Avery Schreiber was a famous American actor and comedian who rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the comedy duo Burns and Schreiber. He was known for his trademark bushy handlebar moustache, curly hair, and hilarious reactions. He appeared in numerous television shows, movies, and commercials, and was a master of improvisational comedy. But what was the cause of his death, and how did he live his last years?
Early Life and Career
Avery Lawrence Schreiber was born on April 9, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Minnie and George Schreiber. He was of Jewish descent and had a brother named Jerry. He started his career in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre, where he won a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse. However, he decided to stay in Chicago and attend night school at the University of Chicago while studying at the Second City improv troupe. There, he met Jack Burns, a former Boston news anchorman, in 1962. They formed the comedy team of Burns and Schreiber, and began performing together on cruise ships and elsewhere. They were discovered by Jack Paar, who invited them to his Tonight Show in 1964. They became a hit and recorded several comedy albums and appeared on many television shows, such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, and The Hollywood Palace. They were known for their political satire, especially their album The Watergate Comedy Hour, and their famous taxi cab routine, where Schreiber played a frustrated cabbie and Burns played a talkative and nonsensical passenger.
Television and Movie Roles
Schreiber was also a successful actor, who played a variety of roles mostly on television sitcoms. In 1965, he played the role of Captain Manzini on My Mother the Car, a show that is considered one of the worst in TV history. He also co-hosted the ABC comedy The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour in 1973, and was a regular guest star on the NBC sitcom Chico and the Man, where he played various characters, such as a priest, a landlord, and a policeman. He was also a frequent guest panelist on the game show Match Game, and a guest on the first season of The Muppet Show, where he performed a stand-up routine and sang a song with Fozzie Bear. He also participated in the 1980 Tournament of Celebrities on the Jim Perry-hosted version of Card Sharks. His movie appearances include The Monitors (1969), Don’t Drink the Water (1969), Deadhead Miles (1972), Swashbuckler (1976), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977), The Concorde … Airport ’79, Silent Scream (1979), Scavenger Hunt (1979), Caveman (1981), Jimmy the Kid (1983) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).
Personal Life and Death
Schreiber married Rochelle Isaacs in 1962, and they had two children, Joshua and Jenny. He was a devoted family man and a generous mentor to young comedians. He also taught improvisational theater technique at the Second City in Chicago and Los Angeles, and continued to work in film, television, and theater until his death. He was a diabetic and suffered a heart attack in 1994, which required a triple coronary artery bypass surgery. He never fully recovered from the surgery and died of another heart attack on January 7, 2002, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 66 years old. His wife and children survived him, and his legacy lives on in his comedy and his theater. In 2003, the Avery Schreiber Theatre was founded in North Hollywood, California, and in 2013, it changed its name to the Avery Schreiber Playhouse, with the approval of his widow.
Conclusion
Avery Schreiber was a talented and versatile comedian and actor, who made millions of people laugh with his witty and expressive style. He was a pioneer of improvisational comedy and a partner of Jack Burns, with whom he formed a successful and influential comedy duo. He also had a prolific career in television and movies, playing a range of roles from villains to heroes. He was a loving husband and father, and a generous teacher and friend. He died of a heart attack in 2002, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and joy. He was a comedian with a walrus mustache, and a heart of gold.
