Robert Klein

One of the most influential stand-up comedians to emerge from the 1970s, Robert Klein easily ranked in that decade's pantheon of comedy legends, alongside the likes of such funnymen as George Carlin and Richard Pryor. Neither bitter nor cynical, Klein made his mark on stand-up comedy with his wry, observational style. Twenty-five years after Klein debuted his hilarious take on his generation's cultural touchstones with the comedy album Child of the Fifties, echoes of Klein could be heard in the routines of many top comics of the day, most notably Jerry Seinfeld. Klein was also a Yale-trained actor who earned acclaim for his work on Broadway in musicals like "They're Playing Our Song," in addition to appearances in such films as "The Bell Jar" (1979) and as a frequent guest on TV sitcoms like "Sisters" (NBC, 1991-96). One of the most pioneering and prolific stand-up comics of his generation or any other, Klein enjoyed a resurgence in popularity with the special "The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue: A Child of the Fifties Looks Back" (HBO, 2005) - his eighth for the cable network - and followed it up with a well-received memoir of the same name in 2006. A consistent comedic presence for more than four decades, Klein's significant contributions to comedy could not be overstated.