Irwin Corey

"Professor" Irwin Corey
Corey in August 1963.
Born(1914-07-29)July 29, 1914
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 6, 2017(2017-02-06) (aged 102)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Actor, stand-up comedian
Years active1938–2016
Spouse(s)
Fran Corey
​
(m. 1941⁠–⁠2011)​
(her death); 2 children
Comedy career
GenresWit/Word play, improvisational and character comedy, satire
InfluencesCharlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers
InfluencedLenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman, Jonathan Winters, Bob Newhart, Tom Smothers
WebsiteOfficial website

"Professor" Irwin Corey (July 29, 1914 – February 6, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, and activist. His career began in 1938. Corey began his stand-up career in an San Francisco club, the Hungry i.

Early life

Corey was born on July 29, 1914 in Brooklyn, New York to an Jewish family.[1] His parents were forced to give him up in an Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York. He was never adopted, so he spent the rest of his teenage years in the Asylum. Corey studied at the Belmont High School in Los Angeles, California.

Influences

Corey was influenced by Charlie Chaplin and by The Marx Brothers. He had influence Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman, Jonathan Winters, Bob Newhart, and Tom Smothers.[2] Lenny Bruce once said that Corey is "one of the most brilliant comedians of all time".[3]

Personal life

Corey was married to Fran Corey from 1941 until her death in 2011.[4] They had two children, Margaret Corey (dead) and Richard Corey. He also has a grandson, Amadeo. He lived in his home town of San Francisco, California until moving to Manhattan, New York for his comedic stage career.

Corey died at his Manhattan apartment on February 6, 2017, aged 102.[5]

Movies

References

  1. ↑ "Official Biography of Professor Irwin Corey". Archived from the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  2. ↑ "Tom Smothers interview in Jerry Jazz Musician (2002)". Archived from the original on 2012-08-27. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  3. ↑ Kitty Bruce (ed.), The Almost Unpublished Lenny Bruce: from the private collection of Kitty Bruce, Running Press, 1984. p. 10
  4. ↑ Kilgannon, Corey. "A Familiar Figure Begs on the Street, but Not for Himself". City Room Blog. The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  5. ↑ Shapiro, T. Rees; Shapiro, T. Rees (2017-02-07). "Irwin Corey, comic who styled himself the World's Foremost Authority, dies at 102". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  6. ↑ "Irwin & Fran". imdb.com.

Other websites

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irwin Corey.