Alan King
Alan King
Alan Kingwas an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants. King became well known as a Jewish comedian and satirist. He was also a serious actor who appeared in a number of movies and television shows. King wrote several books, produced films, and appeared in plays. In later years, he helped many philanthropic causes...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth26 December 1927
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
I always plan dinner first thing in the morning. That's the only way I can get through the day, having a specific meal to look forward to at night.
That's the great thing about New Year's, you get to be a year older. For me, that wasn't such a joke, because my birthday was always around this time. When I was a kid, my father used to tell me that everybody was celebrating my birthday. That's what the trees are all about.
When I read Dickens for the first time, I thought he was Jewish, because he wrote about oppression and bigotry, all the things that my father talked about.
I had a sympathetic role in 'thirtysomething,' and in two weeks I'm going to do the role again. But in the movies, I just love the heavies. It's much more fun. Villains are a ball. People have been laughing at me for 50 years, so I love to sit in the back of the theater and listen to them hate me.
You do live longer with bran, but you spend the last fifteen years on the toilet.
There's nobody to believe in anymore, nobody to trust.
There's a charm, there's a rhythm, there's a soul to Jewish humor. When I first saw Richard Pryor perform, I told him, 'You're doing a Jewish act.'
Comedy is an amazing calling. Once you get that first laugh, it's hard to turn away. Then, of course, you're hooked and you have to learn how to survive in the business.
My mother's sister was killed in a trolley car accident, so I was raised as one of eight with my sister and six male cousins.
Milton took vaudeville, which, if you look up 'vaudeville' in the dictionary, right alongside of it, it says 'Milton Berle' - and he made it just a tremendous party.
My favorite way to spend Saturday is in and out of bed, watching sports on TV and eating.
My father was a dreamer - my hero. He was a smart, tough guy from Poland, a cutter of lady's handbags, an old socialist-unionist who always considered himself a failure. His big line was: 'Don't end up like me.'
If you keep yourself alive and current, funny is funny.
When I get up in the morning, I have to decide what I'm going to have for dinner or I can't get through the day.