David Steinberg

David Steinberg Headshot

Comedian • Actor • Writer • Director

Birth Date: August 9, 1942

Age: 82 years old

Birth Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The multi-talented David Steinberg first gained notoriety with his cutting edge comedy on television programs like "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (CBS/ABC, 1967-1970), only to find a second career later in life as a director on series such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO, 2000-2011).

After learning his craft with Chicago's venerated comedy troupe Second City, Steinberg made the move to New York City where he landed roles on Broadway and headlined a successful nightclub act at Manhattan's Bitter End. The young comedian ruffled more than a few feathers with his religion-skewering routine on "The Smothers Brothers," although it led to a fruitful relationship with Johnny Carson, on whose "Tonight Show" (NBC, 1962-1992) he made frequent visits for decades.

He headlined his own comedy series, "The David Steinberg Show" (CBS, 1972), and co-starred with Susan Sarandon in the film "Something Short of Paradise" (1979) prior to launching his directorial career with the Burt Reynolds feature "Paternity" (1981). Steinberg found his niche in the 1980s when he began helming episodes of series such as "Newhart" (CBS, 1982-1990) and "Designing Women" (CBS, 1986-1993), and his stint as the host of "Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg" (TV Land, 2005-07) provided him a forum in which he conversed with television's brightest comedic talents.

Years of experience as a comedian, actor, writer and director all served to make Steinberg one of the most respected comedic talents in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera.

Born David Steinberg on Aug. 9, 1942, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to his mother, Ruth, and his father, Yascha, a stern Romanian-born rabbi, he was raised in Chicago, IL after the family moved there while he was still quite young.

As a teen, Steinberg had intended to follow in his father's footsteps by attending Illinois' Hebrew Theological College. Plans changed over the course of one evening, however, when he saw legendary comedian Lenny Bruce perform at a Chicago nightclub.

He then enrolled in the literature program at Chicago State University, from which he eventually earned an MFA. A trip with a college friend to see a performance at the renowned Second City Theater prompted Steinberg to start a comedy act of his own, and after a member from Second City saw his act, Steinberg was asked to join the improvisational comedy troupe in 1964.

He honed his craft at Second City for several years before making the move to New York City in pursuit of an acting career. Steinberg initially made headway when he appeared on Broadway in director Jules Feiffer's "Little Murders" (1967) and "Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights" (1968), directed by Sidney Poitier.

Additionally, he made his feature film debut opposite Jon Voight in "Fearless Frank" (1969), a silly comedy directed by Phillip Kaufman in Chicago years prior and released in an effort to cash in on Voight's then growing fame.

While neither the stage performances, nor the low-budget film drew much attention, Steinberg's popular stand-up act at New York's Bitter End nightclub earned him favorable notices from the likes of The New York Times in 1969.

This notoriety led to the young comedian's recurring appearances on the influential variety show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (CBS/ABC, 1967-1970). Steinberg's sketches on the program featured two popular characters, the first being the "mad psychiatrist," with his observation of "Boogah, boogah!" - which became a popular catchphrase in its day, as well as the title of a Steinberg comedy album some years later.

The second, more controversial character he originated for the Smothers Brothers was the unconventional theologian whose mock sermons so enraged the establishment, that many later speculated it was Steinberg's act that contributed to the cancellation of the groundbreaking show.

Suddenly, he was at the very epicenter of hip pop-culture, being invited for guest appearances on such edgy programs as Hugh Hefner's swanky variety talk show "Playboy After Dark" (syndicated, 1969-1970), and hosting the pop music show "The Music Scene" (ABC, 1969-1970).

Steinberg's association with the Smothers Brothers became a stepping stone to appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (NBC, 1962-1992), a long-lasting relationship that elicited regular appearances opposite the iconic host - second in number only to Bob Hope - until Carson's retirement in 1992.

Briefly serving as a mid-summer replacement, "The David Steinberg Show" (CBS, 1972), was later re-vamped on Canadian television in the mid-1970s with a supporting cast that included Second City alums such as John Candy, Martin Short, Andrea Martin and Joe Flaherty.

With its premise set behind the scenes of a fictional talk show, it presaged fellow comedic actor Garry Shandling's similarly themed series "The Larry Sanders Show" (HBO, 1992-98) by decades.

Amidst appearances on various talk, variety, and game shows, Steinberg made infrequent returns to acting in features such as "The End" (1978), a black comedy starring Burt Reynolds as a dying man unsuccessfully attempting suicide.

