View source for Robert Klein

{{Short description|American stand-up comedian (b. 1942)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Infobox comedian
| name        = Robert Klein
| image       = Robert Klein.jpg
| caption     = Klein in 2010
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1942|2|8}}
| birth_place = [[The Bronx]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| education   = {{ubl|[[Alfred University]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}|[[Yale University]] {{small|([[Master of Fine Arts|MFA]])}}}}
| medium      = [[Stand up comedian|Stand-up]], television, film, theatre
| active      = 1965–present |
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Brenda Boozer]]|1973|1989|end=div}}
| children = 1
| genre       = {{csv|[[Observational comedy]]|[[improvisational comedy]]|[[satire]]/[[Political satire]]|[[musical comedy]]}}
| subject     = {{csv|[[Everyday life]]|[[American politics]]
<!-- Infobox comedian does not support the following parameters:
| influences  = [[Rodney Dangerfield]]|<ref name="comedian">''Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award'' [[HBO]]|April 1|2007</ref> [[Jonathan Winters]]|<ref name="sfsu07">[http://www.sfstandup.com/blog/2007/12/09/robert-klein-interview 2007 Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212185929/http://www.sfstandup.com/blog/2007/12/09/robert-klein-interview/ |date=2007-12-12}} from sfstandup.com</ref> [[Lenny Bruce]]<ref name="sfsu07"/>
| influenced  = [[Jay Leno]]|[[Jerry Seinfeld]]|[[Dave Attell]]|<ref name="comedian"/> [[Nick DiPaolo]]|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zimbio.com/Artie+Lange/articles/32/Nick+DiPaolo+talks+Stern+Opie+Anthony+Comedy |title=Nick DiPaolo talks Stern|Opie|Anthony|Comedy Central&nbsp;— Artie Lange |publisher=Zimbio |date=1967-10-11 |access-date=2011-08-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317231725/http://www.zimbio.com/Artie+Lange/articles/32/Nick+DiPaolo+talks+Stern+Opie+Anthony+Comedy |archive-date=2012-03-17}}</ref> [[Bobby Slayton]]<ref>http://theunwritablerant.libsyn.com/ep-39-interview-with-bobby-slayton {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2022}}</ref>
-->}}
}}

'''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.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.grammy.com/artists/robert-klein/9231|title= Artist - Robert Klein|website= Grammy Awards|accessdate= June 12, 2022}}</ref> Klein hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in its [[Saturday Night Live (season 1)|first season in 1975]] and again in 1978. Klein made his [[Broadway (theatre)|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 (film)|The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' (1970), ''[[Mixed Nuts]]'' (1994), ''[[One Fine Day (1996 film)|One Fine Day]]'' (1996), ''[[Primary Colors (film)|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 (TV series)|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,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertklein.com/kleinbio.html |title=Robert Klein&nbsp;— Biography |website=Robertklein.com |access-date=2011-08-23}}</ref> and was raised in a "prototypical 1950s Bronx Jewish" environment,<ref>{{cite news| title=Robert Klein chases skirts, washes tables| url=https://www.jweekly.com/2005/06/24/robert-klein-chases-skirts-washes-tables/| first=Joe| last=Eskenazi| date=June 24, 2005| newspaper=[[J. The Jewish News of Northern California]]| access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref> the grandson of [[History of the Jews in Hungary|Hungarian-Jewish]] immigrants who arrived in the USA early in the 20th century.<ref>{{cite news| title=Comedian Robert Klein Cracks Wise Ahead of Bristol Riverside Theatre Shows| url=https://www.jewishexponent.com/2019/05/26/robert-klein/| first=Jesse| last=Bernstein| date=May 26, 2019| newspaper=[[The Jewish Exponent]]| access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref> He has an older sister, Rhoda.<ref>{{cite news |last=Starr |first=Michael |date=2017-03-30 |title=At 75, comic Robert Klein finds praise hard to handle |url=https://nypost.com/2017/03/30/at-75-comic-robert-klein-finds-praise-hard-to-handle/ |access-date=2022-02-12 |newspaper=[[New York Post]]}}</ref>

