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Robert Klein

Robert Klein

Department: Acting

Biography

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).

Known For

The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn

1982

Reign Over Me

Reign Over Me

2007

Two Weeks Notice

Two Weeks Notice

2002

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie

1990

One Fine Day

One Fine Day

1996

Mixed Nuts

Mixed Nuts

1994

Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time

Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time

1998

The Safety of Objects

The Safety of Objects

2002

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

2003

The Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussycat

1970

The Gypsy

The Gypsy

1975

Hooper

Hooper

1978

The Gang

The Gang

1977

Comedian

Comedian

2002

I'm with Lucy

I'm with Lucy

2002

An Evening with Robert Klein

An Evening with Robert Klein

1975

Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced

Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced

2010

Dirty Movie

Dirty Movie

2011

Dangerous Curves

Dangerous Curves

1988

Robert Klein on Broadway

Robert Klein on Broadway

1986

Robert Klein Revisited

Robert Klein Revisited

1977

Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's

Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's

1984

The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell

The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell

1982

Yesterday's Tomorrows

Yesterday's Tomorrows

1999

Funny Is Money

Funny Is Money

1999

The Back-Up Plan

The Back-Up Plan

2010

Rivals

Rivals

1972

Nobody's Perfekt

Nobody's Perfekt

1981

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar

1979

Suits

Suits

1999

Robert Klein: It All Started Here

Robert Klein: It All Started Here

1995

Robert Klein: Child in His 50s

Robert Klein: Child in His 50s

2000

On Location: Robert Klein at Yale

On Location: Robert Klein at Yale

1982

Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue

Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue

2005

Summer Switch

Summer Switch

1984

Dick Clark's Good Old Days

Dick Clark's Good Old Days

1977

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip

1979

Sharknado 2: The Second One

Sharknado 2: The Second One

2014

Goosed

Goosed

1999

The Best of John Belushi

The Best of John Belushi

1985

This Wife for Hire

This Wife for Hire

1985

Night of 100 Stars III

Night of 100 Stars III

1990

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness

1971

Labor Pains

Labor Pains

2000

Definitely, Maybe

Definitely, Maybe

2008

Ira & Abby

Ira & Abby

2006

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

2015

Putzel

Putzel

2012

Night of 100 Stars II

Night of 100 Stars II

1985

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy

1985

Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg

Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg

2016

Piñero

Piñero

2001

Clarissa

Clarissa

1995

National Lampoon's Another Dirty Movie

National Lampoon's Another Dirty Movie

2012

Primary Colors

Primary Colors

1998

Notice to Quit

Notice to Quit

2024

Demoted

Demoted

2011

People I Know

People I Know

2002

The Landlord

The Landlord

1970

Next Stop Wonderland

Next Stop Wonderland

1998

From Where I Sit

From Where I Sit

2000

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

2006

Pocket Full of Soul: The Harmonica Documentary

Pocket Full of Soul: The Harmonica Documentary

2009

All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special

All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special

1980

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

1990

Monty Python Conquers America

Monty Python Conquers America

2008

Radioland Murders

Radioland Murders

1994

Jeffrey

Jeffrey

1995

Before I Go

Before I Go

2021

Your Place... or Mine?

Your Place... or Mine?

1983

Pajama Tops

Pajama Tops

1983

Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys

1992

Monty Python: Live at Aspen

Monty Python: Live at Aspen

1998

Night of 100 Stars

Night of 100 Stars

1982

Comic Relief '90

Comic Relief '90

1990

An All-Star Toast to the Improv

An All-Star Toast to the Improv

1988

They're Playing Our Song

They're Playing Our Song

The Contract

The Contract

1999

Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award

Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award

2007

Let's Go Mets

Let's Go Mets

1986

Since '45

Since '45

1979

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

Family Ties

Family Ties

1982

Mad About You

Mad About You

1992

Duckman

Duckman

1994

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1985

The View

The View

1997

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

1995

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999

Oz

Oz

1997

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

1992

Frasier

Frasier

1993

Inside Comedy

Inside Comedy

2012

The Early Show

The Early Show

1999

The King of Queens

The King of Queens

1998

Rock Concert

Rock Concert

1973

Yes, Dear

Yes, Dear

2000

Bob Patterson

Bob Patterson

2001

The Stones

The Stones

2004

The Flip Wilson Show

The Flip Wilson Show

1970

Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers

Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers

1974

Comedy Tonight

Comedy Tonight

1970

Gravity

Gravity

2010

The Midnight Special

The Midnight Special

1972

Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares

1998

The Good Wife

The Good Wife

2009

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show

1950

The History of Comedy

The History of Comedy

2017

The Good Wife

The Good Wife

2009

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

1996

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

2012

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Life on Mars

Life on Mars

2008

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

1975

Will & Grace

Will & Grace

2017

Heartland

Heartland

2007

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

1968

George Burns Comedy Week

George Burns Comedy Week

1985

The Mysteries of Laura

The Mysteries of Laura

2014

The Comedy Factory

The Comedy Factory

1985

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

Madam Secretary

Madam Secretary

2014

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956