Robert Klein Biography (1942-)

Born February 8, 1942, in the Bronx, New York, NY; son of Benjamin and Frieda(maiden name, Moskowitz) Klein; married Brenda Boozer (an opera singer; somesources cite name as Brenda Boozler), April 29, 1973 (divorced, 1989); children: Alexander Stuart. Addresses: Agent: Brian Stern, William Morris Agency, One William Morris Place, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: Rory Rosegarten, The Conversation Company, 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 304, Roslyn, NY11576.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Comedian, actor, writer, director, singer
Birth Details: February 8, 1942; New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Host, Comedy Tonight, CBS, 1970
The Comedy Zone, CBS, 1984
"Our man in New York," TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, NBC, beginning c. 1984
Host, Robert Klein Time, USA Network, c. 1986-88
Host, Dead Comics Society, Comedy Central, beginning c. 1991
Host, Stand-Up Stand-Up, Comedy Central, beginning c. 1991
Host, Arts & Entertainment Revue (also known as A & E Magazine), Arts and Entertainment, 1991-92
Host, Stand-Up/Sit Down Comedy, E! Entertainment Television, beginning 1992
Albert "Big Al" Barker (some sources cite original surname of Barkewitz),Sisters, NBC, 1993-96
Landau, Bob Patterson, ABC, 2001
Stan Stone, The Stones, CBS, 2004
Host of New Joke City (also known as New Joke City with Host Robert Klein), The Metro Channel (New York City).
Miniseries
(In archive footage) Himself, Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, Comedy Central, 2004
Movies
The Possessed, NBC, 1977
Nick, Your Place ... or Mine?, CBS, 1983
Alan Harper, This Wife for Hire, ABC, 1985
Big Irv Klopper, Poison Ivy, NBC, 1985
Jonah, Wanderer, 1994
Dad and Mel, Goosed, The Movie Channel, 2000
Specials
Host, That Was the Year That Was, NBC, 1976
Good Old Days (also known as Dick Clark's "Good Old Days"),NBC, 1977
Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's All-Star Birthday Party, NBC, 1979
All Commercials: A Steve Martin Special (also known as Steve Martin: All Commercials), NBC, 1980
Host, The Robert Klein Show, NBC, 1981
Himself, The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell, PBS, 1982
Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), ABC, 1982
Robert Klein at Yale, 1982
Georges Chavinet, Pajama Tops, Showtime, 1983
Bill Andrews, "Summer Switch," ABC Afterschool Special, ABC, 1984
(In archive footage) Himself, The Great Standups (also known as The Great Standups: Sixty Years of Laughter), 1984
Table Settings, HBO, 1984
The Second City 25th Anniversary Special, HBO, 1985
Host, Falstaff, Arts and Entertainment, 1986
Host, "Robert Klein on Broadway," On Location, HBO, 1986
Narrator, Paddington's Birthday Bonanza (animated), HBO, 1986
Carnegie Hall: The Grand Reopening, CBS, 1987
Humor and the Presidency, HBO, 1987
Host, "An All-Star Toast to the Improv," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988
Host, Baseball's All-Star Comedy Classics '88, syndicated, 1988
(In archive footage; uncredited) Olympia customer, Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary, NBC, 1989
Command Performance: An All-Star Salute to the President (also known as An All-Star Salute to Ford's Theatre), ABC, 1989
"Montreal International Comedy Festival," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1989
Woodstock: Return to the Planet of the '60s, CBS, 1989
Narrator, "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" (animated musical; also known as "Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel"), HBO Storybook Musicals, HBO, 1990
Comic Relief IV, HBO, 1990
Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars III), NBC, 1990
"The World of Jewish Humor," Great Performances, PBS, 1990
Making Sense of the Sixties, PBS, 1991
Comic Relief V, HBO, 1992
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys, The Disney Channel, 1992
Why Bother Voting?, PBS, 1992
But ... Seriously, Showtime, 1994
Hal Roach: Hollywood's King of Laughter, The Disney Channel, 1994
Host, "Robert Klein: It All Started Here," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
(In archive footage) Himself, 20 Years of Comedy on HBO, HBO, 1995
A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, NBC, 1995
Comic Relief VII, HBO, 1995
Host, D. C. Follies, American Movie Classics, 1996
(In archive footage) Himself, Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television, NBC, 1996
Catch a Rising Star 50th Anniversary--Give or Take 26 Years, CBS,1996
New Passages (also known as Gail Sheehy's "New Passages"),ABC, 1996
Moderator, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python (alsoknown as Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen), HBO, 1998
Himself, "The Funeral," Jerry Seinfeld: "I'm Telling You for the LastTime," HBO, 1998
