Canadian-born David Steinberg, who has worn many hats during his entertainment career, first gained attention in the early 1960s as a member of Chicago's Second City comedy troupe. The acting career that followed placed him on Broadway in Jules Feiffer's "Little Murders" (1967) and "Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights" (1968), directed by Sidney Poitier, but the public came to know the dark and curly-haired comic primarily for his "sermons" on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (CBS), for his "mad psychiatrist" sketch and for coining the popular phrase, "Boogah, boogah."A review by THE NEW YORK TIMES critic Dan Sullivan calling Steinberg "the most original comedian in years" opened the doors of television to him as both a writer and performer. The Smothers Brothers offered their platform and he began a long association with Johnny Carson in 1969, appearing frequently on "The Tonight Show" (NBC) until Carson's retirement put an end to that forum for his novel reflections. In addition to writing and performing, Steinberg hosted ABC's "The Music Scene" (1969-70) and his own "The David Steinberg Show" (CBS, 1972). Canada's version of "The David Steinberg Show" introduced Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Andrea Martin and John Candy, who comprised the unforgettable "SCTV" troupe.
Starting in the 80s, Steinberg embarked on perhaps the most successful phase of his career, directing. He debuted with the feature "Paternity" (1981) and also helmed "Going Berserk" (1983) with Candy, Flaherty and Eugene Levy, but his staple has been the TV sitcom, beginning with an episode of "Newhart" (CBS) in 1982. Conspicuous during the 90s as a frequent director of the hits "Seinfeld" (NBC) and "Mad About You" (NBC), Steinberg has also directed among others, episodes of "The Golden Girls" (NBC), "Evening Shade" (CBS) and "Designing Women" (CBS), for which he also served as executive producer during its last year (1992-93). Among his rare appearances before the camera in the 80s and 90s, Steinberg played the role of Meegosh in Ron Howard's "Willow" (1988).
Profession(s):
producer, director, comedian, Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program "The 64th Annual Academy Awards" 1992
Clio Award 1987
1994 Returned to performing stand-up live
1993 Became the executive producer of the popular CBS-TV "Designing Women" in January of its last year
1988 Rare performance in a feature, playing Meegosh in Ron Howard's "Willow"
1986 Directed "Casey at the Bat" for Showtime's "Shelly Duvall's Tall Tales and Legends" series
1982 TV directorial debut, an episode of "Newhart" (CBS)
1981 Made directorial debut with the feature "Paternity"
1979 Cited as "obnoxious" by Leonard Maltin for his role in "Something Short of Paradise"
1972 Starred in CBS summer comedy variety series, "The David Steinberg Show"
1970 Appeared on "The Return of the Smothers Brothers" special (NBC)
1969 First appeared on "The Tonight Show"
1969 - 1970 Writer and host for ABC's "The Music Scene"
1968 Acted on Broadway in "Carry Me Back to Morniside Heights", directed by Sidney Poitier
1967 Broadway debut as Kenny Newquist in Jules Feiffer's "Little Murders"
1967 Feature acting debut in "Fearless Frank" (filmed in Chicago in 1965, was also Jon Voight's first pic)
1966 Made NYC stage debut as member of Second City Troupe in "The Return of the Second City in '20,000 Frozen Grenadiers'"
1966 Began career as actor with replacement role in Off-Broadway's "The Mad Show"
1957 Went to Chicago at age 15 as a Yeshiva student (date approximate)
Grew up in Winnepeg, Canada
Joined Second City Troupe in the early 60s
THE NEW YORK TIMES critic Dan Sullivan showed up at NYC's Bitter End and declared Steinberg "the most original comedian in years"
Wrote and performed for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" (CBS); his "sermons" contributed to show's being cancelled
"The David Steinberg Show" in Canada introduced Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Andrea Martin and John Candy, who comprised the unforgettable "SCTV" troupe
Extensive TV credits as executive producer and director throughout 1990s; directed numerous episodes of the popular sitcoms "Seinfeld" and "Mad About You"
