qualities of a greatest-ever entertainer. Not ripping on the guy, his death is very sad, but it's the truth.
Elvis? Not. Great singer, but that's about "it" (not that it's not significant) when you get down to it.
I'd like to give Harry Connick consideration, but he was simply born way too late ie doesn't appeal to a wide enough audience in this day and age, to say the least.
Elvis is still King. He was a great singer and entertainer. Could have been a great actor but was typecast, not given the opportunity for serious roles. All others pale.
Michael Jackson had great raw talent, but things went so terribly wrong with his life, tragic.
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis so good together, both great entertainers. Never got the big interest in Davis or Sinatra.
Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett very funny comediennes.
Needless to say it's a question that will never have a commonly agreed on answer to say the least...in fact what "best entertainer" even means can be debated (although IMO it's not so mysterious)......BUT.......
IMO this comes down to:
Sammy Davis Jr
Dean Martin
Judy Garland
...I might be missing a few but I can't think who it'd be.
To me basically this means people who were great and beloved over a long time and in numerous ways. eg Sammy Davis wasn't just one of the best dancers (mostly tap) ever, but could sing so well too.....and also many don't realize he had a fantastic comedic ability, could play the drums, and could even do some impressive impersonations of famous celebs.
Dean wasn't far behind versatility-wise. Didn't play any instruments but a great singer, competent actor, extremely underrated as a genuinely "funny guy" and like SD simply had a charm about him that made him irrepressible (his variety show rode on this and was simply classic stuff). These 2 don't IMO seem to get enough credit for making the "Rat Pack," - both more so than Frank Sinatra.
Judy Garland was mostly a singer and somewhat an actor - but had such an "irresistable force" thing about her with that booming voice and ability to grab the heartstrings of an audience like few before or since that she easily is on the short list.
Some others of mention might include Frank Sinatra but I think he's a notch below - he was almost entirely a singer when you get right down to it (granted one of the best) and could be such a horse's ass to boot.
PS and oh btw: Michael Jackson? Not....wrote some great pop tunes, had a few great dance moves, the end. Was so odd and even creepy and reclusive - hardly qualities of a greatest-ever entertainer. Not ripping on the guy, his death is very sad, but it's the truth.
Elvis? Not. Great singer, but that's about "it" (not that it's not significant) when you get down to it.
I'd like to give Harry Connick consideration, but he was simply born way too late ie doesn't appeal to a wide enough audience in this day and age, to say the least.
good ones. i agree on all of them.
in regards to today, i would say wayne brady, bette midler, and danny gans (RIP).
Elvis, Sammy Davis, and Sinatra are the three that stand out to me as the best overall, all around talented entertainers. Sinatra is one of the few entertainers that have won an Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy.
Rita Moreno won all four of the big ones...Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony along with about 9 other entertainers.
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He was a great singer and entertainer. Could have been a great actor but was typecast, not given the opportunity for serious roles. All others pale. 
