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
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.
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.
I think one of the big things about comedy is the ability for the audience to identify.
I was a high school throw-out.
I just never saw my mother in any other room but the kitchen. There were always pots going.
Everything my mother made had to cook for 80 hours, and when she made matzoh balls she didn't know fluffy. Everything sank.
As a parent, I'd - I'd be a better father.
And humor has always been a weapon. You want to get even on somebody? You want to attack somebody? Make fun of them.
When I was in the hospital they gave me apple juice every morning, even after I told them I didn't like it. I had to get even. One morning, I poured the apple juice into the specimen tube. The nurse held it up and said, 'It's a little cloudy.' I took the tube from her and said, 'Let me run it through again,' and drank it. The nurse fainted.
Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no styles, no standards. We're reflections. It's a distorted mirror in the fun house. We watch society. As society behaves, then we have the ability to make fun of it.
The ability to absorb a book and make someone else's words and story your own was exactly was I was doing on stage.
My son says I never tell stories about anyone who's living.
Eating takes a special talent. Some people are much better at it than others. In that way, it is like sex, and as with sex, it's more fun with someone who really likes it. I can't imagine having a lasting friendship with anyone who is not interested in food.
My mother kept the house clean and we ate good. I didn't know we were poor until I started giving interviews.