Alan King
A master of comedic outrage, he channeled the everyday frustrations of suburban life into sharp, enduring satire for over five decades.
1927–2004 (age 77)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: December 26·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alan King didn't just tell jokes; he performed exasperated, finely-tuned monologues that transformed the petty annoyances of middle-class existence into high art. Born Irwin Alan Kniberg in New York, he was a nightclub fixture by his teens, eventually becoming a favorite of the Las Vegas and Catskills circuits. His persona—the cigar-smoking, well-dressed man perpetually besieged by airlines, doctors, and his own family—felt like an amplified version of every audience member. Beyond the stage, King proved a formidable dramatic actor in films like 'Just Tell Me What You Want' and a dedicated producer of Broadway plays. In his later years, he funneled his considerable energy into philanthropy, particularly for medical causes, leaving a legacy as complex as his humor was pointed.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alan was born in 1927, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1927
#1 Movie
Wings
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1927Born
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1932Started school
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1940Became a teenager
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Could drive
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1945Could vote
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Turned 21
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1957Turned 30
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 40
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 50
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 60
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 70
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2004Died at 77
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Headlined major venues like Carnegie Hall and Caesars Palace for decades, becoming a cornerstone of American stand-up comedy.
- Starred in dramatic film roles, including the lead in Sidney Lumet's 'Just Tell Me What You Want' (1980).
- Produced multiple Tony Award-winning Broadway plays, including 'The Lion in Winter' and 'Something Different!'.
- Authored several books, including the memoir 'Name Dropping: The Life and Lies of Alan King'.
- Served as the long-time national chairman of the March of Dimes' Mothers March on Birth Defects.
Did You Know?
He was the longtime opening act for singer Judy Garland during her concert tours.
King was a passionate tennis player and founded a professional tennis tournament in New York.
He performed at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural gala in 1961.
His final film role was a voice part in the animated movie 'Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie'.
“A friend is someone who will help you move. A real friend is someone who will help you move a body.”
