Lenny Bruce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lenny Bruce
Bruce in 1961
Born	Leonard Alfred Schneider (1925-10-13)October 13, 1925 Mineola, New York, U.S.
Died	August 3, 1966(1966-08-03) (aged 40) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Eden Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation	Comedian satirist social critic
Years active	1947–1966
Spouse(s)	Honey Bruce ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1957)​
Children	1
Relatives	Sally Marr (mother)
Comedy career
Medium	Stand-up, television, books
Genres	Satire political satire
Subject(s)	American culture American politics race relations religion
Signature

Leonard Alfred Schneider (born October 13, 1925 – died August 3, 1966) was an American stand-up comedian. He was better known by his stage name, Lenny Bruce. He was famous for his honest and critical style of comedy. His jokes often talked about important topics like politics and religion.

Lenny Bruce helped shape comedy for a new generation of comedians. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the top stand-up comics ever. He was ranked third, after Richard Pryor and George Carlin.

Early Life and Navy Service

Lenny Bruce was born Leonard Alfred Schneider in Mineola, New York. He grew up nearby in Bellmore, New York. His parents divorced when he was young. He often lived with different family members. His mother, Sally Marr, was a performer and had a big impact on his career.

At 16, Bruce joined the United States Navy in 1942. He served during World War II. He was on the USS Brooklyn (CL-40) in places like Northern Africa and Italy. In 1945, he performed a comedy show for his shipmates. After this, he was honorably discharged from the Navy.

Later, during the Korean War, Bruce worked in the United States Merchant Marine. He helped transport troops between the U.S. and Europe.

Starting a Comedy Career

After his time in the Navy, Bruce moved to New York City. He wanted to become a comedian. It was hard to stand out among many other hopeful performers. He met Joe Ancis, who greatly influenced his comedy style. Bruce became known for his sharp humor and for questioning common ideas.

In 1947, he changed his last name to Bruce. He got his first stand-up comedy job in Brooklyn. He earned $12 and a free spaghetti dinner. He even appeared on a radio show called Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. His mother introduced him on the show.

Career Highlights and Challenges

Bruce's early career included writing movie scripts. He wrote for Dance Hall Racket (1953) and a children's film, The Rocket Man (1954). He also worked with photojournalist William Karl Thomas on screenplays and comedy albums.

In the 1950s, Bruce lived with comedian Buddy Hackett. They even performed together on Patrice Munsel Show. They called themselves the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players." This was 20 years before the cast of Saturday Night Live used the same name.

Bruce released four comedy albums. These were later put together as The Lenny Bruce Originals. He also produced and sold two of his own records. He became very popular at the hungry i nightclub in San Francisco.

Lenny Bruce often faced challenges with television appearances. He was sometimes kept off TV because of his controversial jokes. However, fans like Hugh Hefner and Steve Allen helped him appear a few times.

One of his most famous performances was at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This happened on February 4, 1961, during a big snowstorm. The show was recorded and released as The Carnegie Hall Concert.

In August 1965, Bruce gave a performance in San Francisco. He mostly talked about his struggles with authorities over his comedy. This show was filmed and later released as The Lenny Bruce Performance Film.

Personal Life

In 1951, Lenny Bruce married Honey Harlow. They moved to the West Coast and worked together as a comedy duo. Their daughter, Kathleen ("Kitty") Bruce, was born in 1955. Lenny and Honey had a complicated relationship. They divorced in 1959. At the time of his death, he was engaged to comedienne Lotus Weinstock.

Later Years and Final Performances

Poster for Bruce's last series of performances, which took place at The Fillmore in San Francisco on June 24 and 25, 1966

Lenny Bruce appeared on network television only six times in his career.

In September 1962, Bruce visited Australia. His visit caused a lot of public discussion. His first show was quiet, but his second show led to controversy. The venue owners canceled his remaining performances. University students tried to arrange another show for him, but permission was suddenly taken away. An interview he was supposed to give on Australian television was also canceled.

Bruce mostly stayed in his hotel room. Eight days later, he gave his third and final Australian concert. Only about 200 people attended, including many police officers. Bruce gave a calm performance. A recording of this show was made by a local musician and later found in 2011. It was donated to the Lenny Bruce audio collection at Brandei University.

In December 1965, Bruce gave a famous performance at the Berkeley Community Theatre. This show was recorded and became his last live album, The Berkeley Concert. People described this performance as very clear and calm. His very last performance was on June 25, 1966, at The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. He performed alongside Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.

Death and Legacy

Bruce's grave at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California

Lenny Bruce was found dead in his home on August 3, 1966. He was buried at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Over 500 people attended his service. His gravestone reads: "Beloved father—devoted son / Peace at last".

Lenny Bruce's life and comedy have inspired many.

• In 1974, a movie called Lenny was made about his life. It starred Dustin Hoffman, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role.
• The documentary film Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth (1998) was also nominated for an Oscar.
• In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Bruce as the third greatest stand-up comedian of all time. Both Richard Pryor and George Carlin, who ranked higher, said Bruce greatly influenced them. Carlin even said Bruce influenced his moral thinking as much as his comedy.

Filmography

Discography

Albums

Posthumous releases

Compilations

Audiobooks

Tribute albums

See also

In Spanish: Lenny Bruce para niños

• List of civil rights leaders