After graduating from [[DeWitt Clinton High School]],<ref>{{cite news| author-link=Wendy Wasserstein| last=Wasserstein| first=Wendy| title=THEATER; A Place They'd Never Been: the Theater| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=June 20, 1999| access-date=2009-09-15| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/20/theater/theater-a-place-they-d-never-been-the-theater.html| quote=DeWitt Clinton High School, named for the 19th-century New York mayor and governor, is the alma mater of the comedian Robert Klein, the designer Ralph Lauren, and the writers James Baldwin and Avery Corman.}}</ref> Klein had planned to study medicine; however, he changed his mind during his studies at [[Alfred University]], deciding to go into acting instead.<ref>{{cite web| title=Robert Klein Biography| website=The Conversation Company, Ltd.| access-date=2009-09-18| url=http://robertklein.com/kleinbio.html| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509132825/http://www.robertklein.com/kleinbio.html| archive-date=2008-05-09}}</ref>

While studying at the [[Yale Drama School]], Klein learned about an opportunity to audition for [[The Second City]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/05/nyregion/robert-klein-comedy-close-to-home.html| title=Robert Klein: Comedy Close to Home| last=Markowitz| first=Dan| date=July 5, 1998| newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=2017-03-31| issn=0362-4331| url-access=subscription}}</ref> In a piece he wrote for the [[improvisational]] [[wiktionary:troupe|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]]''.<ref>{{cite news| title=Robert Klein Tries On Neil Simon For Laugh| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/11/archives/robert-klein-tries-on-neil-simon-for-laughs-robert-klein-tries-on.html| first=Kirk| last=Honeycutt| date=February 11, 1979| access-date=2021-11-02| page=D8| newspaper=The New York Times| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==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]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.secondcity.com/people/other/robert-klein/| title=Robert Klein| website=[[The Second City]]| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web| title=The HBO Specials That Changed Comedy| url=https://entertainment.directv.com/the-hbo-specials-that-changed-comedy/| website=DirectTV| language=en-US| access-date=2020-08-27}}</ref> On November 15, 1975, during season one, and again in season three, on January 28, 1978, Klein hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saturday Night Live: November 15 - Robert Klein |url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/november-15-robert-klein/4025412 |language=en-US |website=[[NBC]] |access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Saturday Night Live: January 28 - Robert Klein |url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/january-28-robert-klein/4024676 |language=en-US |website=NBC |access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> His skits included "Tough Director" in 1975,<ref>{{cite web| title=Saturday Night Live: Tough Director| url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/tough-director/n8608| website=NBC| language=en-US| access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> "Nick The Lounge Singer Sings Star Wars Theme" in 1978<ref>{{cite web| title=Saturday Night Live: Nick The Lounge Singer Sings Star Wars Theme| url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/nick-the-lounge-singer-sings-star-wars-theme/2956866| website=NBC| language=en-US| access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> and "The Olympia Restaurant: Cheeseburger, Chips and Pepsi" in 1978.<ref>{{cite web| title=Saturday Night Live: The Olympia Restaurant — Cheeseburger, Chips and Pepsi| url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/the-olympia-restaurant-cheeseburger-chips-and-pepsi/3506023| website=NBC| language=en-US| access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1979/category/any/show/any/| title=Nominations - 1979| website=Tony Awards| language=en-US| access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref>

In 1985 he starred in the "[[Wordplay (The Twilight Zone)|Wordplay]]" segment of ''[[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'',<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734770/| title=The Twilight Zone - Wordplay| website=[[IMDb]]| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref> which cast him against type in a dramatic role.<ref>{{cite video |title=The Twilight Zone: The Complete '80s Series: Audio Commentary - "Wordplay" |medium=DVD |publisher=[[CBS DVD]] |people=[[Wes Craven|Craven, Wes]]; DeGuere, Philip |year=2020}}</ref> In 1986 Klein had his own late-night talk show, ''Robert Klein Time'', which ran on the [[USA Network]] until 1988.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1025007/| title=Robert Klein Time| website=IMDb| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref> The following year, Klein hosted ''[[Monty Python Live at Aspen]]'', a reunion and tribute show for the five surviving members of [[Monty Python|the British comedy troupe]], in a special that appeared on HBO in 1998.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/09/arts/something-completely-nostalgic-monty-python-reunion-minus-one-slapstick.html| title=Something Completely Nostalgic; A Monty Python Reunion, Minus One Slapstick Subversive| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| first=Bruce| last=Weber| date=March 9, 1998| access-date=October 9, 2022| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/robert-klein/9231| title=Artist - Robert Klein| website=Grammy Awards| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

