The Unknown Comic facts for kids

Murray Langston (born June 27, 1944) is a Canadian actor and stand-up comedian. He is most famous for performing as "The Unknown Comic". During his shows, especially on The Gong Show, he often appeared with a paper bag over his head.

Early Life and Beginnings

Murray Langston was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. When he was 15, he left home because his parents had financial difficulties and could not afford to support him and his younger brothers and sisters. He lived in Montreal for a while.

Later, he moved to the United States by joining the United States Navy. He served during the Vietnam War but did not experience any fighting.

A Career in Comedy

In 1968, Murray Langston started his career in entertainment. He appeared on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where he did funny impressions of everyday things like a fork or a tube of toothpaste.

Later, a famous comedian named Redd Foxx suggested he team up with another comedian, Freeman King. Together, they became regular performers on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

After appearing with Sonny & Cher more than 100 times, Langston started showing up on other popular TV shows. These included The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show and The Wolfman Jack Show. He also worked with many other comedians like Joan Rivers and Jim Carrey. He even created funny situations for the hidden camera show Candid Camera.

The Unknown Comic Appears

Early in his career, Langston invested his money in a nightclub and restaurant called "SHOW-BIZ". Many people who later became famous worked there as servers. These included Debra Winger, Michael Keaton, and David Letterman. However, the club closed within two years, and Langston lost all his savings.

With little money left, he agreed to appear on The Gong Show. He felt a bit embarrassed about being on the show. So, with the director's permission, he put a paper bag over his head. He cut holes for his eyes and mouth, learned some old jokes, and burst onto the show as "The Unknown Comic".

This character, a very fast-talking comedian in a funny outfit, became a huge hit! Many people loved him, and he gained a lot of fans.

Beyond the Bag

"The Unknown Comic" appeared on The Gong Show over 150 times. He also served as a celebrity judge on other TV shows. For a short time, he even wrote jokes for The Gong Show. He performed regularly in Las Vegas and appeared on many popular talk and variety shows.

In the early 1980s, Murray Langston finally showed his face as "The Unknown Comic". This happened on an episode of Real People, where the hosts pulled the bag off his head. He also revealed his true identity at the end of a game show called Bullseye.

Langston also wrote screenplays for movies like Night Patrol (1984), where he also acted. He co-hosted The NEW Truth or Consequences (1987). He even had a role in a children's TV series called E.M.U-TV (1989), playing "Murray the Technical Director". In 2002, he appeared in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind as "Actual Unknown Comic".

Personal Life

In the early 1990s, Murray Langston decided to take a break from show business. He wanted to focus on raising his daughters as a single father.

His older daughter, Myah Marie, became a talented singer-songwriter. By the time she was 19, she had written and released over 50 songs. She has even recorded music with famous pop stars like Britney Spears. His younger daughter, Mary, continued to live with Langston on their ranch near Tehachapi, California.

Since the year 2000, Langston has occasionally performed as a stand-up comedian in Las Vegas. He also wrote a book about his life called Journey Thru The Unknown.... As of 2015, Langston lives in Bathurst, New Brunswick.