Born Name:  David Norris Brenner

Born Date:  February 4, 1936

Born Place:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died Date:  March 15, 2014

Died Place:  New York City

Occupations:  Standup comedian, actor, author and filmmaker

Brief Biography:  David Norris Brenner was a pioneering American stand-up comedian and author, widely regarded as a master of observational humor. He is best known for his record-breaking 158 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he was Carson's most frequent guest.

Early Life and Education:
His father, Louis "Lou Murphy" Brenner, was a vaudeville comedian who left the stage to raise his family.
Military Service: After high school, he served two years in the U.S. Army as a cryptographer in the 101st Airborne.
Academic Honors: He attended Temple University, graduating with honors in mass communication.

Career Milestones:
Before his comedy career, Brenner was a highly successful documentary filmmaker.
Documentary Success: He wrote, produced, or directed 115 documentaries, winning nearly 30 awards, including an Emmy.
Breakthrough: He performed his first paid comedy gig at The Improv in 1969 and made his Tonight Show debut in 1971.
Television & Radio: He hosted the late-night talk show Nightlife (1986) and a syndicated radio program from 1994 to 1996, inheriting the time slot formerly held by Larry King.
Author: Brenner wrote five books, including his first humor book, Soft Pretzels with Mustard (1983).