Irwin Corey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Irwin Corey |
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Corey in a 1963 television appearance
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| Born | July 29, 1914 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 2017 (aged 102) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Years active | 1938–2013 |
| Genres | Wit/Word play, improvisational and character comedy, satire |
| Spouse |
Fran Corey
(m. 1941; |
| Children | 2 |
"Professor" Irwin Corey (born July 29, 1914 – died February 6, 2017) was a famous American comedian, actor, and activist. He was often called "The World's Foremost Authority." He became known for his unique, unscripted comedy style. This style used lots of big words and made people laugh. Famous comedian Lenny Bruce once said Corey was "one of the most brilliant comedians of all time."
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About Irwin Corey
Irwin Corey was born Irwin Eli Cohen in Brooklyn, New York. This was on July 29, 1914. His family was Jewish. When he was young, his father left the family. Because they were very poor, his mother had to place him and his five brothers and sisters in an orphanage. This was the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York. Corey stayed there until he was a teenager.
Later, he traveled to California by riding in train boxcars. He enrolled himself in Belmont High School in Los Angeles. During the Great Depression, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was a program that helped young men find jobs. While traveling back East, he became a champion boxer. He won the featherweight Golden Gloves title.
Corey believed in ideas that focused on helping everyone in society. He supported causes like helping Cuban children. He also supported Mumia Abu-Jamal and the American Communist Party. Because of his political views, he faced difficulties in his career during the 1950s. This was a time when some political beliefs were not popular. He felt these challenges lasted throughout his life. For example, he only appeared once on Late Night with David Letterman. He thought this was because of the past difficulties he faced.
In 1974, a famous writer named Thomas Pynchon won a big award. Pynchon was very shy and asked Corey to accept the award for him. The New York Times newspaper said Corey's speech was "a series of bad jokes and mangled syntax." Some people laughed a lot, while others were confused. Corey was also a frequent guest on The Tonight Show. This was during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In 2011, a reporter visited Corey at his home in New York City. Corey told the reporter that he would sometimes ask drivers for spare change. He did this near the Queens–Midtown Tunnel. He said he would then donate the money to a group that bought medical supplies for children in Cuba. His agent said Corey did not need the money for himself. It was just another way for him to perform and connect with people.
His Comedy Career
Becoming the "Professor"
In 1938, Corey went back to New York. He got a job writing and performing in a musical show called Pins and Needles. This show was about a union organizer in the clothing industry. He later said he was fired for trying to organize a union. Five years later, he was performing his stand-up comedy at the Village Vanguard club. He was drafted during World War II but was discharged after six months.
From the late 1940s, Corey developed his famous "Professor" character. He would dress in old formal clothes and sneakers. His hair was messy and stuck out everywhere. He would walk onto the stage looking thoughtful. Then he would start his monologue by saying "However…"
He created a new kind of comedy called "double-talk." Instead of using made-up words, the Professor used real, long, and fancy words. But he would put them together in a way that didn't quite make sense. He would suddenly change topics and walk around the stage. He kept talking and talking. His quick thinking allowed him to handle anyone who tried to interrupt him. This included other comedians, audience members, or interviewers.
A famous theater critic named Kenneth Tynan wrote about the Professor. He said Corey was "a cultural clown, a parody of literacy." He called him "one of the funniest grotesques in America." Corey often performed at the hungry i nightclub in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a favorite comedian of the club owner, Enrico Banducci.
In 1975, Corey gave a long, funny, and nonsensical performance in New York City. He was speaking to journalists who were waiting for the Rolling Stones band. The band was about to announce their 1975 tour. The reporters were still listening to Corey when they realized the Rolling Stones were playing music on a truck. The truck was driving down Fifth Avenue!
On Broadway
In 1951, Corey appeared in a Broadway musical called Flahooley. He played a genie named "Abou Ben Atom." This show also featured singer Yma Sumac and puppets by Bil and Cora Baird. Corey's singing from the show can be heard on the original cast album.
Movies and TV Shows
Corey sometimes appeared on television in the 1950s as a character actor. He was in an episode of The Phil Silvers Show. In this episode, Corey played a messy homeless man. He was pretending to be a hotel owner. The "Professor" character was also a frequent guest on variety shows. He was also a guest on game shows during the 1960s and 1970s.
Corey was so good at sounding smart and funny that a TV station in Providence, Rhode Island, asked him for help. WJAR-TV wanted someone to explain changes in their TV channels. Corey got the job. He used a pointer and magnetic signs to show how TV schedules would change. By the end of the commercial, his visual aids were a mess. He had also wandered far from his original point. He did similar commercials for another TV station in Milwaukee in 1977.
Corey often appeared on The Steve Allen Show from 1962 to 1964. He would end his long comedy routine with people chasing him with a giant butterfly net. He also guest-starred on The Donald O'Connor Show in 1968. Corey also acted in Broadway plays. He played a gravedigger in a production of Hamlet.
In 2009, a filmmaker named Jordan Stone started making a documentary about Corey. The film was called Irwin & Fran. It won an award in 2013. The film included memories from comedian Dick Gregory. It was narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon.
His Family and Later Life
Irwin Corey was married for 70 years to Frances Berman Corey. She passed away in May 2011. They had two children. Their daughter, Margaret Davis, was an actress. Their son, Richard Corey, is a painter. Irwin and Frances also had two grandsons, Amadeo Corey and Corey Meister. Irwin Corey lived a very long life. He turned 100 years old in July 2014.
Irwin Corey passed away on February 6, 2017. He was 102 years old. He died at his apartment in Manhattan, with his son Richard by his side.
Movies He Was In
- How to Commit Marriage (1969) – The Baba Ziba
- Fore Play (1975) – Professor Irwin Corey
- Car Wash (1976) – The Mad Bomber
- Thieves (1977) – Joe Kaminsky
- Chatterbox! (1977) – Himself
- Fairy Tales (1979) – Dr. Eyes
- The Comeback Trail (1982) – Himself
- Stuck on You! (1982) – Judge Gabriel
- Crackers (1984) – Lazzarelli
- That's Adequate (1989) – D.W. Godilla
- Jack (1996) – Poppy
- I'm Not Rappaport (1996) – Sol
- The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) – Charlie
- Irwin & Fran (2013) – Himself
Images for kids
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Corey in a 1963 television appearance
