Bob Einstein
A master of deadpan, he created the hilariously hapless stuntman Super Dave Osborne and stole scenes as the perpetually aggrieved Marty Funkhouser.
1942–2019 (age 77)·American actor and comedy writer·Birthday: November 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bob Einstein entered comedy through the writer's room, earning an Emmy for his work on 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' where he developed a knack for satire. His genius, however, was fully realized in front of the camera with the creation of Super Dave Osborne, a dim, eternally optimistic stuntman whose elaborate setups always ended in catastrophic, slow-motion failure. The character's sheer commitment to his own absurdity made him a cult hero. Later in life, Einstein found a second wave of fame as Marty Funkhouser on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' playing Larry David's socially awkward, easily offended friend. With a masterful use of pause and a face etched with profound exasperation, Einstein turned mundane irritation into high art. His comedy was never broad; it was a precise, patient study in frustration and the fragile male ego.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bob was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent 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 Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 70
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2019Died at 77
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
Key Achievements
- Created and portrayed the iconic satirical stuntman character Super Dave Osborne.
- Won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.'
- Played the memorable recurring role of Marty Funkhouser on HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'
- Appeared as the eccentric uncle Larry Middleman on the sitcom 'Arrested Development.'
Did You Know?
He was the older brother of actor and comedian Albert Brooks (born Albert Einstein).
He originally wrote for shows like 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' under the name 'Oscar Einstein.'
The Super Dave Osborne character was originally developed for a Canadian television series.
He was a frequent guest on late-night talk shows, often in character as Super Dave.
“I'm Super Dave Osborne, and I'm going to attempt the impossible stunt.”
