Robert Klein

Early life

Klein was born in the Bronx, the son of Frieda (née Moskowitz) and Benjamin Klein, and was raised in a "prototypical 1950s Bronx Jewish" environment, the grandson of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants who arrived in the USA early in the 20th century. He has an older sister, Rhoda.

After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School, Klein had planned to study medicine; however, he changed his mind during his studies at Alfred University, deciding to go into acting instead.

While studying at the Yale Drama School, Klein learned about an opportunity to audition for The Second City. In a piece he wrote for the improvisational troupe's book, Klein recalled sitting in a room full of other hopefuls, including Fred Willard. Klein's audition consisted of an improvisation set with Willard about two guys in a nightclub, which was successful enough to get Klein and Willard hired by Second City. In the spring of 1965 Klein was chosen as a member of Second City. When he returned to New York City a year later, he was cast by Mike Nichols in the Broadway musical The Apple Tree.

Career

Early work

Klein's first major appearance was as host of the 1970 summer replacement television series Comedy Tonight, on which were introduced many of the routines that in the next few years would be released on record albums. His extensive routines about the Watergate scandal made him highly popular in the 1970s. In 1974, he appeared in an episode of Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers.

Klein starred in HBO's first stand-up comedy special in 1975 during the cable channel's early broadcast days and has continued to appear in several more one-man shows which have typically concluded with his "I can't stop my leg" routine. On November 15, 1975, during season one, and again in season three, on January 28, 1978, Klein hosted Saturday Night Live. His skits included "Tough Director" in 1975, "Nick The Lounge Singer Sings Star Wars Theme" in 1978 and "The Olympia Restaurant: Cheeseburger, Chips and Pepsi" in 1978.

In 1979 Klein starred in Neil Simon's musical comedy They're Playing Our Song opposite Lucie Arnaz. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

In 1985 he starred in the "Wordplay" segment of The Twilight Zone, which cast him against type in a dramatic role. In 1986 Klein had his own late-night talk show, Robert Klein Time, which ran on the USA Network until 1988. The following year, Klein hosted Monty Python Live at Aspen, a reunion and tribute show for the five surviving members of the British comedy troupe, in a special that appeared on HBO in 1998.

Comedy albums

Klein has released four comedy albums, A Child of the Fifties (1973), Mind Over Matter (1974), New Teeth (1975), and Let's Not Make Love (1990). The first two albums received Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations.

In A Child of the Fifties (1973, Brut/Buddah Records), shown as Child of the 50s (on the cover), Klein talks about his life as a child in the 1950s: about air raid drills, Johnny Mathis music, showing off condoms while at the high school dance, the high school lunch ladies, Senator Joseph McCarthy, Governor W. Averell Harriman (of New York), meeting Yankee stars, the Yankees losing the World Series, and much more. He also goes into other things that he has observed in his life, such as substitute teaching, 1970s FM radio disc jockeys, late-night delicatessens, and annoying commercials (e.g., Geritol). He also performed two songs that he wrote himself: "Fabulous '50s" and "Middle Class, Educated Blues."

His next album, Mind Over Matter (1974), included extensive discussion of the Watergate scandal and another song—the title track—about a kid who turned to humor to become popular.

Klein's follow-up album, New Teeth (1975, [Epic/CBS Records), featured the comedian's on-stage work on tracks such as "Mother Isn't Always Right" and his transposition of George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say On Television," titled "Six Clean Words You Can Say Anywhere," with studio-recorded material such as "Continental Steel" and "On the Bayou."

Klein responded to the end of the sexual revolution with his 1990 album, Let's Not Make Love, which contained many of the same routines as his 1984 HBO special Child of the '50s, Man of the '80s and his 1986 special Robert Klein on Broadway.

Film and television

Klein has appeared in such films as The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Hooper (1978), The Last Unicorn (1982), Radioland Murders (1994), One Fine Day (1996), Primary Colors (1998), The Safety of Objects (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), and Ira and Abby (2006). Klein had a recurring role in the TV drama series Sisters. In the 1970s, he hosted Saturday Night Live twice. He also appeared as a guest star in the animated series Duckman, in the NBC sitcom Family Ties, and on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.

In 2005 he launched The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, his 8th HBO Special

In March 2007 Klein once again collaborated with Adam Sandler (after appearing in Mixed Nuts) in Reign Over Me, and in September 2007 released a new DVD compilation of his eight live HBO specials, entitled Robert Klein: The HBO Specials 1975–2005. Klein starred in The Mysteries of Laura, a crime dramedy on NBC starring Debra Messing. In this series he played the father of the show's main character, Laura. He appeared alongside Messing again in the relaunched version of her sitcom Will & Grace, playing the father of her character, Grace Adler. In 2014, Klein played the Canadian Ambassador on Madam Secretary. Klein played the Mayor of New York City in Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014) and Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015).

In 2018 Klein played Grace Adler's father Martin in the NBC revival of Will and Grace replacing Alan Arkin. Klein has authored an autobiography, The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back (2006).

Personal life

Klein is divorced from opera singer Brenda Boozer. They have a son, Alexander Stuart Klein, who goes by Allie Klein and performs standup comedy.

Influence

Klein has named Lenny Bruce, Jonathan Winters, and Rodney Dangerfield as comedy influences.

Jerry Seinfeld has stated Klein's influences on him stating "He was The Beatles of comedy to me." Various comedians including Bill Maher, Billy Crystal, Richard Lewis, and Jay Leno, all have also cited Klein as a comedic influence.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Comedy specials

Discography

Albums

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. ''Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award'' [[HBO]]. April 1. 2007
2. [http://www.sfstandup.com/blog/2007/12/09/robert-klein-interview 2007 Interview] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-12-12 from sfstandup.com)
3. (1967-10-11). "Nick DiPaolo talks Stern". Zimbio.
4. http://theunwritablerant.libsyn.com/ep-39-interview-with-bobby-slayton {{Bare URL inline. (May 2022)
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8. Bernstein, Jesse. (May 26, 2019). "Comedian Robert Klein Cracks Wise Ahead of Bristol Riverside Theatre Shows". [[The Jewish Exponent]].
9. Starr, Michael. (2017-03-30). "At 75, comic Robert Klein finds praise hard to handle". [[New York Post]].
10. Wasserstein, Wendy. (June 20, 1999). "THEATER; A Place They'd Never Been: the Theater". [[The New York Times]].
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20. "Saturday Night Live: The Olympia Restaurant — Cheeseburger, Chips and Pepsi".
21. "Nominations - 1979".
22. "The Twilight Zone - Wordplay".
23. (2020). "The Twilight Zone: The Complete '80s Series: Audio Commentary - "Wordplay"". [[CBS DVD]].
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35. (2 November 2018). "Debra Messing Delivers Powerful #MeToo Moment For 'Will & Grace'".
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37. (January 29, 2018). "Will & Grace Is Recasting Grace's Dad". [[TV Guide]].
38. (June 14, 2016). "The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back". Simon and Schuster.
39. Zeitchik, Steven. (May 11, 2017). "Robert Klein returns to a late-night world that helped create him". [[Los Angeles Times]].
40. Hinds, Julie. (March 30, 2017). "New film gives Robert Klein his due as a comedy icon". [[Detroit Free Press]].
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