Robert Schimmel
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Born Name:
Robert George Schimmel
Born Date: January 16, 1950
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: September 3, 2010
Died Place: Scottsdale, Arizona
Occupations: Stand-up comedian
Brief Biography: Robert Schimmel was celebrated for his brutally honest, "blue" comedy. Renowned as a "comic’s comic," he built a cult following through his relentless touring, popular comedy albums, and frequent, unfiltered appearances on The Howard Stern Show and HBO.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Schimmel spent his early years there before moving with his family to Arizona. After serving a tour in the United States Air Force, Schimmel returned to the Los Angeles area and began performing stand-up at local comedy clubs, eventually becoming a staple at venues like The Comedy Store.
Comedy Style and Breakthrough:
Schimmel's comedy was highly explicit, tackling taboo subjects such as sex, masturbation, and daily frustrations with unapologetic frankness. While his extremely profane material limited mainstream television exposure—keeping him off network late-night shows like The Tonight Show—it earned him immense respect within the comedy community as a successor to his idols, Richard Pryor and George Carlin. He was ranked #76 on Comedy Central's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.
Born Date: January 16, 1950
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: September 3, 2010
Died Place: Scottsdale, Arizona
Occupations: Stand-up comedian
Brief Biography: Robert Schimmel was celebrated for his brutally honest, "blue" comedy. Renowned as a "comic’s comic," he built a cult following through his relentless touring, popular comedy albums, and frequent, unfiltered appearances on The Howard Stern Show and HBO.
Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Schimmel spent his early years there before moving with his family to Arizona. After serving a tour in the United States Air Force, Schimmel returned to the Los Angeles area and began performing stand-up at local comedy clubs, eventually becoming a staple at venues like The Comedy Store.
Comedy Style and Breakthrough:
Schimmel's comedy was highly explicit, tackling taboo subjects such as sex, masturbation, and daily frustrations with unapologetic frankness. While his extremely profane material limited mainstream television exposure—keeping him off network late-night shows like The Tonight Show—it earned him immense respect within the comedy community as a successor to his idols, Richard Pryor and George Carlin. He was ranked #76 on Comedy Central's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.