Robert Klein Popular Books
Robert Klein Biography & Facts
Robert Klein (born February 8, 1942) is an American stand-up comedian, singer, and actor. He is known for his appearances on stage and screen. He has released four standup comedy albums: A Child of the 50s (1973), Mind Over Matter (1974), New Teeth (1975), and Let's Not Make Love (1990). The first two albums received Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations. Klein hosted Saturday Night Live in its first season in 1975 and again in 1978. Klein made his Broadway debut in the 1966 production of The Apple Tree opposite Alan Alda. He earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination for his performance in Neil Simon's musical comedy They're Playing Our Song (1979). He also starred on his own show that aired on the cable network USA called Robert Klein Time in the mid 80s(1986–88). He is known for his film roles in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Mixed Nuts (1994), One Fine Day (1996), Primary Colors (1998), The Safety of Objects (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), and Reign Over Me (2007). He is also known for his recurring television roles in Law & Order: SVU (2009-2012), The Good Wife (2013-2014), Madam Secretary (2014) and Will & Grace (2018-2019). He has received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his specials, Child in his 50's (2001), and Unfair and Unbalanced (2010). He was profiled in the Starz documentary Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg (2016). Early life Klein was born in the Bronx, the son of Frieda (née Moskowitz) and Benjamin Klein, and was raised in a "prototypical 1950s Bronx Jewish" environment, the grandson of Hungarian-Jewish immigrants who arrived in the USA early in the 20th century. He has an older sister, Rhoda. After graduating from DeWitt Clinton High School, Klein had planned to study medicine; however, he changed his mind during his studies at Alfred University, deciding to go into acting instead. While studying at the Yale Drama School, Klein learned about an opportunity to audition for The Second City. In a piece he wrote for the improvisational troupe's book, Klein recalled sitting in a room full of other hopefuls, including Fred Willard. Klein's audition consisted of an improvisation set with Willard about two guys in a nightclub, which was successful enough to get Klein and Willard hired by Second City. In the spring of 1965, Klein was chosen as a member of Second City. When he returned to New York City a year later, he was cast by Mike Nichols in the Broadway musical The Apple Tree. Career Early work Klein's first major appearance was as host of the 1970 summer replacement television series Comedy Tonight, on which were introduced many of the routines that in the next few years would be released on record albums. His extensive routines about the Watergate scandal made him highly popular in the 1970s. In 1974, he appeared in an episode of Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers. Klein starred in HBO's first stand-up comedy special in 1975 during the cable channel's early broadcast days and has continued to appear in several more one-man shows which have typically concluded with his "I can't stop my leg" routine. On November 15, 1975, during Season 1, and again in Season 3, on January 28, 1978, Klein hosted Saturday Night Live. His skits included Tough Director in 1975, Nick The Lounge Singer Sings Star Wars Theme in 1978 and The Olympia Restaurant: Cheeseburger, Chips and Pepsi in 1978. In 1979, Klein starred in Neil Simon's musical comedy They're Playing Our Song opposite Lucie Arnaz. He received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination. In 1985, he starred in the "Wordplay" segment of The Twilight Zone, which cast him against type in a dramatic role. In 1986, Klein had his own late-night talk show, Robert Klein Time, which ran on the USA Network until 1988. The following year, Klein hosted Monty Python Live at Aspen, a reunion and tribute show for the five surviving members of the British comedy troupe, in a special that appeared on HBO in 1998. Comedy albums Klein has released four comedy albums, A Child of the Fifties (1973), Mind Over Matter (1974), New Teeth (1975), and Let's Not Make Love (1990). The first two albums received Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations. In A Child of the Fifties (1973, Brut/Buddah Records), shown as Child of the 50s (on the cover), Klein talks about his life as a child in the 1950s: about air raid drills, Johnny Mathis music, showing off condoms while at the high school dance, the high school lunch ladies, Senator Joseph McCarthy, Governor W. Averell Harriman (of New York), meeting Yankee stars, the Yankees losing the World Series, and much more. He also goes into other things that he has observed in his life, such as substitute teaching, 1970s FM radio disc jockeys, late-night delis, and annoying commercials (e.g., Geritol). He also performed two songs that he wrote himself: "Fabulous '50s" and "Middle Class, Educated Blues." His next album, Mind Over Matter (1974), included extensive discussion of the Watergate scandal and another song—the title track—about a kid who turned to humor to become popular. Klein's follow-up album, New Teeth (1975, Epic/CBS Records), featured the comedian's on-stage work on tracks such as "Mother Isn't Always Right" and his transposition of George Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say On Television," titled "Six Clean Words You Can Say Anywhere," with studio-recorded material such as "Continental Steel" and "On the Bayou." Klein responded to the end of the sexual revolution with his 1990 album, Let's Not Make Love, which contained many of the same routines as his 1984 HBO special Child of the '50s, Man of the '80s and his 1986 special Robert Klein on Broadway. Film and television Klein has appeared in such films as The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Hooper (1978), The Last Unicorn (1982), Radioland Murders (1994), One Fine Day (1996), Primary Colors (1998), The Safety of Objects (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), and Ira and Abby (2006). Klein had a recurring role in the TV drama series Sisters. In the 1970s, he hosted Saturday Night Live twice. He also appeared as a guest star in the animated series Duckman, in the NBC sitcom Family Ties, and on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens. In 2005 he launched The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue, his 8th HBO Special In March 2007, Klein once again collaborated with Adam Sandler (after appearing in Mixed Nuts) in Reign Over Me, and in September 2007 released a new DVD compilation of his eight live HBO specials, entitled Robert Klein: The HBO Specials 1975–2005. Klein starred in The Mysteries of Laura, a crime dramedy on NBC starring Debra Messing. In this series he played the father of the show's main character, Laura. He appeared alongside Messing again in the relaunched version of her sitcom Will & Grace, playing the father of her character, Grace Adler. In 2014, Klein played the Canadian Ambassador on Madam Secr.... Discover the Robert Klein popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Robert Klein books.