In ''A Child of the Fifties'' (1973, [[Buddah Records|Brut/Buddah Records]]), shown as ''Child of the 50s'' (on the cover), Klein talks about his life as a child in the 1950s: about [[strategic bombing|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 [[New York Yankees|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."{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

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.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/robert-klein/mind-over-matter/| title=Mind over Matter| website=Rateyourmusic| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}}

{{quote box|quote="The funniest album by a standup comic since [[George Carlin]]'s ''[[Class Clown]]'' leaves behind the grammar-school nostalgia—which although frequently amusing always seemed formulaic when it wasn't—that kept Klein from sounding commercially uncompromised. Unlike Carlin, Klein gets better all the time. Never trivial, never cynical, never lacking a comic purpose for his outrage, he's up there with [[Richard Pryor|Pryor]] and [[Lily Tomlin|Tomlin]]."|source=—Review of ''New Teeth'' in ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981)<ref name="CG">{{cite book| last=Christgau| first=Robert| author-link=Robert Christgau| year=1981| title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]] |publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]| isbn=978-0-8991-9025-9| chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: K| chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=K&bk=70| access-date=2019-02-28 |via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

Klein's follow-up album, ''New Teeth'' (1975, [[Epic Records|Epic]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment|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."<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/six-clean-words-you-can-say-anywhere-mt0027068437| title=Six Clean Words You Can Say Anywhere| website=[[AllMusic]]| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

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''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxytn1fCz4Q| title=Robert Klein on Broadway| website=Youtube| date=10 March 2017| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

=== Film and television ===
Klein has appeared in such films as ''[[The Owl and the Pussycat (film)|The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' (1970), ''[[Hooper (film)|Hooper]]'' (1978), ''[[The Last Unicorn (film)|The Last Unicorn]]'' (1982), ''[[Radioland Murders]]'' (1994), ''[[One Fine Day (1996 film)|One Fine Day]]'' (1996), ''[[Primary Colors (film)|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).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/103238%7C0/Robert-Klein#overview|title= Robert Klein - TCM|website= [[Turner Classic Movies]]|accessdate= June 12, 2022}}</ref> Klein had a recurring role in the TV drama series ''[[Sisters (U.S. TV 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]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-klein/credits/3000414253/| title=Robert Klein| website=[[TV Guide]]| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

In 2005 he launched The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, his 8th HBO Special<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hbo.com/movies/robert-klein-the-amorous-busboy-of-decatur-avenue |title=Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue |website=HBO.com |access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref>

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''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Klein-HBO-Specials-1975-2005/dp/B000S1MM5C|title= Robert Klein: The HBO Specials 1975-2005| website=Amazon|date= 25 September 2007| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/debra-messing-will-grace-metoo-moment-robert-klein-graces-secret-1202494199/| title=Debra Messing Delivers Powerful #MeToo Moment For 'Will & Grace'| website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]| date=2 November 2018| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref> In 2014, Klein played the Canadian Ambassador on ''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]''.<ref name=guild>{{cite web| title=Robert Klein| url=https://www.guildhall.org/people/robert-klein/| website=[[Guild Hall of East Hampton]]| access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref> Klein played the Mayor of New York City in ''[[Sharknado 2: The Second One]]'' (2014) and ''[[Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!]]'' (2015).<ref name=guild/>

