Robert Klein
A sharp, observational comic who gave stand-up its modern voice, mentoring a generation of comedians in his wake.
Born 1942 (age 84)·American stand-up comedian (b. 1942)·Birthday: February 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Before comedy clubs were temples of personal angst, Robert Klein brought a new kind of intelligence to the stage. Emerging from the Chicago improv scene and the Second City troupe, he fused jazz-like musicality with biting social commentary. His 1970s HBO specials were groundbreaking, presenting long-form, thematic stand-up that tackled politics, family, and the absurdities of modern life with a everyman's exasperation. He wasn't just telling jokes; he was crafting comic essays, often punctuating them with his own harmonica playing. Klein's influence is a throughline in American comedy: he directly inspired a young Jerry Seinfeld, and his success on albums and cable television paved the way for the stand-up boom of the 80s and 90s. While he enjoyed success on Broadway and in films, his core legacy remains that of a master craftsman who elevated the comedian's role to that of a witty, critical observer of the American scene.
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.
Robert 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 Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Robert'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
2022Turned 80
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 84 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the seminal comedy album 'Child of the 50's,' which earned a Grammy nomination and influenced a generation of comedians.
- Starred in the first-ever HBO stand-up comedy special, 'Robert Klein Revisited,' in 1975.
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in 'They're Playing Our Song.'
- Hosted 'Saturday Night Live' during its debut season, performing his classic 'Burson-Marsteller' consumer complaint routine.
Did You Know?
He is a trained opera singer and studied at the Yale School of Drama.
He turned down the lead role of Ted Baxter on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'
His comedy routine about a frustrating phone call to the airline inspired the movie 'Trouble in Paradise.'
He is an avid New York Yankees fan and has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
“I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.”
