Bob Einstein | |
|---|---|
 Einstein in the unsoldtelevision pilotThree for Tahiti, 1970 | |
| Born | (1942-11-20)November 20, 1942 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 76) Indian Wells, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Chapman University[1] |
| Occupations | Actor, comedy writer, producer |
| Years active | 1967–2017 |
| Spouse | Roberta Einstein |
| Parent(s) | Harry Einstein Thelma Leeds |
| Relatives | Albert Brooks (brother) Charles Einstein (half-brother) |
| Website | www |
Stewart Robert Einstein (November 20, 1942 – January 2, 2019) was an American actor, comedy writer, and producer. He created and performed the satirical stuntman characterSuper Dave Osborne, and was also known for his roles asMarty Funkhouser inCurb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman onArrested Development.
Einstein got his start on several television variety shows, includingThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour andThe Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Einstein won twoEmmy Awards as a writer and was nominated four other times. He also won aCableACE Award for acting as Super Dave, along with five other nominations.
Einstein was the son of radio comedianHarry Einstein, and the older brother of fellow actor and comedianAlbert Brooks.
Einstein was born in 1942 inLos Angeles, toJewish parents.[2] His parents were the comicHarry Einstein, best known for playing the character Parkyakarkus on radio and in the movies, and the actress-singerThelma Leeds. On October 24, 1949, at the age of six, it was reported in theLos Angeles Times that he had contractedpolio. His younger brother is comedian and writerAlbert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein). He was aBeverly Hills High School graduate and a 1965 graduate ofChapman College.[1]
Einstein got his start writing forThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, for which he won anEmmy Award. The writing team also includedSteve Martin andMurray Roman.[3] He also appeared on the show as Officer Judy, a uniformed police officer who gaveLiberace a speeding ticket for playing his piano too fast.[4] In 1977 he won an Emmy for outstanding comedy-variety series for his work onVan Dyke and Company.[5]
Einstein created the goofy stuntmanSuper Dave Osborne character for a variety show hosted byJohn Byner. The character later became a regular on the 1980 television seriesBizarre, also hosted by Byner, and was a frequent guest onLate Night with David Letterman where he would show clips of his ill-fated stunts and tell long semi-crude jokes. In 1987, Einstein got his own variety show titledSuper Dave, which ran from 1987 to 1991 on theGlobal Television Network in Canada (where the show was produced at the network'sToronto studio) andShowtime in the United States. In 1992, ananimated seriesSuper Dave: Daredevil for Hire aired onFox. Einstein later starred in the 2000 movieThe Extreme Adventures of Super Dave.
On November 12, 2009, the airing ofTNA Impact!, he was the booker[6] and host of the night. He madeSuper Dave's Spike Tacular, a four-episode sketch series onSpike TV reprising hisSuper Dave character, once again engaging in outrageous stunts.