In 2018 Klein played [[Grace Adler]]'s father Martin in the NBC revival of ''[[Will and Grace]]'' replacing [[Alan Arkin]].<ref>{{cite news| last1=Hatchett| first1=Keisha| title=Will & Grace Is Recasting Grace's Dad| url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/will-grace-robert-klein-cast/| journal=[[TV Guide]]| access-date=2018-01-30| language=en| date=January 29, 2018}}</ref> Klein has authored an autobiography, ''The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back'' (2006).<ref>{{cite book| title=The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=469bCwAAQBAJ&q=The+Amorous+Busboy+of+Decatur+Avenue%3A+A+Child+of+the+Fifties+Looks+Back| publisher=Simon and Schuster| date=June 14, 2016| isbn=978-1-4391-4436-7| access-date=2021-11-02}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-robert-klein-colbert-movie-20170511-story.html| title=Robert Klein returns to a late-night world that helped create him| date=May 11, 2017| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| first=Steven| last=Zeitchik| language=en-US| access-date=October 9, 2022}}</ref>

==Influence==
Klein has named [[Lenny Bruce]], [[Jonathan Winters]], and [[Rodney Dangerfield]] as comedy influences.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/movies/julie-hinds/2017/03/30/robert-klein-starz-documentary-comedy/99739660/| title=New film gives Robert Klein his due as a comedy icon| newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]| first=Julie| last=Hinds| date=March 30, 2017| access-date=October 9, 2022}}</ref>

[[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 (comedian)|Richard Lewis]], and [[Jay Leno]], all have also cited Klein as a comedic influence.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.post-journal.com/news/community/2017/08/robert-klein-discusses-expansive-career-in-comedy/| title=Robert Klein Discusses Expansive Career In Comedy| first=Jordan W.| last=Patterson| date=August 6, 2017| newspaper=[[The Post-Journal]]| location=Jamestown, New York| access-date=October 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://apnews.com/article/videos-billy-crystal-jerry-seinfeld-starz-robert-klein-4a43b47160174edebd4cbf9411f131ab| title=At 75 there's still no stopping comedian Robert Klein| website=[[The Associated Press]]| date=March 29, 2017| accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

