Sunday, December 8, 2024

Jackie Mason Dies at 93, Hilarious Comedian Turned Borscht Belt Success into Broadway Gold

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Jackie Mason has died at age 93. He was hilarious, there is no question. From the Borscht Belt to Ed Sullivan to Broadway. He willed himself into a career that spanned decades and had a trajectory that surprised even himself. Jackie won a Tony Award for a special event, his one man show, “The World According to Me,” in 1987. The last time I saw him was in 2011 when I sat next to him at a luncheon. Joan Rivers was getting an award and he was carrying on about her like crazy. I just remember laughing a lot. Jackie, RIP. You got very right wing at the end, but I’ll forgive you.

The New York Times has a good obit up.

Here are some clips. Condolences to his family and friends, to his wife Jill, and his best friend Raoul Felder.

 

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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