Robert Klein

The man who invented the HBO special

Robert Klein launched the television comedy special format on December 31, 1975. That night, HBO aired An Evening with Robert Klein, and the business of laughter changed direction forever. Before his arrival, American comedy relied on short jokes with rigid structures about mothers-in-law or worn-out stereotypes. But Klein brought sharp observation and urban neurosis to the stage.

He was the first comedian to record a full hour of his own material for uncensored cable. This decision let audiences connect with a smarter brand of humor closer to the social reality of the era. Klein didn't tell jokes; he told stories about life.

And the gamble paid off.

He trained with The Second City company in Chicago during the sixties. There, he learned that improvisation was a tool for professional survival rather than just an actors' game. In that Chicago basement, the punchline mattered less than building the character. He shared the stage with figures who would later transform American television before making his definitive leap to Broadway.

From Musicals to Supporting Roles on Screen

In 1979 he earned a Tony Award nomination for his role in They’re Playing Our Song. It was a milestone that proved he could carry a big-budget musical with the same precision as his stand-up. Yet the movies never gave him the leading role his talent seemed to deserve in the scripts of the day. In 1970 he worked with Barbra Streisand on The Owl and the Pussycat, and in 1978 he joined Burt Reynolds in the film Hooper.

He accepted his role as a top-notch supporting player.

Throughout the nineties, his face became a familiar sight in big-box-office romantic comedies. In 2002, he played the father of Sandra Bullock in Two Weeks Notice. He also maintained a steady presence on television series such as Sisters and Law & Order. He wasn't chasing top-billing glory but the reliable craft of the character actor who always delivers in the scene.

The Legacy of Smart Comedy

Many younger viewers know him from his recurring role on The Good Fight between 2018 and 2022. In that series he played a lawyer with blurry principles who fit perfectly into the show's cynical tone. Klein has always preferred intelligence to media noise, so his style directly influenced later figures such as Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.

In 2017, the documentary Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg was released to examine his career. The film explores his work routine and his refusal to leave the stage despite the passing years. Klein continues to analyze politics and society with the same sharpness he showed in the 1970s. His contract with HBO extended across nine different specials over three decades of professional collaboration.

His last credited on-screen appearance dates to 2023 in an independent project shot in New York.