==Filmography==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" style=""|Year
! scope="col" style=""|Title
! scope="col" style=""|Role
! scope="col" style=""|Notes
|-
|1970 
! scope="row"|''[[The Landlord (film)|The Landlord]]'' 
| Peter 
| Credited as Bob Klein 
|-
|1970
! scope="row"|''[[The Owl and the Pussycat (film)|The Owl and the Pussycat]]'' 
| Barney 
|
|-
|1971 
! scope="row"|''[[The Pursuit of Happiness (1971 film)|The Pursuit of Happiness]]'' 
| Melvin Lasher 
|
|-
|1972
! scope="row"|''[[Rivals (1972 film)|Rivals]]'' 
| Peter / Husband 
|
|-
|1978
! scope="row"|''[[Hooper (film)|Hooper]]''
|Roger Deal
|
|-
|1979
! scope="row"|''[[The Bell Jar (film)|The Bell Jar]]''
|Lenny 
|
|-
|1981
! scope="row"|''[[Nobody's Perfekt]]''
|Walter 
|
|-
|1982 
! scope="row"|''[[The Last Unicorn (film)|The Last Unicorn]]'' 
| Butterfly 
| Voice
|-
|1988
! scope="row"|''[[Dangerous Curves (1988 film)|Dangerous Curves]]''
|Bam Bam
|
|-
|1990
! scope="row"|''[[Tales from the Darkside: The Movie]]''
|Wyatt
| Segment: "Lover's Vow"
|-
|1994
! scope="row"|''[[Radioland Murders]]''
|Father Writer
|
|-
|1994
! scope="row"|''[[Mixed Nuts]]''
|Mr. Lobel
|
|-
|1995
! scope="row"|''[[Jeffrey (1995 film)|Jeffrey]]''
|Skip Winkley
|
|-
|1996
! scope="row"|''[[One Fine Day (1996 film)|One Fine Day]]'' 
| Dr. Martin 
|
|-
|1998 
! scope="row"| ''[[Next Stop Wonderland]]''
| Arty Lesser
|
|-
|1998 
! scope="row"|''[[Primary Colors (film)|Primary Colors]]''
|Norman Asher
|
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''[[Suits (film)|Suits]]''
|Tom Cranston 
|
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''The Contract''
| Jackson
|
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''Goosed''
| Dad / Mel
|
|-
|2000
! scope="row"|''[[Labor Pains (film)|Labor Pains]]''
| David Raymond 
|
|-
|2001
! scope="row"|''[[Piñero]]''
|Doctor
|
|-
|2001
! scope="row"|''[[The Safety of Objects]]''
|Howard Gold
|
|-
|2002 
! scope="row"|''[[I'm with Lucy]]''
| Dr. Mort Zalkind
|
|-
|2002 
! scope="row"|''[[People I Know]]''
| Dr. Sandy Napier
|
|-
|2002
! scope="row"|''[[Two Weeks Notice]]''
| Larry Kelson
|
|-
|2003 
! scope="row"|''[[How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days]]''
|Phillip Warren
|
|-
|2006
! scope="row"|''[[Ira & Abby]]''
| Seymour Black
|
|-
|2007
! scope="row"|''[[Reign Over Me]]''
| Jonathan Timpleman 
|
|-
|2010
! scope="row"|''[[The Back-up Plan]]''
| Dr. Scott Harris
|
|-
|2011
! scope="row"|''National Lampoon's Dirty Movie''
|The CEO
|
|-
|2011
! scope="row"|''[[Demoted]]''
|Bob Farrell
|
|-
|2012 
! scope="row"|''Another Dirty Movie''
|The CEO
|
|-
|2012 
! scope="row"|''Putzel''
|Narrator
|Voice
|-
|2021 
! scope="row"|''[[Before I Go (film)|Before I Go]]''
| Jasper 
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" style=""|Year
! scope="col" style=""|Title
! scope="col" style=""|Role
! scope="col" style=""|Notes
|-
|1973
! scope="row"| ''[[Love, American Style]]''
| Michael
| Episode: "Love and the End of the Line" 
|-
|1974
! scope="row"|''[[Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers]]''
| Mike Moran
| Episode: "Moran's the Man"
|-
|1975-1978
! scope="row"|''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Host / Himself 
| 2 episodes
|-
|1977
! scope="row"|''[[Visions (1976 TV series)|Visions]]''
|Rebbe
| Episode: "A Secret Space"
|-
|1985
! scope="row"|''George Burns Comedy Week''
|Jay Miller
