Bill Hicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Hicks |
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Hicks at The Laff Stop in 1991
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| Birth name | William Melvin Hicks |
| Born | December 16, 1961 Valdosta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | February 26, 1994 (aged 32) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Medium | Comedian, musician |
| Years active | 1978–1994 |
| Genres | Dark comedy, political satire, observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | American culture, American politics, current events, pop culture, philosophy, religion, spirituality, conspiracy theories, consumerism |
| Signature |  |
William Melvin Hicks (born December 16, 1961 – died February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian. He was also known as a social critic and musician. He used comedy to share his thoughts on society and politics.
Bill Hicks passed away from pancreatic cancer when he was 32 years old. After his death, his comedy became very popular. Many people discovered his work through albums released later. He gained a large group of dedicated fans. In 2007, he was ranked number six on a list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics" by Channel 4. By 2010, he moved up to number four. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine placed him at number 13 on their list of the best stand-up comics ever.
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Bill Hicks's Early Life
Bill Hicks was born in Valdosta, Georgia. His parents were James Melvin "Jim" Hicks and Mary (Reese) Hicks. He had an older sister named Lynn and an older brother named Steve. His family lived in different states like Alabama, Florida, and New Jersey.
When Bill was seven, his family settled in Houston, Texas. He loved comedy from a young age. He looked up to comedians like Woody Allen and Richard Pryor. He even wrote comedy routines with his friend Dwight Slade.
While attending Stratford High School, Bill started performing comedy for his classmates. He often used jokes inspired by Woody Allen. At home, he wrote his own jokes. He would slide them under his brother Steve's bedroom door for feedback. Steve encouraged him, telling him he was very good at it. Bill remained close with his family throughout his life.
Bill Hicks's Comedy Career
How He Started in Comedy
In the 1980s, Bill Hicks was part of a group called the Texas Outlaw Comics. This group formed at the Comedy Workshop in Houston. It was here that he began to develop his unique style.
Moving to New York and California
In 1987, Bill's career got a big boost. He appeared on Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special. That same year, he moved to New York City. For the next five years, he performed comedy about 300 times a year. This meant he was on stage almost every night.
In 1988, he got his first professional manager, Jack Mondrus. This helped him manage his growing career.
Becoming Well-Known
In 1989, Bill Hicks released his first video, Sane Man. The next year, 1990, he released his first album, Dangerous. Bill also performed in London's West End with other American comedians. He became very popular in the UK and Ireland. He continued to tour there in 1991.
That year, he returned to the Just for Laughs festival. He also filmed his second video, Relentless. In 1992, Bill tried making music. He released the Marble Head Johnson album. He worked with his high school friend Kevin Booth and drummer Pat Brown.
Also in 1992, he toured the UK again. During this tour, he filmed the Revelations video for Britain's Channel 4. Later that year, Bill moved to Los Angeles.
What Was His Comedy About?
Bill Hicks's comedy style was very engaging. He often showed strong feelings like anger or frustration. But he spoke to the audience in a friendly, personal way. He said it was like talking with his friends.
He encouraged his audience to question things. He wanted them to think about what society accepts as truth. Much of his comedy talked about big ideas. These included mainstream society, different beliefs, politics, and how people buy things.
His Illness and Passing
On June 16, 1993, Bill Hicks received sad news. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He performed his very last comedy show on January 6, 1994. This show was at Caroline's in New York.
Soon after, he moved back to his parents' house in Little Rock. In his final weeks, he re-read The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. He also called his friends to say goodbye.
Bill Hicks passed away on February 26, 1994, in Little Rock. He was 32 years old. He was buried in the family grave plot in Magnolia Cemetery, Leakesville, Mississippi.
What Bill Hicks Left Behind
After his death, two of his albums were released in 1997. These were Arizona Bay and Rant in E-Minor. His earlier albums, Dangerous and Relentless, were also re-released.
In 2005, comedians and comedy experts voted Bill Hicks 13th on a list of "The Top 20 Greatest Comedy Acts Ever." In 2004, Comedy Central ranked him 19th in their "100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time." In 2007, he was sixth on Channel 4's list of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics. He rose to fourth place on that list in 2010.
Many fans have used Bill Hicks's words and ideas in their own creative works. Parts of his speeches and thoughts have been used in many songs. This is done through a technique called audio sampling.
Many famous comedians have said Bill Hicks inspired them. These include Joe Rogan, Dave Attell, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Russell Brand, Ron White, Frankie Boyle, Jimmy Dore, and Brendon Burns. The political cartoonist "Mr. Fish" also shared in 2022 how much he learned from Bill Hicks.
