Freddie Roman
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Freddie Roman (born Fred Kirschenbaum 1937 in Jamaica, Queens, New York)
Stand-up comedian, and king of one-liners, best known for his frequent appearances at "Borscht Belt" clubs. He is currently the Dean of the New York Friars' Club in New York City.
Roman currently resides in Fort Lee, New Jersey.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Freddie Roman grew up in Jamaica, New York, the son of a shoe salesman.
His uncle and grandfather owned the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills. There, Freddie was given a chance to emcee on summer nights at age 15. He became a teenage comic in small resorts.
He later left show business and went into the shoe business working for his father. He became the proprietor of a ladies' shoe store, but soon realized his true love was not in "shoe business" but "show business".
[edit] Career
Freddie Roman has headlined at most major resorts, including Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip and Harrah's Atlantic City. He still appears today.
The Friars Club changed their 2-term maximum bylaw so he could stay on as its Dean.
[edit] Quotations
- "Eleven years ago I became president for two years. I'm like the Fidel Castro of comedians. I'm president for life."
- "Mike Tyson is an interesting story. He's the only person in America who's driving a 250,000 dollar car, who actually made the license plates for that car."
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Films
- The Last Laugh (2006)
- Bittersweet Place (2005)
- Christ in the City (2005)
- Catskills on Broadway (2003)
- Finding North (1998)
- Sweet Lorraine (1987)
[edit] Television appearances
- The Big Room for MTV's Ha!
- Friars Club Roasts
- Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Now That's Funny!
- Stark Raving Mad
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- The 46th Annual Tony Awards (presenter)
[edit] Stage
- Catskills on Broadway
[edit] References
- ^ Strauss, Robert. "IN PERSON; In a Club Full of Comics, The King Is Also a Jester", The New York Times, December 11, 2005. "Three or four times a week, Mr. Roman travels into Manhattan from his house in Fort Lee, where he has lived for six years, and holds court in one of the dining rooms at the Friars Club, formerly a doctor's town house on East 55th Street."
