Jackie Mason Dead: Controversial Comedian Was 93

Jackie Mason, a popular sometimes controversial comedian who did not support Jewish themes and political impropriety, achieved national fame through a series of successful one-man shows on Broadway that had no substantial work in film or television, passed away Saturday in Manhattan. He is 93 years old.

NS The New York Times said His death was confirmed by his friend Raoul Felder.

Mason was one of the last Borscht Belt comedians, and he combines that sensibility with strong views on racial and ethnic politics.

He also recurs in “The Simpsons” as the voice of Rabbi Hyman Krustyofsky, the father of Krusty the Clown, winning a second Emmy for his efforts in 1992 and most recently voicing the character. in a 2014 episode. He also appeared as himself in a 2007 episode of 30 Rock.

In the 2004 TV special “Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time”, he was ranked at number 63.

The comic received a Special Tony Award in 1987 for his highly successful solo effort “The World Follows Me!” By Jackie Mason with 573 performances. (He received an Emmy for writing the show after it aired on television in 1988.)

Subsequent one-man Broadway outings included “Jackie Mason: Brand New” in 1990-91, “Jackie Mason: Polially Incorrect” in 1994-95, “Love Thy Neighbor” in 1996-97, “Many” Ado About Everything” in 1999-2000 and “Jackie Mason: Freshly Squeezed” in 2005. His last one-man show, “Jackie Mason: The Jewish Ultimate,” skipped Broadway.

Diversity wrote of “The Ultimate Jew”: “The show is a lengthy satire of the world’s hypocrisy, covered with a liner from the ‘take my wife, please’ cellar. Mason can be painfully old-fashioned, like when he tells the millionth joke about expensive restaurants serving small portions, but he doesn’t seem to care. For an aging crowd often ignored by the entertainment industry, the comedian’s rejection of modernity – and mockery of his modern ways – can be a comforting display of crew spirit. conclude. “

“It’s hard to be amused,” Diversity continues, “when Mason turned to minorities. Inevitably, his blunders are about the stupidity of people unlike him and his aging Jewish fan base.”

Many recordings of his live performances proved to be quite successful on television or home video.

He has repeatedly defended his caricature by saying that it is “politically incorrect” to be his right, but they certainly do not like him for minorities. He derided then-New York City Mayor David Dinkins by using a Yiddish libel for an African-American – a term he used frequently in his actions. – cause controversy.

Mason made his feature film debut in 1972 as the star of “The Stoolie” and then starred in “Caddyshack II” in 1988. The Washington Post stated that he looked “meek and sore” suffering” in this part and was “subdued by the gopher puppet.” In 2010, he played himself in the movie “One Angry Man,” a courtroom for which he also wrote.

He has had supporting roles in several other films, including Steve Martin’s car “The Jerk” and Mel Brooks’ “World History: Part I”.

On television, he starred in the 1989 short sitcom “Chicken Soup” and hosted 1992’s “The Jackie Mason Show,” which saw panelists tackle the day’s topics with homage in a way that made the show a forerunner to “Politics Incorrect,” which premiered the following year. (However, Comedy Central, which hosts the Maher show, wasn’t pleased, when Mason appeared on the 1994 one-man show “Jackie Mason: The Politics Is Wrong” and sued the comic, seeking to force change. name failed.)

Jacob Moshe Maza was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, but grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. He was made a rabbi – his family had many – but he eventually resigned from a synagogue to become a comedian.

He brought an early version of his insult-heavy humor to a Borscht Belt hotel in the mid-1950s, but audiences were still not ready for the kind of comedy that would later Don Rickles. will be more acceptable.

Mason made a number of appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” during the 1960s, but his relationship with Sullivan soured because Mason may have given Sullivan the finger on a show; Mason sued Sullivan for defamation and won, and publicity helped his career at the time. Over the course of the decade, he also appeared several times on “The Joey Bishop Show” and “The Merv Griffin Show,” among others.

He made his Broadway debut in 1969 with the play “One Teaspoon Every Four Hours,” which he co-wrote. It ran in previews for 97 performances but on opening closed after a single outing.

His career took a big step forward with his first solo attempt on Broadway, “The World Theo Me!” By Jackie Mason in 1986.

Mason is survived by his wife, Jyll Rosenfeld, whom he married in 1991, and a daughter.