| Episode: "Death Benefits" 
|-
|1985
! scope="row"|''[[The Twilight Zone]]''
| Bill Lowery
| Episode: "Wordplay"
|-
|1986
! scope="row"|''Comedy Factory''
| Robert Morgan
| Episode: "Father's Day" 
|-
|1988
! scope="row"|''[[Family Ties]]''
|Roger Erdman
|Episode: "The Boys Next Door"
|-
|1989
! scope="row"|''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
|Barney Drake
|Episode: "Trevor Hudson's Legacy"
|-
|1989
! scope="row"|''[[Trying Times]]''
|Buddy Amber
|Episode: "A Good Life"
|-
|1990
! scope="row"|''[[Midnight Caller]]''
|Ryder
|Episode: "Ryder on the Storm"
|-
|1993
! scope="row"|''[[Law & Order]]''
|Rick Mason
|Episode: "Sweeps"
|-
|1993
! scope="row"|''[[Frasier]]''
|Gary
|Voice; Episode: "The Crucible"
|-
|1996
! scope="row"|''[[Grace Under Fire]]''
| Fred Mullens / Ron 
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1996
! scope="row"| ''[[Sisters (American TV series)|Sisters]]''
| Albert Barker
| 25 episodes
|-
|1997
! scope="row"| ''[[Duckman]]''
| Uncle Mo Dorkin
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1998
! scope="row"|''[[Monty Python Live at Aspen]]''
| Himself (host)
| Television special
|-
| 1998
! scope="row"|''[[Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist]]''
| Robert
| Episode: "Old Man"
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''[[Mad About You]]''
|Stan Freitus
| Episode: "Farmer Buchman"
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]''
| Jack
| Episode: "A Very Nice Dance"
|-
|1999
! scope="row"|''[[The King of Queens]]''
|Bruce Degner
|Episode: "Sparing Carrie"
|-
|2001 
! scope="row"|''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]''
|Robert Klein
|Episode: "Conversions" 
|-
|2001
! scope="row"|''[[Bob Patterson (TV series)|Bob Patterson]]''
|Landau
|6 episodes
|-
|2004
! scope="row"|''[[The Stones (TV series)|The Stones]]''
|Stan Stone
| 7 episodes
|-
|2008
! scope="row"|''[[Life on Mars (American TV series)|Life on Mars]]''
|Elliott Casso
|Episode: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows" 
|-
|2008-2010
! scope="row"|''[[Heartland (2007 American TV series)|Heartland]]''
| Dwayne Trent
| 2 episodes
|-
|2009-2012 
! scope="row"|''[[Law and Order: SVU]]''
|Dwight Stannich
|4 epsides
|-
|2013
! scope="row"|''[[Royal Pains]]''
| Bert
| Episode: "Hammertime"
|-
|2013-2014
! scope="row"|''[[The Good Wife]]''
|Lyle Pollard
| 2 episodes
|-
|2014
! scope="row"|''[[Madam Secretary (TV series)|Madam Secretary]]''
| Amb. Lester Clark
| Episode: "Blame Canada"
|-
|2014
! scope="row"|''[[Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee]]''
|Himself
|Episode: "Opera Pimp"
|-
|2014
! scope="row"|''[[Moms Mabley|Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley]]''
|Self
|Documentary 
|-
|2014-2016
! scope="row"|''[[The Mysteries of Laura]]''
|Leo Diamond
|5 episodes
|-
|2014 
! scope="row"|''[[Sharknado 2: The Second One]]''
| The Mayor
| Television movie
|-
|2015
! scope="row"|''[[Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!]]''
|Mayor of New York
|Television movie
|-
|2015 
! scope="row"|''[[The Seventies (miniseries)|The Seventies]]''
|Self
|Episode: "Television Gets Real"
|-
|2016
! scope="row"|''Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg''
|Self
| [[Starz]] Documentary 
|-
|2018-2019
! scope="row"|''[[Will & Grace]]''
|Martin Adler
| 4 episodes
|-
|2022
! scope="row"|''[[George Carlin's American Dream]]''
| Self
| [[HBO]] Documentary
|-
|}

