Robert Schimmel

Robert George Schimmel (January 16, 1950 – September 3, 2010) was an American stand-up comedian who was known for his blue comedy.<ref name="nytobit">Wilson, Eric (September 4, 2010). Robert Schimmel, 60, Provocative Comic, Dies. New York Times</ref> While the extremely profane nature of his act limited his commercial appeal, he had a reputation as a "comic's comic" due to his relentless touring, comedy albums and frequent appearances on HBO and The Howard Stern Show. Schimmel is number 76 on the 2004 program Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.<ref name="loughlin2007">Loughlin, Sean (November 22, 2007) Casino Scene. Press of Atlantic City</ref>

Early life and career

Schimmel was born in the Bronx, New York City, the son of Betty and Otto Schimmel, Jewish survivors of the Holocaust.<ref name="bickley1999">Bickley, Tami (October 8, 1999). "Behind the act, comic says he's 'just a regular guy'." Jewish News of Greater Phoenix Template:Webarchive</ref> He was voted class clown during high school and was in the United States Air Force for one year during the Vietnam War era.<ref name="beggy2002">Beggy & Stoughton (November 16, 2002). Letting fly some jokes; championing children; here's to tennis's bud.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore Boston Globe</ref> In 1980 he was living in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was working as a stereo salesman.<ref name="nytobit" /> His career began when, at the urging of his sister, he performed at a comedy club's open-mic night. A club owner in Los Angeles offered to make him a regular, but when Schimmel moved there he found that the club had burned down.<ref name="blowen1998">Blowen, Michael (October 23, 1998). "Schimmel gets jokes the hard way." Boston Globe</ref>

Undaunted, and with some help from Rodney Dangerfield, who invited him to perform on his HBO Young Comedians Special, Schimmel began making a name for himself.<ref name="vaughan1999">Vaughan, Robin (November 5, 1999). Comedy; "Schimmel's a regular, stand-up guy." Boston Herald</ref> He wrote material for In Living Color and for comedians such as Yakov Smirnoff and Jimmie Walker.<ref name="brownfield1998a">Brownfield, Paul (October 13, 1998). Risque Business; "Comic Robert Schimmel, in Brea This Week, Is Happy Being Blue." Los Angeles Times</ref>

In 2000 Schimmel had developed and completed a TV pilot for a show that would bear his name for the FOX network, with Brie Larson and Vicki Davis as his two daughters.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Terrace2013">Template:Cite book</ref> The show was put on hiatus when Schimmel became ill from cancer and eventually cancelled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The opening scene is available on YouTube.<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Comedic style

Schimmel cited Lenny Bruce as his all-time comedy hero.<ref name="rusnak1998">Rusnak, Jeff (August 27, 1998). Blue comic doesn't need Clinton gags. South Florida Sun-Sentinel</ref> Schimmel incorporated many aspects of his personal life into his act, such as sex with his wife and masturbation, and even his cancer and the death of his son. In one signature bit, Schimmel joked about making obscene suggestions to a lady from the Make-a-Wish Foundation.<ref name="brownfield1998b">Brownfield, Paul (October 28, 1998). A Comedian's Life (Expletives Deleted); Comedy: There's a reason why Robert Schimmel doesn't have a sitcom. Los Angeles Times</ref> His act was described as raunchy and sexually explicit, which he claimed as the reason he never appeared on network television.<ref name="parks2001">Parks, Steve (January 26, 2001). Bald Humor / Robert Schimmel, a stand-up guy, fights cancer with chemo and comedy. New York Newsday</ref> He said his inappropriate comments on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Hollywood Squares caused him to be removed, though he later returned to O'Brien's show.<ref name="board2009">Board, Josh (January 17, 2009). Angel at the Fence – The Comedy of Robert Schimmel. San Diego Reader</ref> However, his edgy style made him a hit on The Howard Stern Show.

