Sam Kinison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Kinison |
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Kinison (left) with Rodney Dangerfield
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| Birth name | Samuel Burl Kinison |
| Born | December 8, 1953 Yakima, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 10, 1992 (aged 38) Needles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Years active | 1978–1992 |
| Genres | |
| Subject(s) |
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| Spouse |
Patricia Adkins
(m. 1975; div. 1980)Terry Jean Marze
(m. 1981; div. 1989)Malika Marie Souiri
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
Samuel Burl Kinison (December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was known for his intense and loud comedy style, which often included a unique scream. Before becoming a comedian, he was a Pentecostal preacher.
Kinison started performing for free and soon became a regular at The Comedy Store, a famous comedy club. There, he met and became friends with other comedians like Robin Williams and Jim Carrey. His comedy often focused on everyday life, especially relationships and dating. His popularity grew quickly, leading to appearances on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, and Saturday Night Live. Sadly, at the height of his career in 1992, he died in a car accident at age 38.
Kinison was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1988 for his song "Wild Thing". After his death, he won a Grammy in 1994 for Best Spoken Comedy Album, Live from Hell.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Samuel Burl Kinison was born in Yakima, Washington, on December 8, 1953. His father, Samuel Earl Kinison, was a Pentecostal preacher. When Sam was three months old, his family moved to East Peoria, Illinois.
Sam had two older brothers, Richard and Bill, and a younger brother, Kevin. His father was a preacher who moved the family often, earning little money. Sam's parents divorced when he was 11.
From Preaching to Comedy
Sam and his brothers followed their father's path and became Pentecostal preachers. Sam preached from age 17 to 24. Recordings of his sermons show he used a very loud and passionate style, similar to the shouts he later used in his comedy. However, his brother Bill noted that Sam wasn't very good at making money from preaching. After his first marriage ended, Kinison decided to stop preaching and try comedy instead.
Comedy Career Highlights
Kinison started his comedy career in Houston, Texas, performing in small clubs. He joined a comedy group called the Texas Outlaw Comics. This group included other comedians like Bill Hicks. Hicks said Kinison greatly influenced his own comedy style. He admired that Kinison didn't try to make the audience like him.
In 1980, Kinison moved to Los Angeles to find work at The Comedy Store. He first worked there as a doorman. It was hard for him to get started until his brother Bill moved to Los Angeles to help manage his career.
Big Break on TV
Kinison's big moment came in August 1985 on HBO's Rodney Dangerfield's Ninth Annual Young Comedians Special. A reviewer from The New York Times called him "savagely misogynistic." This meant his comedy often had very strong and sometimes controversial opinions, especially about women and relationships. Kinison later appeared in Rodney Dangerfield's movie Back to School in 1986.
His first TV appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1985 was memorable. Letterman warned his audience to "Brace yourselves." Kinison used his past as a preacher to make jokes about the Bible and Christianity. His bold comedy quickly made him famous. He even had a personalized license plate on his car that said "EX REV" (meaning "ex-reverend"). He was also involved with the rock music scene in Los Angeles and sometimes toured with a band.
Future Projects and Legacy
Howard Stern bought the rights to Kinison's biography, written by his brother. There were talks about a movie called Brother Sam. Sam's brother Bill also mentioned that before Sam's death, there were plans for films with famous actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rick Moranis.
Personal Life and Influences
In May 1988, Sam was deeply saddened by the death of his youngest brother, Kevin, who was 28 years old.
Kinison's comedy often drew from his personal experiences, including his marriages. He was married a few times. His last marriage was to Malika Souiri on April 4, 1992, just six days before he passed away. They had a short honeymoon in Hawaii.
Tragic Death
On April 10, 1992, Kinison was driving his car on Needles Highway in Needles, California. A pickup truck, driven by a young man, crossed into Kinison's lane while trying to pass another vehicle. The truck hit Kinison's car head-on. Kinison and his wife were on their way to a sold-out show in Laughlin, Nevada.
A funeral service was held on April 15, 1992, in Burbank, California. Kinison was buried in a family plot at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His gravestone reads, "In another time and place he would have been called prophet."
Lasting Impact
Comedian George Carlin dedicated his HBO comedy special, Jammin' in New York, to Kinison's memory. The show began with the words: "This show is for SAM."
After his death, friends and co-stars remembered Kinison fondly. Ozzy Osbourne shared a story that Sam, after the accident, looked up and said, "I don't want to die," then "Oh, okay," and passed away. Osbourne believed Sam was "upstairs; he's next to God."
On May 23, 1993, FOX aired a special called A Tribute to Sam Kinison. It showed old footage of Kinison and performances by comedians like Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, and Jim Carrey.
Some people have discussed how Kinison's comedy, which was very direct and sometimes controversial, might be seen differently by younger generations today. Some wonder if he was playing a shocking character or truly expressing his own views.
Discography
Albums
- Louder Than Hell (1986)
- Breaking The Rules (1987)
- Have You Seen Me Lately? (1988) - RIAA: Gold
- Leader of the Banned (1990)
- Live from Hell (1993)
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS |
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| "Wild Thing" | 1988 | 19 | Have You Seen Me Lately? |
Filmography
Film Roles
- Savage Dawn (1985)
- Back to School (1986)
- Three Amigos (1986) (scenes deleted)
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2004) (archive footage)
- I Am Sam Kinison (2017) (Documentary)
Television Appearances
- Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special (1985)
- Saturday Night Live (1985–1986, guest performer; 1986, host)
- Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1986)
- Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place (1989, guest star)
- Married... with Children (1989, guest star)
- Tales from the Crypt (1990, guest star)
- Charlie Hoover (1991, as Hugh)
- In Living Color (Season 3, Episode 7, closing skit, Sunday, Nov. 3, 1991)
- Fox New Year's Eve Live: 1992 (1991–1992, co-host)
Other Appearances and Music Videos
- Live in a Rusted Out Garage concert video, Neil Young (1986) (Extended Cameo)
- Breaking the Rules (1987) (HBO Special)
- Wild Thing music video, Sam Kinison (1988)
- Bad Medicine music video, Bon Jovi (1988) (Cameo)
- Under My Thumb music video, Sam Kinison (1989)
- Kickstart My Heart music video, Mötley Crüe (1989) (Cameo)
- The Kids Goes Wild music video, Babylon A.D. (1989) (Voice Over)
- The Walk music video, Cherry St. (1989) (Cameo)
- Mississippi Queen music video, Sam Kinison (1990)
- Heartbeat music video, D'Priest (1990) (Cameo)
- What Do I Have To Do music video, Kylie Minogue (1991) (Voice Over)
- Family Entertainment Hour (1991)
- Unleashed (2006) Sam Kinison Banned Live at Felt Forum NYC 1990
