Bob Einstein

Stewart Robert Einstein (November 20, 1942 – January 2, 2019) was an American actor, comedy writer and producer. He created and performed the satirical stuntman character Super Dave Osborne, played Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development.

Bob Einstein
Einstein in the unsold television pilot "Three for Tahiti", 1970
Born
Stewart Robert Einstein

(1942-11-20)November 20, 1942
DiedJanuary 2, 2019(2019-01-02) (aged 76)
Alma materChapman University[1]
OccupationActor, comedy writer, producer
Years active1967–2017
Parent(s)Harry Einstein
Thelma Leeds
RelativesAlbert Brooks (brother)
Charles Einstein (half-brother)
Websitewww.bobeinstein.com

Einstein got his start as a writer on several television variety shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Einstein won two Emmy Awards as a writer and was nominated four other times. He also won a CableACE Award for acting as Super Dave, along with five other nominations.

Einstein was the son of radio comedian Harry Einstein, and the older brother of fellow actor and comedian Albert Brooks.

Background

Einstein was born in 1942 in Los Angeles, to a Jewish family.[2] His parents were the comic Harry Einstein, best known for playing the character Parkyakarkus on radio and in the movies, and the actress-singer Thelma Leeds. On October 24, 1949 at the age of six, it was reported in the LA Times that he had contracted polio. Fears that it was the paralytic type of polio appear to have been unfounded. His younger brother is comedian and writer Albert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein), and his older brother, Cliff Einstein, is a retired advertising executive in Los Angeles. He was a 1965 graduate of Chapman College.[1]

Career

Einstein got his start writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour for which he won an Emmy Award. The writing team also included Steve Martin and Murray Roman.[3] He also appeared on the show as Officer Judy. In 1977 he won an Emmy for outstanding comedy-variety series for his work on Van Dyke and Company.[4]

Super Dave Osborne

Einstein created the goofy stuntman Super Dave Osborne character for a variety show hosted by John Byner. The character later became a regular on the 1980 television series Bizarre, also hosted by Byner, and was a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman. On Late Night, besides showing clips of his ill-fated stunts, Super Dave would often tell long semi-crude jokes, usually "written" by someone else. In 1987, Einstein got his own variety show named Super Dave, which ran from 1987 to 1991 on the Global Television Network in Canada (where the show was produced at the network's Toronto studio) and Showtime in the United States. In 1992, an animated series Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire aired on Fox. Einstein later extended the "Super Dave" franchise by starring in the 2000 movie The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave.

On the November 12, 2009, airing of TNA Impact!, he was the booker[5] and host of the night. He made Super Dave's Spike Tacular, a four-episode sketch series on Spike TV reprising his Super Dave character, once again engaging in outrageous stunts.

Other roles

Einstein had recurring roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman in the third season of Arrested Development. He was also featured on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers as obnoxious district selectman Tony Deloge. Einstein was also on The Man Show where he did Century Club with Adam and Jimmy. In Ocean's Thirteen he played Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon)'s father, Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, a master robber and con artist whose day job is an FBI agent.

Einstein appeared on the second season of Anger Management as Charlie Goodson's very angry neighbor, and his character in the show instantly got an unflattering nickname based on a feminine hygiene product.

Einstein voiced two characters from The Life & Times of Tim, playing the Elephant Trainer in Tim & the Elephant in the second season, and the bookie in Pray for the Jets in the third.[6][7]

Einstein was the first comedian to appear twice on Jerry Seinfeld's Web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.[8]

In the 2010s, Einstein was a frequent guest on the popular sports talk radio program The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. Einstein called in as a "Celebrity Prognosticator" to give his thoughts on sports and various other topics.

Death

Einstein died on January 2, 2019, at the age of 76, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.[9] Curb Your Enthusiasm series creator and star Larry David said in a statement: “Never have I seen an actor enjoy a role the way Bob did playing ‘Marty Funkhouser’ on Curb. It was an amazing, unforgettable experience knowing and working with him. There was no one like him, as he told us again and again. We’re all in a state of shock.”[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Get to Know Your Rabbit Police Officer
1972 Another Nice Mess Agent Nussbaum
1981 Modern Romance Sporting Goods Salesman
2000 The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave Super Dave Osborne
2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Dom Molinari
2007 Ocean's Thirteen Robert "Bobby" Caldwell
2010 Shit Year Rick
2015 Strange Magic Stuff Voice

Television

As Super Dave

Year Title Notes
1972 The John Byner Comedy Hour First appearance as Super Dave
1976 Van Dyke and Company Episode #1.6
1977 The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour Producer
1980– 1985 Bizarre 1981-1985
1989 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Episode: "Super Dave/Park Overall/Mark Schiff"
1980 Late Night with David Letterman Recurring guest
1987–1991 Super Dave Also writer
1992 Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire Television Special
1993 In Living Color
1994–1995 WWE Monday Night RAW Television Special
1995 Super Dave's Vegas Spectacular Television Special
1997 Super Dave's All Stars Television Special
1998–2004 Hollywood Squares Recurring guest
2003 The Man Show Episode: "Jimmy Asks Women 'What Do You Weigh?'"
2009 Super Dave's Spike-Tacular Episode: "Mr. Big Meeting"
2009 The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien November 11, 2009
2009 TNA Impact!

Other Roles

Year Title Role Notes
1967–1969The Smothers Brothers Comedy HourOfficer Judy9 episodes
1970Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy HourVarious Roles8 episodes
1971The Steve Allen ShowHimselfAugust 31, 1971
1971Tom Smothers' Organic Prime Time Space RideHimself5 episodes
1973The Sonny and Cher Comedy HourHimselfEpisode #4.1
1975The Smothers Brothers ShowHimself4 episodes
1971-1991The Tonight Show with Johnny CarsonHimself - Guest10 episodes
1988-1991Late Night with David LettermanHimself9 episodes
1993-1995Late Show with David LettermanHimself5 episodes
1997RoseanneHoward MortonEpisode: "The Truth Be Told"
1999The Norm ShowAlEpisode: "Norm Pimps Wiener Dog"
2002–2003Crank YankersTony DeLoge/Bob Carlman8 episodes
2003-2007Jimmy Kimmel Live!Himself - Guest - co-Host22 episodes
2005–2006Arrested DevelopmentLarry Middleman5 episodes
2008Welcome to the CaptainMickey TittleEpisode: Mr. Big Meeting
2009The Tonight Show with Conan O'BrienHimselfEpisode: Jessica Biel/Bob Einstein/John Fogerty
2011ConanHimselfEp: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish
Oh, God, My Whole Life Has Been a Horrible Lie
2010–2012The Life & Times of TimElephant Trainer / The Bookie2 episodes
2013Anger ManagementHofflerEpisode: "Charlie and Lacey Piss Off the Neighborhood"
2013Norm Macdonald LiveHimself2 episodes
2015Comedy Bang! Bang!Harvey WrinklemanEpisode: Karen Gillan Wears a Black
and White Striped Pullover and Coral Skirt
2012–2017Comedians in Cars Getting CoffeeHimself2 episodes
2004–2017Curb Your EnthusiasmMarty Funkhouser22 episodes

Awards and Nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Category Project Result Ref.
1969Best Writing for a Variety SeriesThe Smothers Brothers Comedy HourWon[11]
1972Best Writing Achievement in Variety or MusicThe Sonny & Cher Comedy HourNominated
1974Best Writing in Variety or MusicNominated
1976Best Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music SpecialVan Dyke and CompanyNominated
1977Best Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music SeriesNominated
Outstanding Variety or Music SeriesWon

References

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