Personal life

Schimmel married his first wife, Vicki, in 1977, and they had four children together. Their son Derek died from cancer at the age of 11.<ref name="beasley2010">Deena Beasley (September 5, 2010). "U.S. Comedian Robert Schimmel Dies After Car Accident" ABC News/Entertainment, ABC Template:Webarchive</ref> Schimmel later divorced and remarried, having two sons with his second wife, Melissa.

As an adult, Schimmel suffered from cancer and had one of his testicles removed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Schimmel had a complicated relationship with his first wife, Vicki. "We got married, then got the marriage annulled, then got remarried, got divorced then remarried," and then their son Derek became ill from cancer and died. They eventually divorced permanently in 2000 when Schimmel became romantically involved with his second wife Melissa.<ref name=":0" />

In 1998, Schimmel suffered a heart attack. In June 2000, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His treatments included chemotherapy and required long stays in the hospital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Schimmel detailed this experience, in a humorous light, in his book Cancer on Five Dollars a Day* (*chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>

Schimmel was arrested in Calabasas, California on May 2, 2009, as a result of an alleged confrontation between himself and his wife Melissa. The district attorney eventually declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence.<ref name="moore2009">Moore, Tina (May 2, 2009). Comedian Robert Schimmel, regular on Howard Stern show, arrested for allegedly beating up his wife. New York Daily News</ref> On May 8, 2009, Melissa Schimmel filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref name="ap2009">Associated Press (May 21, 2009). "Comedian Schimmel won't face assault charges in L.A." Seattle Times</ref> Schimmel claimed, during an interview with Howard Stern, that his wife had cheated on him with their neighbor, although he admitted he had no solid proof. Schimmel also stated that he was bankrupt due to some of the actions that Melissa had taken with his money.<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:CbignoreTemplate:Dead Youtube links</ref>

During an interview on The Howard Stern Show on January 28, 2010, Schimmel announced that he developed cirrhosis as a result of a hepatitis C infection from a blood transfusion that he received while in the Air Force. His cirrhosis had progressed to the point that he was working to be added to the waiting list for a donated liver.<ref name="nytobit" />

Death

On August 26, 2010, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Schimmel was a passenger in a car driven by his 19-year-old daughter Aliyah. After veering off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle, the car flipped onto its side and came to a stop in the shoulder of the Loop 101 freeway.<ref name="young2010">Young, John (August 28, 2010). Comedian Robert Schimmel in serious condition after car accident. Entertainment Weekly</ref><ref name=azr>Template:Cite news</ref> Schimmel was hospitalized at John C. Lincoln Hospital (North Phoenix) in serious condition, while Aliyah was hospitalized in stable condition. Schimmel's son Jacob, who was also in the vehicle at the time of accident, was uninjured. On September 3, 2010, Schimmel died of his injuries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He is interred at the Paradise Memorial Gardens<ref>SheKnows</ref> in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Works

AlbumsTemplate:Citation needed

• Comes Clean, Warner Bros. Records (1996)
• If You Buy this CD, I Can Get this Car, Warner Bros. Records (1998)
• Unprotected, Warner Bros. Records (1999)
• The Early Years, Murder Inc. Records (2002)
• Reserection, Murder Inc. Records (2003)

Videos

• Unprotected, HBO (1999)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Old School: Hardcore In The Big Apple/Guilty As Charged, Murder Inc. Records (2006)
• Life Since Then, Image Entertainment (2009)

Book

• Cancer on Five Dollars a Day* (*chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life. Da Capo Press (2008)

TV

• Robert Schimmel: Guilty as Charged, Showtime, TV special (1994, August)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Schimmel, Fox (2000, unaired)

External links

• [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0771790

 | name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0771790|2=^nm}}
   | Template:Trim/
   | nm0771790/
   }}
 | {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
   | name/Template:First word/
   | find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
   }}
 }}{{#if: 0771790  {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch: 
 | award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
 }}}} {{#if: 
 | {{{name}}}
 | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
 }}] at IMDb{{#if: 0771790{{#property:P345}}
 | Template:EditAtWikidata
 | Template:Main other

}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=0771790|plain=false}}

 | 1 | 3 =  Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
 | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning

}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}

• Template:Find a Grave