Lenny Bruce

Lenny Bruce (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was a controversial Jewish-American stand-up comedian and satirist of the 1950s and 1960s.

Posthumous Credits

In 1971 one of his comedy routines was developed into a short animated film, Thank You Masked Man (often cited as "Thank You, Mask Man") which parodied The Lone Ranger. Bruce received credit for co-writing and co-directing this seven minute cartoon and providing his unique narration which included all of the voice characterizations.

Related Topics:
Animated film - Thank You Masked Man - Parodied - The Lone Ranger - Cartoon - Narration

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The 1974 film Lenny, starring Dustin Hoffman, presents a dramatized account of Bruce's life. Eddie Izzard portrayed the comedian in the 1991 stage show Lenny. Similarly, the comedian inspired songs by Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Nico, Chumbawamba, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, R.E.M., Steve Earle, and Genesis.

Related Topics:
Lenny - Dustin Hoffman - Eddie Izzard - Bob Dylan - John Lennon - Nico - Chumbawamba - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - R.E.M. - Genesis

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The 1998 documentary Lenny Bruce: Swear To Tell the Truth, written and directed by Robert B. Weide, was nominated for an Oscar. Robert De Niro provided the narration.

Related Topics:
Robert B. Weide - Nominated for an Oscar - Robert De Niro

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In response to a petition filed by Ron Collins and David Skover, on December 23, 2003, Lenny Bruce was posthumously pardoned by New York Republican Governor George Pataki for the obscenity conviction arising from his New York appearance. It was the first posthumous pardon in the state's history. Pataki called his decision "a declaration of New York's commitment to upholding the First Amendment."

Related Topics:
Ron Collins - David Skover - December 23 - 2003 - Posthumous - George Pataki

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In 2004, Bruce was voted #3 of the "Greatest Standup Comedians of All Time" by Comedy Central behind Richard Pryor and George Carlin. He was also the subject of a six CD retrospective entitled Let The Buyer Beware, overseen by record producer Hal Willner.

Related Topics:
Comedy Central - Richard Pryor - George Carlin - Hal Willner

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