David Brenner

David Brenner - Stand-up Comedians, Career and Family

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David Brenner's Personal Details

David Brenner was an American stand-up comedian, actor and author

InformationDetail
BirthdayFebruary 4, 1936
Died onMarch 15, 2014
NationalityAmerican
FamousJewish Comedians, Temple University, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Comedians, Stand-up Comedians, Writers
SpousesElizabeth Slater (2000–2001; divorced; 3 children), Ruth (2011–2014; his death)
Known asDavid Norris Brenner
Universities
  • Temple University
Notable Alumnis
  • Temple University
Birth PlacePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenderMale
FatherLouis Yehuda Brenner
MotherEstelle Anne Rosenfeld
Sun SignAquarius
Born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Famous asStand-up Comedian, Actor
Died at Age78

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David Brenner's photo

Who is David Brenner?

David Norris Brenner was an American, comedian actor and author, who made a name for himself as pioneer of observational comedy. Born and raised in a poor neighborhood in Philadelphia, comedy became a major source of relief from the challenges he faced while growing up. After majoring in mass communication, he earned his first paying job at The Improv. Later he made his television debut on ‘The Tonight Show’ hosted by Johnny Carson and went on to become the most frequent guest on the show, with over 158 appearances, not including the times he was the guest host. He was a writer, director or producer of 115 television documentaries, winning many awards including an Emmy, before moving to comedy. He was over 30 and a successful writer, producer and director of documentary films when he began working in New York comedy clubs in the late 1960s. His cynical brand of observational humor made him a stand-up comedy star in the early 1970s and kept him in the public eye for more than four decades. He was one of the most successful comedians of his generation who created a unique place for himself in the world of showbiz and the hearts of millions.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on February 4, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to Louis Yehuda Brenner, a vaudeville comedian, and his wife, Estelle Anne Rosenfeld.

His parents belonged to Jewish community and he was raised in poor areas of South and West Philadelphia.

After completing high school, he joined the U.S. Army where he served in the 101st Airborne. He also worked as a cryptographer of the 595th Signal Corps in Böblingen, Germany.

After being discharged from the army, he enrolled in the Temple University from where he majored in mass communication and graduated with honors.

Career

In June 1969, he performed his first paid gig at The Improv. After that, he began performing frequently at clubs in Greenwich Village.

In 1971, he made his national television debut on ‘The Tonight Show’, an American late-night talk show which aired on NBC. Since then, he became the show's most frequent guest, making a total of 158 appearances on the show.

Between 1975 and 1984, he guest-hosted ‘The Tonight Show’ with Johnny Carson 75 times. In addition to ‘The Tonight Show’, he also appeared on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’, ‘The David Frost Show’, ‘The Mike Douglas Show’, and ‘The Daily Show’.

In 1976, he became the lead actor of the TV series ‘Snip’, which was inspired by the film ‘Shampoo’ and was set in a hair dressing salon. But the comedy series was cancelled by NBC before it aired due to its inclusion in the supporting cast of what would have been one of the first gay characters in an American situation comedy.

In 1983, he released the comedy album ‘Excuse Me, Are You Reading That Paper?’ on the MCA Records.

In 1986, he was offered his own 30-minute syndicated late-night talk show ‘Nightlife’ by the King World Entertainment which premiered on September 8, 1986, on 102 stations. But the show was cancelled after one season.

In 1989, he played a charity ball auctioneer in ‘Worth Winning’, a romantic comedy alongside actors, such as Mark Harmon, Madeleine Stowe, and Lesley Ann Warren. Same year, he also starred in his own one-man show on Broadway titled ‘The Laughs and Times of David Brenner’.

In 2000, he acted in the TV movie ‘David Brenner: Back with a Vengeance!’. He was also one of the featured celebrities in the 2005 documentary ‘The Aristocrats’.

He was also a writer who penned five books including ‘Soft Pretzels With Mustard’ (1983), ‘Revenge is the Best Exercise’ (1984), ‘Nobody Ever Sees You Eat Tuna Fish’ (1986), ‘If God Wanted Us to Travel...’ (1990), and ‘I Think There's a Terrorist in My Soup: How to Survive Personal and World Problems with Laughter-Seriously’ (2003).

Awards & Achievements

In 1984, he was conferred the title of ‘Person of the Year’ by the ‘Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’. In 2003, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame.

Comedy Central ranked him on #53 on its list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics of all time.

Personal Life & Legacy

From 1980 to 1983, he was in a relationship with Charisse Brody, and together they had a son, Cole Jay, born in 1982. After the couple broke up, they fought the custody battle for Cole for several years, which he won in 1992.

On February 19, 2000, he married Elizabeth Slater of New York in the closing minutes of his ‘Live from The Venetian Hotel HBO Special’ recorded in Las Vegas. The couple was blessed with two sons, Slade and Wyatt. Later they got divorced and fought two custody battles, both of which he won.

