Born in Brooklyn, NYC and raised in Englewood, New Jersey. He went to Dwight Morrow High School (where John Travolta went a few years later). He graduated from Ohio State University in 1969 with a degree in marketing and communications. He wrote ad copy in New Jersey while also writing jokes for comedians such as Morty Gunty. He finally got the nerve to perform his own jokes in 1971 at New York's Improvisation and Pips. After appearing on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in 1974 he continued to tour and hone his act with help from David Brenner and Robert Klein. His film "Diary of a Young Comic" aired in the Saturday Night Live timeslot. His work on cable "I'm in Pain" for Showtime in 1988, "I'm Exhausted" earned a nomiation from American Comedy Awards for Funniest Male Performer in a Television Special (for HBO); "I'm Doomed" (HBO) won him a second Ace Nomination for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special. His "Magical Misery Tour" was filmed at NY's Bottom Line in December, 1996. In December 1989 he performed to an SRO crowd at Carnegie Hall.


Gentleman's Quarterly named him one of the 20th century's influential humorists. First appearance on TV: "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962) in March 1974. Met Larry David at a summer camp at age 12. Always wears black. Friend of Albert Brooks.