Himself, Barry Levinson on the Future in the 20th Century: Yesterday'sTomorrows (also known as The 20th Century: Yesterday's Tomorrows), Showtime, 1999
Himself, Norman Jewison on Comedy in the 20th Century: Funny Is Money, Showtime, 1999
(In archive footage) Himself, Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary (also known as Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Primetime Special), NBC, 1999
Himself, Child in His 50s (also known as Robert Klein: Child inHis 50s), HBO, 2000
The Great American History Quiz: Pursuit of Happiness, History Channel, 2000
Himself, Laugh Out Loud: TV's 15 Greatest Comedians, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny!, Trio, 2003
Himself, When Stand-Up Comics Ruled the World, VH1, 2004
Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy, Channel 4 (England), 2004
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, HBO, 2005
Episodic
Jesse James, "Showdown with Rance McGrew," The Twilight Zone, CBS,1962
The Ed Sullivan Show (also known as Toast of the Town and You're the Top), CBS, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
Guest, The Dick Cavett Show, ABC, 1970
Guest, The Flip Wilson Show, NBC, 1970, 1971
Guest and guest host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, multiple appearances, between 1970 and 1987
Guest, The Mike Douglas Show, syndicated, 1972, 1976
"Love and the End of the Line," Love, American Style, ABC, 1973
Guest, Dinah!, syndicated, 1975, 1976
Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "Saturday Night," Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1975, 1978
Rebbe, "A Secret Space," Visions, PBS, 1977
"Latka, the Playboy," Taxi, ABC, 1981
Bill Lowery, "Wordplay," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1985
George Burns Comedy Week, CBS, 1985
Roger Erdman, "The Boys Next Door," Family Ties, NBC, 1988
Roger Erdman, "Sign of the Times," Family Ties, NBC, 1988
Barney Drake, "Trevor Hudson's Legacy," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1989
Buddy Amber, "A Good Life" (also known as "L/S/M/F/T"), Trying Times, PBS, 1989
"Ryder on the Storm," Midnight Caller, NBC, 1990
Rick Mason, "Sweeps," Law & Order, NBC, 1993

Voice of guest caller Gary, "The Crucible," Frasier (also known asDr. Frasier Crane), NBC, 1993
Stephen, Phenom, ABC, 1993
Guest, The Late Show with David Letterman (also known as The Late Show), CBS, 1993, 2005
Fred Mullens, "Positively Hateful," Grace under Fire (also known as Grace under Pressure), ABC, 1996
Fred Mullens and Ron, "Mr. Mullens' Opus," Grace under Fire (alsoknown as Grace under Pressure), ABC, 1996
Guest, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996
Voice of Uncle Mo Dorkin, "Love! Anger! Kvetching!," Duckman (animated; also known as Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man), USA Network, 1997
Voice of the ghost of Uncle Mo Dorkin, "Hamlet 2: This Time It's Personal," Duckman (animated; also known as Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man), USA Network, 1997
Himself, "Rodney Dangerfield: Respect at Last," Biography (also known as A & E Biography: Rodney Dangerfield), Arts and Entertainment, 1998
Stan Freidus, "Farmer Buchman," Mad about You (also known as Loved by You), NBC, 1998
Himself, Intimate Portrait: Brett Butler, Lifetime, 1998
Voice of himself, "Old Man," Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (animated), Comedy Central, 1998
Bruce Degner, "Sparing Carrie," The King of Queens, CBS, 1999
Jack, "A Very Nice Dance," Cosby, CBS, 1999
Himself, "George Carlin: More Than 7 Words," Biography (also knownas A & E Biography: George Carlin), Arts and Entertainment, 2000
Himself, Intimate Portrait: Madeline Kahn, Lifetime, 2000
Himself, Intimate Portrait: Swoosie Kurtz, Lifetime, 2000
Himself, "Conversions," Oz, HBO, 2001
Himself, "Big Brother-in-Law," Yes, Dear, CBS, 2003
Himself, "Peter Boyle," Biography (also known as A & E Biography: Peter Boyle), Arts and Entertainment, 2003
Guest, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2004
Guest, The View, ABC, 2004
Guest, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, 2004, 2005
Julius Edelman, "Friends with Benefits," Jack & Bobby, The WB,2005
Guest, CenterStage, 2005
Guest, The Early Show, CBS, 2005
Guest, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2005
Participant, Celebrity Charades, American Movie Classics, 2005
Appeared as Dr. Whitman in an episode of Dellaventura, CBS; as a guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC; as a guest, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC; as a guest, The Uncle Floyd Show, syndicated, PBS, and other networks; appeared with the Teen Tones, Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour (also known as Original Amateur Hour and TedMack & the Original Amateur Hour), DuMont, NBC, ABC, and CBS; also appeared in A Taste for Travel.