He also took on a rare leading role opposite Susan Sarandon in the romantic comedy "Something Short of Paradise" (1979), turning in a performance that critic Leonard Maltin characterized as "obnoxious." Shortly thereafter, he tried his luck behind the camera, making his feature film directorial debut with the comedy drama "Paternity" (1981), starring his old friend Burt Reynolds as a man looking to father a child without having to get married.

He then reteamed with is former Second City cohorts, John Candy, Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy when he helmed his next picture, "Going Berserk" (1983), an oddball comedy, which he also co-wrote.

Although he kept busy with various projects in other capacities, directorial work - on television in particular - would become the mainstay of Steinberg's résumé throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Beginning with episodes of comedies such as "Newhart" (CBS, 1982-1990), in addition to more work on "The Golden Girls" (NBC, 1985-1992), "Evening Shade" (CBS, 1990-94) and "Designing Women" (CBS, 1986-1993), for which he also served as executive producer during its final season.

He continued helming episodes of the next generation of successful sitcoms with frequent turns in the director's chair for shows like "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998), "Mad About You" (1992-99), and "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004).

Back on the big screen, Steinberg directed Dave Foley and Jennifer Tilly in the fugitive comedy "The Wrong Guy" (1997), in addition to several installments of Larry David's hit comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO, 2000-2011 ), beginning with its first season.

He hosted and produced "Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg" (TV Land, 2005-07), an informal chatfest with popular comedic actors whose careers were launched on television.

Over the course of the next decade, Steinberg became one of a handful of "go-to guys" interviewed for documentaries covering the pop-culture events and figures from the 1960s and '70s, including "Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel" (2010) and "The Battle for Late Night" (A&E, 2010), the latter of which examined the history of late night talk shows.

Credits

Wrestling: WWE Raw

Director
Show
2017

The Last Laugh

Self
Movie
2016

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story

Actor
Show
2013

Inside Comedy

Director
Docuseries
2012

Inside Comedy

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2012

Inside Comedy

Host
Docuseries
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Q With Jian Ghomeshi

Guest
Show
2011

Norm MacDonald: Me Doing Stand-Up

Director
Show
2011

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Living in Your Car

Director
Show
2010

Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction

Executive Producer
Show
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Down & Dirty With Jim Norton

Executive Producer
Show
2008

Help Me Help You

Director
Show
2006

Carlos Mencia: No Strings Attached

Director
Show
2006

Sons & Daughters

Director
Series
2006

Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg

Host
Show
2005

Cash CabStream

Executive Producer
Game Show
2005

WeedsStream

Director
Series
2005
70%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival

Host
Show
2002

Big Sound

Director
Show
2000

Curb Your EnthusiasmStream

Director
Series
2000
92%

An Evening at the Improv

Host
Show
2000

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story

Executive Producer
Movie
1999

Switching Goals

Director
Movie
1999

The Wrong Guy

Director
Movie
1997

Ink

Director
Show
1996

The Parent 'HoodStream

Director
Series
1995

Mad About YouStream

Director
Series
1992

Mad About YouStream

Guest Star
Bad Eulogizer
Series
1992

SeinfeldStream

Director
Series
1989
89%

The 11th Annual Young Comedians Show

Executive Producer
Show
1987

Designing WomenStream

Director
Series
1986

The Twilight Zone

Director
Series
1985

The Golden GirlsStream

Director
Series
1985

Out of Our Minds

Host
Show
1984

Going Berserk

Director
Movie
1983

NewhartStream

Director
Series
1982

Paternity

Director
Movie
1981

Something Short of Paradise

Actor
Harris Sloane
Movie
1979

Un Lugar en el Paraíso

Actor
Movie
1979

The End

Actor
Marty Lieberman
Movie
1978

The Bobby Darin Show

Guest
Show
1973

El Tren del Juicio Final

Actor
Movie
1973

Night Train to Terror

Actor
Paul
Movie
1973

The David Steinberg Show

Host
Series
1972

The Best of the David Steinberg Show

Actor
Show
1972

The Odd Couple

Guest Star
David Steinberg
Series
1970

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InStream

Guest
Variety Show
1968

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream

Actor
Talk
1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonStream

Guest
Talk
1962

The Johnny Carson Show

Guest
Show
1955

Today

Guest
News
1952

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

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