19 Facts About Alan King

1. Alan King is referenced in the end credits of Rush Hour 3.

2. Alan King was survived by his wife—appropriately a theme of one of his most famous routines—Jeanette Sprung, whom he married in 1947, and their three children.

3. Alan King created the Laugh Well program, which sends comedians to hospitals to perform for patients.

4. Alan King had another major role in Memories of Me as the so-called "king of the Hollywood extras", portraying Billy Crystal's terminally ill father.

5. Alan King began working as a doorman at the popular nightclub Leon and Eddie's while performing comedy under the last name of the boxer who beat him, "King".

6. Alan King lost first prize, but was invited to join a nationwide tour.

7. Alan King spent his first years on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

8. Alan King was born on Irwin Alan Kniberg; December 26, 1927—May 9, 2004 and was an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants.

9. Alan King is excited at seeing Sceau Royal begin his crucial second season over fences in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on Sunday.

10. Throughout his life, Alan King was deeply involved in charity work.

11. Alan King was the first recipient of the award for American Jewish humor from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.

12. Alan King was the long-standing host of the New York Friar's Club celebrity roasts and served as the club's historian.

13. Alan King played small roles in movies in the 1950s, but disliked playing stereotypical roles that he described as "always the sergeant from Brooklyn named Kowalski".

14. Alan King realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response.

15. Alan King began his comedy career with one-liner routines and other material concerning mothers-in-law and Jews.

16. Alan King was born in New York City, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants Minnie and Bernard Kniberg, a handbag cutter.

17. Alan King wrote several books, produced films, and appeared in plays.

18. Alan King became well known as a Jewish comedian and satirist.

19. Alan King was an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants.