Robert Klein

Robert Klein

Birth : 1942-02-08, Bronx, New York, USA

History

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 specials including, 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 is known for his film roles in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Mixed Nuts (1994), One Fine Day (1996), Primary Colors (1998), 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), 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).

Profile

Robert Klein
Robert Klein

Movies

Before I Go
Jasper
A woman recalls her life and musical career choices in New York City through the years.
Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg
A hilarious and heartfelt look at the career and influence of comedy legend Robert Klein.
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
Mayor of New York
The sharks take bite out of the East Coast when the sharknado hits Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Florida.
Sharknado 2: The Second One
Mayor
A freak weather system turns its deadly fury on New York City, unleashing a Sharknado on the population and its most cherished, iconic sites - and only Fin and April can save the Big Apple.
Another Dirty Movie
The CEO
Two college film students set out to make an homage to Charlie LaRue, not for art or for money. They're doing it to get a hot chick.
Demoted
Bob Farrell
What go around comes around for a pair of prank-playing tire salesmen who find themselves placed in secretarial jobs by their put-upon boss.
Dirty Movie
The CEO
An outrageous cut-rate producer, Charlie LaRue (Christopher Meloni) is about to fulfill his lifelong dream to make a movie about the most offensive, dirtiest jokes ever told.
Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced
Writer
Comedian/actor Robert Klein stars in his ninth HBO stand-up special, an hour of all new insights into society’s foibles and follies, plus several memorable musical interludes. Klein performs his routine in front of a live audience at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced
Robert Klein
Comedian/actor Robert Klein stars in his ninth HBO stand-up special, an hour of all new insights into society’s foibles and follies, plus several memorable musical interludes. Klein performs his routine in front of a live audience at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Back-Up Plan
Scott Harris
When Zoe tires of looking for Mr. Right, she decides to have a baby on her own. But on the day she's artificially inseminated, she meets Stan, who seems to be just who she's been searching for all her life. Now, Zoe has to figure out how to make her two life's dreams fit with each other.
Pocket Full of Soul: The Harmonica Documentary
Himself
The definitive film on the harmonica. A comprehensive exploration of the culture, the players, the politics, and of course the music associated with the only instrument where one must breathe naturally to produce sound. This simple act, breathing through the harmonica, forms an undeniable connection between the player and the instrument as it captures the body and spirit of each individual musician that puts it to their mouth. It’s truly a universal phenomenon and the sound, well, it’s undeniable.
Definitely, Maybe
Robert Klein
When Will decides to tell his daughter the story of how he met her mother, he discovers that a second look at the past might also give him a second chance at the future.
Monty Python Conquers America
Himself
This documentary follows the evolution of the British sketch comedy troupe that redefined humor and shaped an entire generation of American comics, focusing especially on their conquest of the American comedy scene,
A Conversation with Robert Klein: Interviewed by Alan Colmes
Himself
This is a bonus feature on the DVD box set "Robert Klein: The HBO Specials 1975-2005".
Reign Over Me
Jonathan Timpleman
A man who lost his family in the September 11 attack on New York City runs into his old college roommate. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help the man recover from his grief.
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Mervyn Kant (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
The Great White Way comes into your living room via this disc of rare performances from some of Broadway's brightest luminaries. Culled from clips from the Tony Awards shows, this unique collection features acting powerhouses James Earl Jones, Annette Bening, Joan Allen, Joe Mantegna, Gary Sinise and Maggie Smith, among others, performing works by such playwrights as August Wilson, David Mamet, Wendy Wasserstein and more.
Ira & Abby
Seymour Black
A neurotic, young psychology student, with low self-esteem, has a chance encounter with a free-spirited, extremely gregarious woman who works at the Paris Health Club in New York City, and who suggests that they immediately get married to see how it will work out. Both of the student's parents are analysts, and they provide the happy couple with a gift certificate for a year of marriage counseling as a wedding present.
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Original Music Composer
In his eighth HBO special, the comic reflects on humorous events from his childhood, his summer job as a lifeguard in the Catskills, the 1960s sexual revolution and signs of aging. Taped in New York City at the John Jay College Theater.
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Executive Producer
In his eighth HBO special, the comic reflects on humorous events from his childhood, his summer job as a lifeguard in the Catskills, the 1960s sexual revolution and signs of aging. Taped in New York City at the John Jay College Theater.
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Writer
In his eighth HBO special, the comic reflects on humorous events from his childhood, his summer job as a lifeguard in the Catskills, the 1960s sexual revolution and signs of aging. Taped in New York City at the John Jay College Theater.
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Self
In his eighth HBO special, the comic reflects on humorous events from his childhood, his summer job as a lifeguard in the Catskills, the 1960s sexual revolution and signs of aging. Taped in New York City at the John Jay College Theater.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Phillip Warren
It’s the battle of wills, as Andie (Kate Hudson) needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days, whereas Ben (Matthew McConaughey) needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now, the clock is ticking - and the wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex, lies and outrageous romantic fireworks!
Two Weeks Notice
Larry Kelson
Dedicated environmental lawyer Lucy Kelson goes to work for billionaire George Wade as part of a deal to preserve a community center. Indecisive and weak-willed George grows dependent on Lucy's guidance on everything from legal matters to clothing. Exasperated, Lucy gives notice and picks Harvard graduate June Carter as her replacement. As Lucy's time at the firm nears an end, she grows jealous of June and has second thoughts about leaving George.
People I Know
Dr. Sandy Napier
A New York press agent must scramble when his major client becomes embroiled in a huge scandal.
Comedian
Self
A look at the work of two stand-up comics, Jerry Seinfeld and a lesser-known newcomer, detailing the effort and frustration behind putting together a successful act and career while living a life on the road.
The Safety of Objects
Howard Gold
In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not his family. Helen Christianson wants to find a new spark in life, while Annette Jennings tries to rebuild hers.
Robert Klein: Child in His 50's
Writer
Comic Robert Klein performs a solo stand-up show before an audience at New York City's John Jay College. Features Klein's insights into the foibles of society, the follies of politics and the mixed blessings of aging.
Robert Klein: Child in His 50's
Himself
Comic Robert Klein performs a solo stand-up show before an audience at New York City's John Jay College. Features Klein's insights into the foibles of society, the follies of politics and the mixed blessings of aging.
Labor Pains
David Raymond
A New York City columnist falls in love with -- and quickly gets pregnant by -- a free-spirited artist who promptly vanishes for eight months.
From Where I Sit
Lenny
Funny Is Money
Self
Showtime's "In the 20th Century" is a millennium-related strand of feature-length documentaries in which famous directors take on major subjects of their choosing. In the fifth of the six films, "Funny Is Money," filmmaker Norman Jewison delves into the topic of comedy, using the hype surrounding the finale of the wildly successful NBC series "Seinfeld" as his launchpad to explore how the artform has evolved over the past 100 years.
Goosed
Mel
Jennifer Tilly plays a woman who's told by her psychic that the man of her dreams is a doctor named Steve.
Yesterday's Tomorrows
Showtime's "In the 20th Century" is a millennium-related strand of feature-length documentaries in which famous directors take on major subjects of their choosing. In the third of the six films, "Yesterday's Tomorrows," filmmaker Barry Levinson delves into what we, as Americans, thought the future would be as we traveled through the 20th century. Houses and cars of the future, the promise of technology, and the other hopes and dreams of the early part of the century gave way to the fears and anxieties brought about by the atomic age and the Hollywood disaster films that followed. Soon we wondered if we could control technology, or if it would control us. This film is by turns light-hearted and thoughtful, and rare historical and archival film, produced by government and industry, alternates with on-screen interviews with people as diverse as consumer advocate Ralph Nader, cartoonist Matt Groening, futurist Alvin Toffler, comedienne Phyllis Diller, and actor Martin Mull.
Suits
Tom Cranston
A deodorant company with a product called "Smell No Mo" pits two rival ad agencies in a race to come up with a campaign for a new-fangled sanitary napkin called Vorcan. The advertising satire follows the New York firm of Cranston & Co. as they fight rival Hoffman & Partners. Cranston fires his creative director which puts a young copywriter with a literature degree on the front line, even though he doesn't want to be. The contest comes down to a schmaltzy campaign by Hoffman with music by Air Supply that uses the tagline "Vorcan: your own personal air supply." or a more down to earth campaign from Cranston of "The pad ain't bad!"
Next Stop Wonderland
Arty Lesser
A lighthearted story about a man and a woman who seem destined to be together... and the hilarious chain of accidents that seem determined to keep them apart!
Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time
Himself
Taped for HBO in August 1998, on the final date of Jerry Seinfeld's tour appearances at New York City's Broadhurst Theater, I'm Telling You for the Last Time presents the standup comedian's so-called "final" standup, or at least his final tour with the standup material that made him famous.
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Host
In March 1998 in Aspen, Colorado, the surviving members of the Monty Paython team - John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin - shared a stage together for the first time in 18 years. Even more remarkably, Graham Chapman was there too....in an urn! The occasion for this renuion was the US Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python, hosted by Robert Klien in front of a live audience.
Primary Colors
Norman Asher
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.
One Fine Day
Dr. Martin
Melanie Parker, an architect and mother of Sammy, and Jack Taylor, a newspaper columnist and father of Maggie, are both divorced. They meet one morning when overwhelmed Jack is left unexpectedly with Maggie and forgets that Melanie was to take her to school. As a result, both children miss their school field trip and are stuck with the parents. The two adults project their negative stereotypes of ex-spouses on each other, but end up needing to rely on each other to watch the children as each must save his job. Humor is added by Sammy's propensity for lodging objects in his nose and Maggie's tendency to wander.
Robert Klein: It All Started Here
Writer
Robert Klein performs a solo standup routine at the Forum Theater in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Robert Klein: It All Started Here
Himself
Robert Klein performs a solo standup routine at the Forum Theater in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Clarissa
Hugh Hamilton
Pilot episode of the cancelled follow-up series to Nickelodeon's "Clarissa Explains it All" in which debutante Clarissa Darling contends to her life in New York City and her internship at a local newspaper.
Jeffrey
Skip Winkley
Jeffrey, a gay man living in New York City with an overwhelming fear of contracting AIDS, concludes that being celibate is the only option to protect himself. As fate would have it, shortly after his declaration of a sex-free existence, he meets the handsome Steve Howard, his dream man -- except for his HIV-positive status. Facing this dilemma, Jeffrey turns to his best friend and an outrageous priest for guidance.
Mixed Nuts
Mr. Lobel
The events of a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays.
Radioland Murders
Father Writer
In 1939, WBN, a fourth radio network, is about to take to America's airwaves. As if the confusion of the premiere night wasn't enough, Penny Henderson, the owner's secretary, must deal with an unhappy sponsor, an overbearing boss and a soon-to-be ex-husband who desperately wants her back. As the broadcast begins, a mysterious voice breaks the broadcast and suddenly members of the cast turn up dead. It's up to her husband Roger, to find out whodunit as the police chase him through the halls of WBN.
A Tribute to the Boys: Laurel and Hardy
Himself
Modern comedians share their thoughts about Laurel and Hardy. Also includes archival footage of contemporary comedians. Hosted by Dom DeLuise.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Writer
Animated adaptation of Virginia Lee Burton's children's book.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Narrator (voice)
Animated adaptation of Virginia Lee Burton's children's book.
Night Of 100 Stars III
Self
A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Wyatt (segment "Lover's Vow")
The first segment features an animated mummy stalking selected student victims; the second tale tells the story of a "cat from hell" who cannot be killed and leaves a trail of victims behind it; the third story is about a man who witnesses a bizarre killing and promises never to tell what he saw and the "in-between" bit is the story of a woman preparing to cook her newspaper boy for supper.
Dangerous Curves
Bam Bam
A college graduate is offered a deal of a lifetime - deliver a Porsche for a client and join the company of your dreams in return. When the car gets stolen, he and his friend must go to a beauty pageant run by the thief to get it back.
Robert Klein on Broadway
Writer
Robert Klein on Broadway.
Robert Klein on Broadway
Himself
Robert Klein on Broadway.
The Best of John Belushi
Various characters
This Wife for Hire
Alan Harper
A housewife starts a business hiring herself out as a "wife," to provide various domestic services.
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was taped February 17, 1985, at New York's Radio City Music Hall, this sequel to the 1982 "Night of 100 Stars" special features 288 celebrities.
Poison Ivy
'Big Irv' Klopper
Two teenage summer camp counselors struggle with their younger campers, providing a variety of humorous situations and romantic encounters.
Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's
Writer
1984 Live Recording from campus of New York University.
Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's
Himself
1984 Live Recording from campus of New York University.
Pajama Tops
Lenny Jolie-Jolie
French inspired farce about affairs, mistaken identities and similar hijinks.
Your Place... or Mine?
Nick
Karen (Tyne Daly) is a San Francisco real estate broker and best friend of psychiatrist Alexandra Benedict (Bonnie Franklin) whose boyfriend leaves her. Karen's husband Phillip (Peter Bonerz) plays rugby with gardener Nick Richmond (Robert Klein) who Karen thinks is the perfect match for Alexandra, but circumstances stop Alexandra from meeting Nick until the last minutes of the narrative.
The Last Unicorn
The Butterfly (voice)
From a riddle-speaking butterfly, a unicorn learns that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a now middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard.
On Location: Robert Klein at Yale
Writer
HBO goes on location to Yale with Robert Klein in 1982.
On Location: Robert Klein at Yale
Himself
HBO goes on location to Yale with Robert Klein in 1982.
Night of 100 Stars
Self
The most glittering, expensive, and exhausting videotaping session in television history took place Friday February 19, 1982 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event, for which ticket-buyers payed up to $1,000 a seat (tax-deductible as a contribution to the Actors' Fund) was billed as "The Night of 100 Stars" but, actually, around 230 stars took part. And most of the audience of 5,800 had no idea in advance that they were paying to see a TV taping, complete with long waits for set and costume changes, tape rewinding, and the like. Executive producer Alexander Cohen estimated that the 5,800 Radio City Music Hall seats sold out at prices ranging from $25 to $1,000. The show itself cost about $4 million to produce and was expected to yield around $2 million for the new addition to the Actors Fund retirement home in Englewood, N. J. ABC is reputed to have paid more than $5 million for the television rights.
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
Self
A fascinating look at the most beloved comedy team in motion picture history. Exclusive interviews with those closest to the brothers supplement this collection of highlights from their film, theater, and television appearances and offer a compelling look at their lives both on and off-screen.
Nobody's Perfekt
Walter
While everyone knows you can't fight City Hall, there are those who, for whatever reason, can't resist the challenge. Three slightly disturbed psychiatric patients decide to take on the government. What ensues includes car chases, a ferry boat hijacking, strip-teases and lots of fun!
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Himself
Steve Martin's third NBC special serves as a salute to 1970s television commercials. Taking shots at everything from "Suzy Chapstick" to Palmolive to advertising agencies, this special showcased Martin's genius for physical comedy.
The Bell Jar
Lenny
Adaptation of the 1963 novel by Sylvia Plath. Details a young woman's summer in New York working for a Mademoiselle-like magazine, return home to New England, and subsequent breakdown all amidst the horrors of the fifties, from news of the Rosenbergs' execution to sleazy disc jockeys and predatory college boys.
Puzzle
Executive Producer
Franciscus searches for the urn that contains the remains of Buddha but instead finds danger and intrigue.
Hooper
Robert Deal
Legendary stunt man, Sonny Hooper remains one of the top men in his field, but due to too many stressful impacts to the spine and the need to pop pain killers several times a day, he knows he should get out of the industry before he ends up permanently disabled.
Robert Klein Revisited
Himself
Robert Klein returns to HBO for another hour of his classic comedy.
The Gang
In 1945, as World War Two comes to a close, five small time crooks unite to form a gang. After several bold robberies they become notorious as "the front-wheel drive gang". The police attempt to stop their crime spree with little success, but how long will their luck last?
An Evening with Robert Klein
Writer
Comedian Robert Klein performs in HBO's first ever standup special.
An Evening with Robert Klein
Himself
Comedian Robert Klein performs in HBO's first ever standup special.
The Gypsy
Hugo Sennart is a French Gypsy, wanted by the police for theft. The same inspector who's searching for him is also looking for a jewel thief, Yan Kuq, whose wife has died under suspicious circumstance just after a major burglary. The Gypsy needs to settle a few scores and make one more heist before going to ground, and, by coincidence, his path takes him close to Yan, who's hiding in the hotel of a close friend and former lover, Ninie. The Gypsy lives by a code of honor, which puts him at risk on occasion; and he despises those who treat his people as worse than dogs. The police close in. Is there honor among thieves?
Rivals
Peter
A boy with an unhealthy and pathological attachment to his mother becomes increasingly jealous of the new man in her life. After his mother remarries, his rage and misery overwhelm him and he plots to kill his stepfather.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Melvin Lasher
William Popper is the son of a stockbroker and is thoroughly disenchanted with "the system." So much so that even though he can prove that he ran over a woman in his car entirely by accident, he accepts a sentence for manslaughter.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Barney
Meek, owlish Felix and strident, catty Doris live in the same apartment building. His incessant typing bothers her; her gentlemen callers bother him. Felix informs the landlord of her activities, so Doris moves in on Felix. When they both get thrown out, they move in with Barney... until they drive him out! That's when Felix and Doris finally decide to put theory into practice. But do opposites attract?
The Landlord
Peter
At the age of twenty-nine, Elgar Enders "runs away" from home. This running away consists of buying a building in a black ghetto in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. Initially, his intention is to evict the black tenants and convert the building into a posh flat. But Elgar is not one to be bound by yesterday's urges, and soon he has other thoughts on his mind.