Best Seller Robert Klein Books of 2024
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How To Save Our Planet
Mark A. Maslin'Punchy and to the point. No beating around the bush. This brilliant book contains all the information we need to have in our back pocket in order to move forward' Christiana Figue...
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The System
Robert B. ReichFrom the bestselling author of Saving Capitalism and The Common Good, comes an urgent analysis of how the "rigged" systems of American politics and power operate, how this status q...
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Travelling Light
Alastair SawdayA charming and beautifully written account of the pleasures of slow travel for readers of Patrick Leigh Fermor, Colin Thubron and Eric Newby.'Lawrence Sterne once suggested that w...
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The Way Home
Mark BoyleAn honest, radical and moving account of life off the grid. It was 11pm when I checked my email for the last time and turned off my phone for what I hoped would be forever.No runni...
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We Belong to Gaia
James LovelockIn twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.James Lovelock's We Belong to Gaia draws on decades of wisdom to lay out the history of our rem...
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A History of Masculinity
Ivan Jablonka & Nathan Bracher'Exhilarating . . . a work of scholarship, but also inspiration. . . Go and read Jablonka and change the world' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times'An unexpected bestseller in Franc...
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The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Robert KleinDear Reader,When we asked the beloved awardwinning comedian and actor Robert Klein to write a book, you can imagine our utter surprise when he told us that he wanted to write about...
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JFK Jr.
RoseMarie Terenzio & Liz McNeilThe first oral biography of John F. Kennedy Jr. is an extraordinarily intimate, comprehensive look at the real man behind the myth. Sharing neverbeforetold stories and insights, hi...
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In eisiger Nacht
Tony Parsons & Dietmar SchmidtEin Schicksal, schlimmer als der TodLondon, an einem frostigen Wintermorgen. Bei einem Einsatz erwartet Detective Max Wolfe ein schrecklicher Anblick: In einem Kühllaster liegen zw...
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Robert D. Klein v. Mary Avalon Klein
Supreme Court Of UtahThis appeal is sequel to Klein v. Klein, 30 Utah 2d 1, 511 P.2d 1284. It attacks a supplemental decree of the district court which adjusted the financial and property interests of ...
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The Insider
Matthew RichardsonThe thrilling novel of espionage and murder set in the dark heart of Westminster, from the UK's most exciting new spy writerA Russian defector is found brutally murdered in a Londo...
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Wrapped in White
Kevin BrooksPI John Craine still struggling to cope with the weight of his past is forced to finally confront it in his most personal and frightening case yet.PI John Craine is hired to inve...
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Under The Weather
James RenwickThe mustread book on what New Zealand's changing climate means for our everyday livesA warmer world will change more than just our weather patterns. It will change the look of the ...
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Making History
Richard CohenA “supremely entertaining” (The New Yorker) exploration of who gets to record the world’s historyfrom Julius Caesar to William Shakespeare to Ken Burnsand how their biases influenc...
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Linescapes
Hugh Warwick‘Glorious… Political, passionate, perceptive’ Robert MacfarlaneAn eyeopening exploration of the lines that cut through our countryside, from hedges to railways, and a passionate ma...
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The Children of the Anthropocene
Bella Lack'An inspirational manifesto for change' Caroline Lucas, former leader of The Green Party 'A remarkable and important book' Steve Backshall, Naturalist, Broadcaster, and Author'Astu...
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Die ohne Schuld sind
Tony Parsons & Dietmar SchmidtDie allseits beliebte Jessica wird eines Abends direkt vor ihrer Wohnung entführt. Schnell stellt sich heraus, dass sie das falsche Opfer ist. Anscheinend sollte ihre Mitbewohnerin...
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Shannon Cebrian v. Robert Klein
Court of Appeal of FloridaWe have for consideration The Florida Bar Appellate Rules Committees (Committee) quadrennial report of proposed rule changes filed in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Admin...
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The Fly Trap
Fredrik SjöbergFredrik Sjöberg's Swedish bestseller about summer, islands, freedom and boundaries. 'The light, the warmth, the smells, the mist, the birdsong the moths. Who can sleep? Who wants...
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After Cooling
Eric Dean WilsonThis “ambitious [and] delightful” (The New York Times) work of literary nonfiction interweaves the science and history of the powerful refrigerant (and dangerous greenhouse gas) Fr...
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The Presidents
Stephen GraubardIn this magisterial examination of the Presidency over the course of the 20th Century, the author explores the history of the world's greatest elective office and the role each inc...
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The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book
Jerry SeinfeldA celebration of and behindthescenes look at Jerry Seinfeld’s groundbreaking streaming series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.In his streaming show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coff...
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Once Upon a Time
Elizabeth BellerThe life and legacy of Carolyn BessetteKennedy, wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., are reexamined in this captivating and effervescent biography that is perfect for fans of My Travels wi...
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Robert J. Wilson v. Allan R. Klein
First District, Houston Court of Appeals of TexasRobert J. Wilson appeals from the trial courts judgment, rendered after a nonjury trial, that Wilson take nothing by his suit for specific performance against Allan R. Klein. The j...
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All Art is Ecological
Timothy MortonIn twenty short books, Penguin brings you the classics of the environmental movement.Provocative and playful, All Art is Ecological explores the strangeness of living in an age of ...