Freddie Roman

Freddie Roman grew up in Jamaica, New York. His father was a shoe salesman. His uncle and grandfather owned the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills. There, Freddie was given a chance to emcee on summer nights at age 15. He became a teenage comic in small resorts, but later left show business to work for his father. He became the proprietor of a ladies' shoe store, but soon realized his true love was "not in shoe business, but show business".

His son was Alan Kirschenbaum, a television producer, who died in 2012.

Roman has headlined at resort venues, including Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip and Harrah's Atlantic City. He still appears today.

The Friars Club changed their 2-term maximum bylaw so Roman could stay on as its dean. He was, ultimately, succeeded by Larry King, who is the present dean of The Friars Club.

Freddie co-wrote, and starred in, the stage show "Catskills on Broadway", as well as appearing in several films.

• "Eleven years ago I became president for two years. I'm like the Fidel Castro of comedians. I'm president for life."
• "Mike Tyson is an interesting story. He's the only person in America who's driving a 250,000 dollar car, who actually made the license plates for that car."

• Freddie Roman's Early Career and interview
• Freddie Roman at IMDb
• Freddie Roman: Still Roasting After All These Years
• Friars Club