=== Theatre ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" style=""|Year
! scope="col" style=""|Title
! scope="col" style=""|Role
! scope="col" style=""|Venue
! Ref. 
|-
|1966
! scope="row"|''[[The Apple Tree]]''
|Ensemble / Guard
|[[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|Shubert Theatre]], Broadway
|rowspan=7|<ref name=playbill>{{cite web| url=https://www.playbill.com/person/robert-klein-vault-0000027395| title=Robert Klein| website=[[Playbill]]| access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|1968
! scope="row"|''[[Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968]]''
| Performer
|[[Booth Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|1979
! scope="row"|''[[They're Playing Our Song]]''
|Vernon Gersh
| [[Imperial Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|1985
! scope="row"|''The Robert Klein Show''
|rowspan=3|Self 
|[[Circle in the Square Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|1986
! scope="row"|''Robert Klein on Broadway''
|[[Nederlander Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|1988
! scope="row"|''An Evening with Robert Klein''
|[[Circle in the Square Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|1993
! scope="row"|''[[The Sisters Rosensweig]]''
|Mervyn Kant 
| [[Ethel Barrymore Theatre]], Broadway
|-
|}

=== Comedy specials ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" style=""|Year
! scope="col" style=""|Title
! scope="col" style=""|Studio
! scope="col" style=""|Formats
! Ref. 
|-
| 1975
! scope="row"| ''[[On Location (TV series)|On Location]]: An Evening with Robert Klein''
| [[HBO]]
| Broadcast
| rowspan=13|<ref>{{cite web| url=https://trakt.tv/people/robert-klein-59b4ba76-8434-407d-bca5-ce71e9f98f1d| title=Robert Klein| website=Trakt.tv| access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref>
|-
| 1977
! scope="row"| ''On Location: Robert Klein Revisited''
| HBO
| Broadcast
|-
| 1977
! scope="row"| ''Klein Time''
| [[CBS]]
| Broadcast
|-
| 1981
! scope="row"| ''The Robert Klein Show''
| [[NBC]]
| Broadcast
|-
| 1982
! scope="row"| ''On Location: Robert Klein at Yale''
| HBO
| Broadcast
|-
| 1984
! scope="row"| ''Child of the 50s, Man of the 80s''
| HBO
| Broadcast/VHS
|-
| 1986
! scope="row"| ''Robert Klein on Broadway''
| HBO
| Broadcast/VHS
|-
| 1995
! scope="row"| ''It All Started Here''
| HBO
| Broadcast
|-
| 2000
! scope="row"| ''Child in His 50s''
| HBO
| Broadcast/DVD
|-
| 2005
! scope="row"| ''The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue''
| HBO
| Broadcast/Streaming/DVD
|-
| 2007
! scope="row"| ''The HBO Specials 1975-2005''
| Standing Room Only Entertainment
| 4xDVD box set
|-
| 2010
! scope="row"| ''Unfair and Unbalanced''
| HBO
| Broadcast/Streaming/DVD
|-
| 2016
! scope="row"| ''Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg'' (documentary)
| [[Starz]]
| Broadcast/Streaming
|-
|}

== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" 
|-
! scope="col" style=""|Year
! scope="col" style=""|Title
! scope="col" style=""|Label
! scope="col" style=""|Formats
! Ref.
|-
| 1972
! scope="row"| ''The Unauthorized Autobiography Of Howard Who?''
| [[Caedmon Records]]
| LP
|-
| 1973
! scope="row"| ''Child of the 50s''
| [[Buddah Records|Brut Records]]
| LP/8-track/cassette
| rowspan=5|<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/998013-Robert-Klein| title=Robert Klein| website=[[Discogs.com]]| access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref>
|-
| 1974
! scope="row"| ''Mind Over Matter''
| Brut Records
| LP/8-track/cassette
|-
| 1975
! scope="row"| ''New Teeth''
| [[Epic Records]]
| LP/cassette
|-
| 1979
! scope="row"| Original Cast Recording - ''[[They're Playing Our Song#Songs|They're Playing Our Song]]''
| [[Casablanca Records]]
| LP/cassette
|-
| 1990
! scope="row"| ''Let's Not Make Love''
| [[Rhino Records]]
| Cassette/CD
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|1975 || rowspan=2|[[Grammy Award]] || rowspan=2|[[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album|Best Comedy Album]] || ''Child of the 50s'' || {{nom}} || rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/robert-klein/9231| title=Artist: Robert Klein| website=Grammy Awards| access-date= June 12, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|1976 || ''Mind Over Matter'' || {{nom}} 
|-
|1979 || [[Tony Award]] || [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]] || ''[[They're Playing Our Song]]'' || {{nom}} || rowspan=3|<ref name=playbill/>
|-
|1998 || [[Drama Desk Award]] || [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play]] || rowspan=2|''[[The Sisters Rosensweig]]'' || {{nom}} 
|-
|1998 || [[Outer Critics Circle]] || Outstanding Actor in a Play || {{won}} 
|-
|2011 || rowspan=2|[[Primetime Emmy Award]] || rowspan=2|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics|Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics]] || ''Child in his 50s'' || {{nom}} || rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/robert-klein| title= Robert Klein| website=[[Emmy Awards]]| accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|2011 || ''Unfair and Unbalanced'' || {{nom}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{IMDb name|458951|Robert Klein}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{iobdb name|14121}}
*[http://www.aish.com/jewlariousFeatures/jewlariousFeaturesDefault/The_Mensch_from_Manhattan.asp Robert Klein Biography] from aish.com

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Klein, Robert}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Alfred University alumni]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from the Bronx]]
[[Category:DeWitt Clinton High School alumni]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Jewish American comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish male comedians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Briarcliff Manor, New York]]
[[Category:David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni]]