Lotus Weinstock
| Lotus Weinstock | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Marlene Weinstock |
| Born | 1943 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | August 31, 1997 (aged 53–54) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy, actress, author |
| Spouse | David Jove |
| Children | Lili Haydn |
Marlene Weinstock, (1943[1] – August 31, 1997)[2] more commonly known by her stage name Lotus Weinstock, was an American stand-up comedian, author, musician, and actress.
Weinstock was born in Philadelphia.[3] Her parents were Robert and Lucille Weinstock.[4] She studied at the Philadelphia Dance Academy.[5]
Early in her career she changed her name to Maurey Haydn.[6] Under this name, one of her songs was recorded by Richie Havens.[1] After moving to Los Angeles, she regularly performed at The Comedy Store and the LA location of The Improv. She performed on The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show.[7] At The Comedy Store's Belly Room she was considered a "den mother" to the roster of female comics.[8] She is often cited along with Paul Mooney as a mentor to Sandra Bernhard, whom she met performing in Los Angeles at the Ye Little Club.[9] Bernhard and Weinstock would go on to collaborate on an act where they would perform a catfight onstage.[8] She wrote a book titled "The Lotus Position" in 1982, which had sold over 60,000 copies at the time of her death in 1997.[2] The LA Improv had a memorial for her a week after her death.[3]
She was the fiancé of comedian Lenny Bruce at the time of his death in 1966 and later married filmmaker David Jove, with whom she had a child, the violinist Lili Haydn.[3]
References
- ^ a b Weide, Bob. "A Lotus By Any Other Name". Whyaduck Productions. Whyaduck Productions, Inc. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ a b Variety Staff (September 10, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock". Variety.
- ^ a b c Oliver, Myrna (September 4, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock; Comedian and Author". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Slesin, Suzanne. "Chintz Galore: Just What She Wanted". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ Christon, Lawrence. "COMEDY : A Room of Their Own". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Pinn, Jamie (June 22, 1984). "The making of two Jewish comediennes". The Jewish Floridian of South Broward-Hollywood: 8. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Krier, Beth Ann. "The Unfunny Struggle of Some Aspiring Comediennes". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ^ a b Knoedelseder, William (July 27, 2010). I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-up Comedy's Golden Era (reprint ed.). PublicAffairs. pp. 136–137. ISBN 1586488961.
- ^ Trauring, Michelle. "Sandra Bernhard Brings A Whole Lot Of Brass To East Hampton". 27east.com. Retrieved 10 September 2014.