Lenny Bruce

Leonard Alfred Schneider (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966), better known by his stage name Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, and satirist. He was renowned for his open, free-wheeling, and critical style of comedy which contained satire, politics, religion, sex, and vulgarity. His 1964 conviction in an obscenity trial was followed by a posthumous pardon in 2003.

Lenny Bruce
Bruce in 1961
Born
Leonard Alfred Schneider

(1925-10-13)October 13, 1925
DiedAugust 3, 1966(1966-08-03) (aged 40)
Resting placeEden Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • satirist
  • social critic
Years active1947–1966
Spouse
(m. 1951; div. 1957)
Children1
RelativesSally Marr (mother)
Comedy career
MediumStand-up, television, books
Genres
Subject(s)
  • American culture
  • American politics
  • race relations
  • religion
  • sexuality
  • obscenity
Notable works and rolesThe Lenny Bruce Originals
The Carnegie Hall Concert
Let the Buyer Beware
How to Talk Dirty and Influence People
Signature

Bruce paved the way for counterculture-era comedians. His trial for obscenity was a landmark of freedom of speech in the United States. In 2017, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him third (behind Richard Pryor and George Carlin) on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.

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