Avery Schreiber
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Born Name:
Avery Lawrence Schreiber
Born Date: April 9, 1935
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: January 7, 2002
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Avery Schreiber was recognized for his improvisational comedy, expressive physical acting, and signature handlebar mustache. He achieved mainstream fame in the 1960s as half of the "Burns and Schreiber" comedy duo and as a ubiquitous 1970s TV personality and Doritos pitchman.
Early Life and The Second City:
Schreiber began his theatrical career at the Goodman Theatre. In 1961, he joined Chicago's legendary improvisational troupe, The Second City. There, he met fellow comedian Jack Burns. The two quickly formed the comedy duo "Burns and Schreiber," pairing Burns's cynical, straight-man delivery with Schreiber's expressive, character-driven physical comedy.
Television and "Burns and Schreiber":
The duo became a staple of 1960s and 1970s television, most notably performing their famous taxicab routine and co-hosting The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour in 1973. They were frequent guests on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Hollywood Palace. Schreiber also became widely known as the expressive spokesperson for Doritos in the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in numerous humorous ads in various disguises.
Notable Roles:
Beyond his work as a duo, Schreiber had a prolific solo television and film career:
Sitcoms: He had a recurring role as Captain Manzini on My Mother the Car (1965) and frequently appeared on NBC’s Chico and the Man.
Game Shows: He was a frequent guest panelist on Match Game.
The Muppet Show: He appeared as a guest star in the first season of The Muppet Show (an episode written by his former partner, Jack Burns).
Film: He made notable cameo appearances in Mel Brooks's comedies Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
Voice Work: He lent his voice to animated series like DuckTales and Animaniacs (as Beanie the Bison).
Teaching and Later Years:
Later in life, Schreiber dedicated himself to teaching the art of improvisational theater. He taught master classes at The Second City in both Chicago and Los Angeles and taught privately from his home.
Born Date: April 9, 1935
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: January 7, 2002
Died Place: Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Avery Schreiber was recognized for his improvisational comedy, expressive physical acting, and signature handlebar mustache. He achieved mainstream fame in the 1960s as half of the "Burns and Schreiber" comedy duo and as a ubiquitous 1970s TV personality and Doritos pitchman.
Early Life and The Second City:
Schreiber began his theatrical career at the Goodman Theatre. In 1961, he joined Chicago's legendary improvisational troupe, The Second City. There, he met fellow comedian Jack Burns. The two quickly formed the comedy duo "Burns and Schreiber," pairing Burns's cynical, straight-man delivery with Schreiber's expressive, character-driven physical comedy.
Television and "Burns and Schreiber":
The duo became a staple of 1960s and 1970s television, most notably performing their famous taxicab routine and co-hosting The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour in 1973. They were frequent guests on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Hollywood Palace. Schreiber also became widely known as the expressive spokesperson for Doritos in the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in numerous humorous ads in various disguises.
Notable Roles:
Beyond his work as a duo, Schreiber had a prolific solo television and film career:
Sitcoms: He had a recurring role as Captain Manzini on My Mother the Car (1965) and frequently appeared on NBC’s Chico and the Man.
Game Shows: He was a frequent guest panelist on Match Game.
The Muppet Show: He appeared as a guest star in the first season of The Muppet Show (an episode written by his former partner, Jack Burns).
Film: He made notable cameo appearances in Mel Brooks's comedies Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It.
Voice Work: He lent his voice to animated series like DuckTales and Animaniacs (as Beanie the Bison).
Teaching and Later Years:
Later in life, Schreiber dedicated himself to teaching the art of improvisational theater. He taught master classes at The Second City in both Chicago and Los Angeles and taught privately from his home.