Robert Klein (born February 8, 1942) is an American stand-up comedian, singer, and actor. He is known for his appearances on stage and screen. He has released four standup comedy albums: A Child of the 50s (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. Klein hosted Saturday Night Live in its first season in 1975 and again in 1978. Klein made his Broadway debut in the 1966 production of The Apple Tree opposite Alan Alda. He earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination for his performance in Neil Simon's musical comedy They're Playing Our Song (1979). He also starred on his own show, Robert Klein Time, which aired on USA Network from 1986 to 1988.
He is known for his film roles in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Mixed Nuts (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 Reign Over Me (2007). He is also known for his recurring television roles in Law & Order: SVU (2009–2012), The Good Wife (2013–2014), Madam Secretary (2014) and Will & Grace (2018–2019). He has received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his specials, Child in his 50's (2001), and Unfair and Unbalanced (2010). He was profiled in the Starz documentary Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg (2016).
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 YearTitleRoleNotes1970 The Landlord Peter Credited as Bob Klein 1970The Owl and the Pussycat Barney 1971 The Pursuit of Happiness Melvin Lasher 1972Rivals Peter / Husband 1978HooperRoger Deal1979The Bell JarLenny 1981Nobody's PerfektWalter 1982 The Last Unicorn Butterfly Voice1988Dangerous CurvesBam Bam1990Tales from the Darkside: The MovieWyatt Segment: "Lover's Vow"1994Radioland MurdersFather Writer1994Mixed NutsMr. Lobel1995JeffreySkip Winkley1996One Fine Day Dr. Martin 1998 Next Stop Wonderland Arty Lesser1998 Primary ColorsNorman Asher1999SuitsTom Cranston 1999The Contract Jackson1999Goosed Dad / Mel2009Labor Pains David Raymond 2001PiñeroDoctor2001The Safety of ObjectsHoward Gold2002 I'm with Lucy Dr. Mort Zalkind2002 People I Know Dr. Sandy Napier2002Two Weeks Notice Larry Kelson2003 How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysPhillip Warren2006Ira & Abby Seymour Black2007Reign Over Me Jonathan Timpleman 2010The Back-up Plan Dr. Scott Harris2011National Lampoon's Dirty MovieThe CEO2011DemotedBob Farrell2012 Another Dirty MovieThe CEO2012 PutzelNarratorVoice2021 Before I Go Jasper
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1973 Love, American Style Michael Episode: "Love and the End of the Line" 1974Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers Mike Moran Episode: "Moran's the Man"1975-1978Saturday Night Live Host / Himself 2 episodes1977VisionsRebbe Episode: "A Secret Space"1985George Burns Comedy WeekJay Miller Episode: "Death Benefits" 1985The Twilight Zone Bill Lowery Episode: "Wordplay"1986Comedy Factory Robert Morgan Episode: "Father's Day" 1988Family TiesRoger ErdmanEpisode: "The Boys Next Door"1989Murder, She WroteBarney DrakeEpisode: "Trevor Hudson's Legacy"1989Trying TimesBuddy AmberEpisode: "A Good Life"1990Midnight CallerRyderEpisode: "Ryder on the Storm"1993Law & OrderRick MasonEpisode: "Sweeps"1993FrasierGaryVoice; Episode: "The Crucible"1996Grace Under Fire Fred Mullens / Ron 2 episodes 1996 Sisters Albert Barker 25 episodes1997 Duckman Uncle Mo Dorkin 2 episodes 1998Monty Python Live at Aspen Himself (host) Television special 1998Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Robert Episode: "Old Man"1999Mad About YouStan Freitus Episode: "Farmer Buchman"1999Cosby Jack Episode: "A Very Nice Dance"1999The King of QueensBruce DegnerEpisode: "Sparing Carrie"2001 OzRobert KleinEpisode: "Conversions" 2001Bob PattersonLandau6 episodes2004The StonesStan Stone 7 episodes2008Life on MarsElliott CassoEpisode: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows" 2008-2010Heartland Dwayne Trent 2 episodes2009-2012 Law and Order: SVUDwight Stannich4 epsides2013Royal Pains Bert Episode: "Hammertime"2013-2014The Good WifeLyle Pollard 2 episodes2014Madam Secretary Amb. Lester Clark Episode: "Blame Canada"2014Comedians in Cars Getting CoffeeHimselfEpisode: "Opera Pimp"2014Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms MableySelfDocumentary 2014-2016The Mysteries of LauraLeo Diamond5 episodes2014 Sharknado 2: The Second One The Mayor Television movie2015Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!Mayor of New YorkTelevision movie2015 The SeventiesSelfEpisode: "Television Gets Real"2016Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His LegSelf Starz Documentary 2018-2019Will & GraceMartin Adler 4 episodes2022George Carlin's American Dream Self HBO Documentary
Theatre YearTitleRoleVenue Ref. 1966The Apple TreeEnsemble / GuardShubert Theatre, Broadway1968Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968 PerformerBooth Theatre, Broadway1979They're Playing Our SongVernon Gersh Imperial Theatre, Broadway1985The Robert Klein ShowSelf Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway1986Robert Klein on BroadwayNederlander Theatre, Broadway1988An Evening with Robert KleinCircle in the Square Theatre, Broadway1993The Sisters RosensweigMervyn Kant Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
Comedy specials