Lenny Schultz

Leonard Schultz (December 13, 1933 – March 16, 2025) was an American comedian who performed during the 1970s on television and at comedy clubs in New York City. His madcap style of improvisational comedy influenced other comedians such as Robin Williams, Gallagher, Carrot Top, and David Letterman.

Life and career Born in The Bronx, Schultz began making other children laugh at age eight by imitating chickens, making sound effects, and doing voices. Originally hoping for a career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, at 18 Schultz was offered a contract by a New York Yankee-owned minor league team. A shoulder injury compelled him to turn down the contract and ended his athletic career.

Instead he went to college, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University and a Master of Science degree in education from Hunter College. As a teacher, he was appreciated by his students and fellow teachers for his sense of humor, but ignored their encouragement to take up stand-up comedy. When friends convinced him to write a few minutes of an act, he debuted at open mic night at The Improv comedy club in New York in 1969 and quickly gained a popular following. ). Unlike his television act, his stand-up often included lewd or adult humor.

Throughout his comedy career he continued working as a high school gym teacher and was known to leave clubs early on school nights. Schultz was known among his fellow comedians as a "hard act to follow". Jon Stewart and Billy Crystal both said that he always got a standing ovation and "always killed.".

In 1992, Schultz semi-retired and moved to Sullivan County, New York with his wife.

Television appearances The Merv Griffin Show (1969, 1972) as himself The David Frost Show (1969–1971) as himself The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1970) as himself The Mike Douglas Show (1970) as himself The Ed Sullivan Show (1971) as himself Fol-de-Rol (TV Movie) (1972) Jack Spratt, Jester, Ensemble The Dick Cavett Show (1973) as himself The All New Pink Panther Laugh-and-a-Half Hour-and-a-Half Show (1976) as himself The Late Summer Early Fall Bert Convy Show (TV Series) (1976) as himself Ball Four (TV Series) (1976) as Lenny "Birdman" Siegel The Great American Laugh-Off (1977) as himself Blansky's Beauties (TV Series) (1977) as himself Laugh-In (TV Series) (1977) as himself How to Watch TV (public service announcements) (1980) as Announcer Drawing Power (TV Series) (1980) as himself The Comeback Trail (theatrical film) (1982) Late Night with David Letterman (1982) as himself The House of God (theatrical film) (1984) as Zeiss Comedy Club (1987) as himself Make Me Laugh (1997) as himself