Alan King

He was born Frederick Karl Pruetzel at St. Clair's Hospital in New York, New York, the son of Karl and Maria Pruetzel. Freddie was raised in the Washington Heights section of New York. His father was of Hungarian Jewish descent and his mother was Puerto Rican Catholic. Ever the comic, Freddie would later design his background as "Hungarican", though he considered himself Puerto Rican. As a small child his mother enrolled him ...

See also:

Freddie Prinze, Freddie Prinze - Career, Freddie Prinze - Personal life, Freddie Prinze - Untimely death, Freddie Prinze - After his death

Read more here: » Freddie Prinze: Encyclopedia II - Freddie Prinze - Personal life

The death, initially ruled a suicide, was years later re-ruled an "accidental shooting due to the influence of Quaaludes"; his mother led the effort to have the cause of death reworded. This change was due in large part to the fact that Prinze had a history of playing with guns, faking suicide attempts to frighten his friends to his amusement. He had left a note stating that the decision to take his life was his alone, but because he pulled the trigger in the presence of a witness, something suicides rarely do, it gave enough weight to the argument that he really ...

See also:

Freddie Prinze, Freddie Prinze - Career, Freddie Prinze - Personal life, Freddie Prinze - Untimely death, Freddie Prinze - After his death

Read more here: » Freddie Prinze: Encyclopedia II - Freddie Prinze - After his death

"Why is everybody carrying on about Woolworth's? Have you ever eaten at the counter at Woolworth's? If you wanted to sit in the Colony Club, I could understand." -King on lunch counter sit-ins during the 1960s "The banks have a new image. Now you have 'a friend,' your friendly bank. If the banks are so friendly, how come they chain down the pens?" "My brother is the youngest member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. And I wouldn't let him cut my nails." "Because no one could make the announcement 'Miss Garland will not appear tonight' better than I could." -King on why he opened for Judy Garland

See also:

Alan King, Alan King - Childhood, Alan King - Career, Alan King - Personal life, Alan King - Quotes, Alan King - Filmography, Alan King - Plays, Alan King - Books, Alan King - Sources

Read more here: » Alan King: Encyclopedia II - Alan King - Quotes

King started out with the usual routines of one-liners about mother-in-laws and Jews. King's style of comedy changed when he saw Danny Thomas performing in the early 1950s. King realized that Thomas was talking to his audience, not at them, and was getting a better response. King changed his own style from one-liners to a more conversational style that used everyday life for humor. His comedy inspired other comedians li ...

See also:

Alan King, Alan King - Childhood, Alan King - Career, Alan King - Personal life, Alan King - Quotes, Alan King - Filmography, Alan King - Plays, Alan King - Books, Alan King - Sources

Read more here: » Alan King: Encyclopedia II - Alan King - Career

In the 1960s, King's performances in Las Vegas led him to face up to a gambling addiction that made him limit his performances in Las Vegas. In the 1970s, King discovered one of his sons was addicted to drugs and turned him in to the police. King realized he had neglected his family and began spending more time at home. Throughout his life, King was deeply involved in charity work. He founded the Alan King Medical Center in Jerusalem, raised funds for the Nassau Center for Emotionally Disturbed Children (near his home in Sands Point, ...

See also:

Alan King, Alan King - Childhood, Alan King - Career, Alan King - Personal life, Alan King - Quotes, Alan King - Filmography, Alan King - Plays, Alan King - Books, Alan King - Sources

Read more here: » Alan King: Encyclopedia II - Alan King - Personal life