Pilots
Host, Klein Time, CBS, 1977
Robert Morgan, Father's Day, ABC, 1986
Robert Klein Time, USA Network, c. 1986
Narrator, Brain Games, HBO, 1993
Hugh Hamilton, Clarissa (also known as Clarissa Now), CBS,1995
Lenny, From Where I Sit, CBS, 2000
Landau, Bob Patterson, ABC, 2001
Stan Stone, The Stones, CBS, 2004
Television Executive Producer
Series
Robert Klein Time, USA Network, c. 1986-88
Specials
"Robert Klein on Broadway," On Location, HBO, 1986
"Robert Klein: It All Started Here," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
(And director) Child in His 50s (also known as Robert Klein: Child in His 50s), HBO, 2000
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, HBO, 2005
Film Appearances
Barney, The Owl and the Pussycat, Columbia, 1970
(As Bob Klein) Peter Coots, The Landlord, United Artists, 1970
Melvin Lasher, The Pursuit of Happiness, Columbia, 1971
Peter, Rivals (also known as Deadly Rivals), Avco-Embassy,1972
Le gitan (also known as The Gypsy and Lo zingaro), 1975
Lezsin, Comme un boomerang (also known as Boomerang, Like a Boomerang, and Il figlio del gangster), 1976
Roger Deal, Hooper, Warner Bros., 1978
Lenny, The Bell Jar, Avco-Embassy, 1979
Walter, Nobody's Perfekt, Columbia, 1981
Voice of the butterfly, The Last Unicorn (animated; also known asDas Detzte Einhorn), Jensen-Farley Pictures/Sunn Classic Pictures, 1982
Bam Bam, Dangerous Curves, Alimar Productions/Lightning Pictures,1988
A Secret Space, 1988
Wyatt, "Lover's Vow," Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Paramount, 1990
Father writer, Radioland Murders, Universal, 1994
Mr. Lobel, Mixed Nuts (also known as Lifesavers), TriStar,1994
Skip Winkley, Jeffrey, Orion Classics, 1995
Dr. Martin, One Fine Day, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1996
Arty Lesser, Next Stop Wonderland, Miramax, 1998
Jackson, The Contract, Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment, 1998
Norman Asher, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Coupleand Mit aller Macht), Universal, 1998
Tom Cranston, Suits, Taurus Entertainment, 1999
David Raymond, Labor Pains, USA Home Video, 2000
Doctor, Pinero, Miramax, 2001
Howard Gold, The Safety of Objects, 2001, IFC Films, 2003
Dr. Mort Zalkind, I'm with Lucy (also known as Autour de Lucy), Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2002
Larry Kelson, Two Weeks Notice, Warner Bros., 2002
Comedian (documentary), Miramax, 2002
Dr. Sandy Napier, People I Know (also known as Der innere Kreis and Im inneren Kreis), Miramax, 2003
Phillip Warren, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (also known as Wiewerde ich ihn los--in 10 Tagen?), Paramount, 2003
Himself, Bitter Jester (documentary), Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2004
Sy, Ira and Abby, Breakout Pictures, 2006
Stage Appearances
20,000 Frozen Grenadiers, Second City Theatrical Company, Square East Theatre, New York City, 1966
Guard, Mr. Fallible, and member of ensemble, The Apple Tree (musical), Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1966-67
Junior, Morning, [and] Asher, Noon, [and] a man, Night (triple-bill; also known as Morning, Noon and Night), Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City, 1968
New Faces of 1968 (revue; also known as Leonard Sillman's "New Faces of 1968"), Booth Theatre, New York City, 1968
Annual Robert Klein Reunion, Carnegie Hall, New York City, beginning in 1973