Einstein had recurring roles asMarty Funkhouser inCurb Your Enthusiasm andLarry Middleman in the third season ofArrested Development. He was also featured on the Comedy Central showCrank Yankers as obnoxious district selectman Tony Deloge. Einstein was also onThe Man Show where he didCentury Club with Adam and Jimmy. InOcean's Thirteen he played Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon)'s father, Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, a master robber and con artist whose day job is an FBI agent.[citation needed]
Einstein appeared on the second season ofAnger Management as Charlie Goodson's very angry neighbor, and his character in the show instantly got an unflattering nickname based on a feminine hygiene product.[citation needed]
Einstein voiced two characters fromThe Life & Times of Tim, playing the Elephant Trainer inTim & the Elephant in the second season, and the bookie inPray for the Jets in the third.[7][8]
Einstein was the first comedian to appear twice onJerry Seinfeld's Web seriesComedians in Cars Getting Coffee.[9]
In the 2010s, Einstein was a frequent guest on the sports talk radio programThe Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. Einstein called in as a "Celebrity Prognosticator" to give his thoughts on sports and various other topics.[citation needed]
Einstein died on January 2, 2019, at the age of 76, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.[10]
Curb Your Enthusiasm series creator and starLarry David said in a statement: "Never have I seen an actor enjoy a role the way Bob did playing 'Marty Funkhouser' onCurb. It was an amazing, unforgettable experience knowing and working with him. There was no one like him, as he told us again and again. We're all in a state of shock."[11]Jerry Seinfeld paid tribute to Einstein on Twitter.[12]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Get to Know Your Rabbit | Police Officer | |
| 1972 | Another Nice Mess | Agent Nussbaum | |
| 1981 | Modern Romance | Sporting Goods Salesman | |
| 2000 | The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave | Super Dave Osborne | |
| 2002 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Dom Molinari | |
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | Robert "Bobby" Caldwell | |
| 2010 | Shit Year | Rick | |
| 2015 | Strange Magic | Stuff | Voice |
As Super Dave
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The John Byner Comedy Hour | First appearance as Super Dave |
| 1976 | Van Dyke and Company | Episode #1.6 |
| 1977 | The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour | Producer |
| 1980–1985 | Bizarre | 1981-1985 |
| 1980 | Late Night with David Letterman | Recurring guest |
| 1989 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Episode: "Super Dave/Park Overall/Mark Schiff" |
| 1987–1991 | Super Dave | Also writer |
| 1992 | Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire | Also writer |
| 1993 | In Living Color | |
| 1994–1995 | WWE Monday Night RAW | Television Special |
| 1995 | Super Dave's Vegas Spectacular | Television Special |
| 1997 | Super Dave's All Stars | Television Special |
| 1998–2004 | Hollywood Squares | Recurring guest |
| 2003 | The Man Show | Episode: "Jimmy Asks Women 'What Do You Weigh?'" |
| 2009 | Super Dave's Spike-Tacular | Episode: "Mr. Big Meeting" |
| 2009 | The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien | November 11, 2009 |
| 2009 | TNA Impact! |
Other roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–1969 | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | Officer Judy | 9 episodes |
| 1970 | Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour | Various Roles | 8 episodes |
| 1971 | The Steve Allen Show | Himself | August 31, 1971 |
| 1971 | Tom Smothers' Organic Prime Time Space Ride | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1971–1991 | The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson | Himself - Guest | 10 episodes |
| 1973 | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | Himself | Episode #4.1 |
| 1975 | The Smothers Brothers Show | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 1988–1991 | Late Night with David Letterman | Himself | 9 episodes |
| 1993–1995 | Late Show with David Letterman | Himself | 5 episodes |
| 1997 | Roseanne | Howard Morton | Episode: "The Truth Be Told" |
| 1999 | The Norm Show | Al | Episode: "Norm Pimps Wiener Dog" |
| 2002–2003 | Crank Yankers | Tony DeLoge/Bob Carlman | 8 episodes |
| 2003 | Gadget & the Gadgetinis | Himself - Story consultant | 52 episodes |
| 2003–2007 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself - Guest / co-Host | 22 episodes |
| 2004–2017 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Marty Funkhouser | 22 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | Arrested Development | Larry Middleman | 5 episodes |
| 2008 | Welcome to the Captain | Mickey Tittle | Episode: "Mr. Big Meeting" |
| 2009 | The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien | Himself | Episode: "Jessica Biel/Bob Einstein/John Fogerty" |
| 2010–2012 | The Life & Times of Tim | Elephant Trainer / The Bookie (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Conan | Himself | Episode: "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish - Oh, God, My Whole Life Has Been a Horrible Lie" |
| 2012–2017 | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Anger Management | Hoffler | Episode: "Charlie and Lacey Piss Off the Neighborhood" |
| 2013 | Norm Macdonald Live | Super Dave Osborne | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Harvey Wrinkleman | Episode: "Karen Gillan Wears a Black and White Striped Pullover and Coral Skirt" |
Primetime Emmy Awards
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
| Other | |
