Birthday: May 11, 1927 in Montréal, Québec, Canada
Birth Name: Morton Lyon Sahl
Height: 173 cm
Crowned as leading the new breed of modern comedians by Time magazine in 1960, Mort Sahl is the first entertainer ever to appear on its cover. Before comedy clubs existed, Sahl began performing at the hungry i music club in San Francisco in the early 1950s. He differed from other comedians, appearing in casual clothing rather than a suit, skewering...
Show more »
Crowned as leading the new breed of modern comedians by Time magazine in 1960, Mort Sahl is the first entertainer ever to appear on its cover. Before comedy clubs existed, Sahl began performing at the hungry i music club in San Francisco in the early 1950s. He differed from other comedians, appearing in casual clothing rather than a suit, skewering popular politicians such as Eisenhower, Joe McCarthy and JFK. Sahl's approach is energetic, tangential, and deep and wide in both social and political scopes, inspiring Woody Allen, George Carlin and countless other comedians.A 1955 performance with Dave Brubeck was recorded and released (without Sahl's permission), selling as Mort Sahl At Sunset, and recently recognized by the Library of Congress as the first stand-up comedy record album.When JFK was assassinated in 1963, Sahl regularly targeted the government's official Warren Commission Report during his routines, resulting in the loss of much of Hollywood's support, while maintaining audience popularity with college tours and a best-selling book, Heartland.Sahl is one of the longest, active, performing social satirists, spanning 60 years and 11 presidents. Show less «
Everything I tell you is true, but this is factual.
Everything I tell you is true, but this is factual.
Washington couldn't tell a lie, [Richard Nixon] couldn't tell the truth, and [Ronald Reagan] couldn'...Show more »
Washington couldn't tell a lie, [Richard Nixon] couldn't tell the truth, and [Ronald Reagan] couldn't tell the difference. Show less «
The fact is that you can't have a good relationship with a girl who hasn't settled things with her f...Show more »
The fact is that you can't have a good relationship with a girl who hasn't settled things with her father. Show less «
Professional comedians, surprisingly, have a lack of humor. They're insensitive to the insanity of o...Show more »
Professional comedians, surprisingly, have a lack of humor. They're insensitive to the insanity of our times. Show less «
[on Watergate] If two wrongs don't make a right, try three.
[on Watergate] If two wrongs don't make a right, try three.
Television is never more false than when it's openly sincere.
Television is never more false than when it's openly sincere.
I made the mistake early in my career, when I moved to Hollywood, of being attracted to actresses. I...Show more »
I made the mistake early in my career, when I moved to Hollywood, of being attracted to actresses. I used to go out exclusively with actresses and other female impersonators. Show less «
Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stol...Show more »
Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen. Show less «
You know me, I love lost causes.
You know me, I love lost causes.
[on hard-core affirmative action] I went to my dressing room between shows and an attorney for the N...Show more »
[on hard-core affirmative action] I went to my dressing room between shows and an attorney for the NAACP was waiting fro me. He wanted to know why I don't have any Negoes in my act. Show less «
If you were the only person left on the planet, I would have to attack you. That's my job.
If you were the only person left on the planet, I would have to attack you. That's my job.
My whole life is a movie. It's just that there are no dissolves. I have to live every agonizing mome...Show more »
My whole life is a movie. It's just that there are no dissolves. I have to live every agonizing moment of it. My life needs editing. Show less «
I never met a man I didn't like until I met Will Rogers.
I never met a man I didn't like until I met Will Rogers.