Vernon Gersch, They're Playing Our Song (musical), produced in theLos Angeles area, beginning c. 1978, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1979
Night of 100 Stars (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1982
The Robert Klein Show!, Circle in the Square, New York City, 1985-86
Robert Klein on Broadway, Nederlander Theatre, New York City, 1986
An Evening with Robert Klein (solo show), Circle in the Square, 1988
Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars III), Radio City Music Hall, 1990
Mervyn Kant, The Sisters Rosensweig, Lincoln Center Theater, EthelBarrymore Theater, New York City, 1993-94
The Exonerated, 45 Bleecker, New York City, 2002-2004
Appeared in the off-Broadway productions Second City Returns, Six Characters in Search of an Author, and Upstairs at the Downstairs.
Stage Producer
Women Beware Women, Playhouse 91, New York City, 1987
Radio Appearances
Series
Host, The Robert Klein Radio Show, syndicated internationally, c.1979-81
Episodic
Himself, A Prairie Home Companion (also known as A Prairie HomeCompanion with Garrison Keillor), National Public Radio, 1996
Appeared in other radio productions.
RECORDINGS
Comedy Albums
Child of the Fifties, Rhino, 1973
Mind over Matter, Rhino, 1974
New Teeth, Epic, 1975
Let's Not Make Love, Rhino, 1992
Cast Albums
They're Playing Our Song, PolyGram, 1979
Videos
Robert Klein: Child of the '50s, Man of the '80s, Thorne/EMI-HBO,1984
(In archive footage) Himself, The Best of John Belushi, Warner Home Video, 1985
Tax Attack, 1987
Audio Recordings; Other
(Narrator of compact discs included with book) Sheldon Patinkin, The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater, Sourcebooks, 2000
WRITINGS
Teleplays
Series
Robert Klein Time, USA Network, c. 1986-88
Specials
The Robert Klein Show, NBC, 1981
"Robert Klein on Broadway," On Location, HBO, 1986
"An All-Star Toast to the Improv," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988
Child in His 50s (also known as Robert Klein: Child in His 50s), HBO, 2000
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue (based on his book The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back), HBO, 2005
Some sources cite Klein as the author of "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" (animated musical; also known as "Mike Mulligan and His Steamshovel"), awork based on the book by Virginia Lee Burton and broadcast on HBO Storybook Musicals, HBO, 1990.
Pilots
Klein Time, CBS, 1977
Television Music
Specials
"Robert Klein on Broadway," On Location, HBO, 1986
(With Bob Stein) The song "Colonoscopy," Child in His 50s (also known as Robert Klein: Child in His 50s), HBO, 2000
Writings for the Stage
Annual Robert Klein Reunion, Carnegie Hall, New York City, beginning in 1973
The Robert Klein Show!, Circle in the Square, New York City, 1985-86
An Evening with Robert Klein (solo show), Circle in the Square, 1988
Author of material for other stage productions.
Comedy Albums
Child of the Fifties, Rhino, 1973
Mind over Matter, Rhino, 1974
New Teeth, Epic, 1975
Let's Not Make Love, Rhino, 1992
Videos
Robert Klein: Child of the '50s, Man of the '80s, Thorne/EMI-HBO,1984
Tax Attack, 1987
Nonfiction
The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back, Simon & Schuster, 2005

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Electronic

The Conversation Company (official website), http://robertklein.com, January 7, 2006

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