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Bob Einstein

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Bob Einstein
Einstein (left), Steve Franken, and Robert Hogan in an unsold television pilot, 1970
Born
Stewart Robert Einstein

(1942-11-20) November 20, 1942 (age 82)
NationalityAmerican
Known forComedian
Writer
Producer
Notable workSuper Dave Osborne

Stewart Robert "Bob" Einstein (born November 20, 1942) is an American actor, comedy writer and producer, who is best known for creating and performing the satirical stuntman character Super Dave Osborne. Einstein is also known for his roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development.

Einstein got his start as a writer on several TV variety shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. He won two Emmy Awards as a writer and was nominated four other times. He also won a CableACE Award for acting as Super Dave, along with five other nominations.

Einstein is the older brother of fellow actor and comedian Albert Brooks.

Early life and family

Einstein was born in Los Angeles in 1942.[1][2] His parents were the comic Harry Einstein, best known for playing the character Parkyakarkus on radio and in the movies, and the actress-singer Thelma Leeds. His younger brother is comedian and writer Albert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein), and his older brother, Cliff Einstein, is a retired advertising executive in Los Angeles.

Entertainment career

Einstein got his start writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour for which he won an Emmy Award. The writing team also included Steve Martin and Murray Roman.[3] He also appeared on the show as Officer Judy.

Super Dave Osborne

Einstein created the goofy stuntman Super Dave Osborne character, who first made an appearance on The John Byner Comedy Hour, a 1972 TV series. He later became a regular on the 1980 TV series Bizarre, and was a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman. In 1987, Einstein got his own variety show named Super Dave, which ran from 1987 to 1991 on the Global Television Network in Canada (where the show was produced at the network's Toronto studio) and Showtime in the U.S. In 1992, an animated series Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire aired on Fox. Einstein later extended the "Super Dave" franchise by starring in the 2000 movie, The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave.

On the November 12, 2009, edition of TNA Impact!, he was the booker of the night. He made Super Dave's Spike Tacular, a four-episode sketch series on Spike TV reprising his Super Dave character, once again engaging in outrageous stunts.

Other roles

Einstein has had recurring roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman in the third season of Arrested Development. He was also featured on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers as obnoxious district selectman Tony Deloge. Einstein was also on The Man Show where he did Century Club with Adam and Jimmy. In Ocean's Thirteen he played Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon)'s father Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell, a master robber and con artist whose day job is as an FBI agent.

Einstein appeared on the second season of Anger 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.

Einstein has voiced two characters from The Life & Times of Tim, playing the Elephant Trainer in Tim & the Elephant in the second season, and the bookie in Pray for the Jets in the third.[4][5]

References