In 2005, he was engaged to Tai Babilonia, a former American pair skater, but they never married.

On March 7, 2011, he married Ruth. The couple had no children of their own.

He died from cancer on March 15, 2014, at his Manhattan home in New York City, United States, at the age of 78.

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David Brenner biography timelines

  • // 4th Feb 1936
    He was born on February 4, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to Louis Yehuda Brenner, a vaudeville comedian, and his wife, Estelle Anne Rosenfeld.
  • // Jun 1969
    In June 1969, he performed his first paid gig at The Improv. After that, he began performing frequently at clubs in Greenwich Village.
  • // 1971
    In 1971, he made his national television debut on ‘The Tonight Show’, an American late-night talk show which aired on NBC. Since then, he became the show's most frequent guest, making a total of 158 appearances on the show.
  • // 1975 To 1984
    Between 1975 and 1984, he guest-hosted ‘The Tonight Show’ with Johnny Carson 75 times. In addition to ‘The Tonight Show’, he also appeared on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’, ‘The David Frost Show’, ‘The Mike Douglas Show’, and ‘The Daily Show’.
  • // 1976
    In 1976, he became the lead actor of the TV series ‘Snip’, which was inspired by the film ‘Shampoo’ and was set in a hair dressing salon. But the comedy series was cancelled by NBC before it aired due to its inclusion in the supporting cast of what would have been one of the first gay characters in an American situation comedy.
  • // 1980 To 1983
    From 1980 to 1983, he was in a relationship with Charisse Brody, and together they had a son, Cole Jay, born in 1982. After the couple broke up, they fought the custody battle for Cole for several years, which he won in 1992.
  • // 1983
    In 1983, he released the comedy album ‘Excuse Me, Are You Reading That Paper?’ on the MCA Records.
  • // 1983 To 1984
    He was also a writer who penned five books including ‘Soft Pretzels With Mustard’ (1983), ‘Revenge is the Best Exercise’ (1984), ‘Nobody Ever Sees You Eat Tuna Fish’ (1986), ‘If God Wanted Us to Travel...’ (1990), and ‘I Think There's a Terrorist in My Soup: How to Survive Personal and World Problems with Laughter-Seriously’ (2003).
  • // 1984 To 2003
    In 1984, he was conferred the title of ‘Person of the Year’ by the ‘Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’. In 2003, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
  • // 8th Sep 1986
    In 1986, he was offered his own 30-minute syndicated late-night talk show ‘Nightlife’ by the King World Entertainment which premiered on September 8, 1986, on 102 stations. But the show was cancelled after one season.
  • // 1989
    In 1989, he played a charity ball auctioneer in ‘Worth Winning’, a romantic comedy alongside actors, such as Mark Harmon, Madeleine Stowe, and Lesley Ann Warren. Same year, he also starred in his own one-man show on Broadway titled ‘The Laughs and Times of David Brenner’.
  • // 2000 To 2005
    In 2000, he acted in the TV movie ‘David Brenner: Back with a Vengeance!’. He was also one of the featured celebrities in the 2005 documentary ‘The Aristocrats’.
  • // 19th Feb 2000
    On February 19, 2000, he married Elizabeth Slater of New York in the closing minutes of his ‘Live from The Venetian Hotel HBO Special’ recorded in Las Vegas. The couple was blessed with two sons, Slade and Wyatt. Later they got divorced and fought two custody battles, both of which he won.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, he was engaged to Tai Babilonia, a former American pair skater, but they never married.
  • // 7th Mar 2011
    On March 7, 2011, he married Ruth. The couple had no children of their own.
  • // 15th Mar 2014
    He died from cancer on March 15, 2014, at his Manhattan home in New York City, United States, at the age of 78.

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David Brenner's FAQ

  • What is David Brenner birthday?

    David Brenner was born at 1936-02-04

  • When was David Brenner died?

    David Brenner was died at 2014-03-15

  • Where was David Brenner died?

    David Brenner was died in New York City, United States

  • Which age was David Brenner died?

    David Brenner was died at age 78

  • Where is David Brenner's birth place?

    David Brenner was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

  • What is David Brenner nationalities?

    David Brenner's nationalities is American

  • Who is David Brenner spouses?

    David Brenner's spouses is Elizabeth Slater (2000–2001; divorced; 3 children), Ruth (2011–2014; his death)

  • What was David Brenner universities?

    David Brenner studied at Temple University

  • What was David Brenner notable alumnis?

    David Brenner's notable alumnis is Temple University

  • Who is David Brenner's father?

    David Brenner's father is Louis Yehuda Brenner

  • Who is David Brenner's mother?

    David Brenner's mother is Estelle Anne Rosenfeld

  • What is David Brenner's sun sign?

    David Brenner is Aquarius

  • How famous is David Brenner?

    David Brenner is famouse as Stand-up Comedian, Actor