Bill Hicks
Born 1961 · Age 64
American stand-up comedian and satirist known for dark, political and philosophical comedy; influential in the UK and among later comedians. Active 1978–1994; died of pancreatic cancer.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Valdosta, Georgia
William Melvin Hicks born to James Melvin "Jim" Hicks and Mary (Reese) Hicks in Valdosta, Georgia.
Family settles in Houston, Texas
Hicks' family moved through several states and settled in Houston when he was seven.
Jerry Lewis telethon audition (prevented)
As teenagers Bill and friend Dwight Slade successfully auditioned for a Jerry Lewis MDA telethon slot but were prevented from performing by parents.
Begins performing at Comedy Workshop (Houston)
Began sneaking out to perform with Dwight Slade at Houston's Comedy Workshop; became a young regular in the club.
Seen by parents as rebellious — sent to psychoanalyst
Parents took Hicks to a psychoanalyst when he was ~17 due to rebellious behavior; analyst advised him to continue or leave.
High school senior — music and comedy
Played guitar and sang in garage band Stress during senior year; continued performing stand-up in Houston clubs.
Parents move to Little Rock; Hicks stays to finish school
When his parents relocated to Little Rock he remained in Houston to complete senior year and continue performing.
Moves to Los Angeles to pursue comedy
After high school Hicks moved to LA, performed at the Comedy Store, tried acting (pilot not picked up) and worked on the unproduced screenplay The Suburbs.
Returns to Houston; 'King' of Texas Outlaw Comics
Re-established himself in Houston's scene (Comix Annex) and became a central figure among the Texas Outlaw Comics.
First appearance on Late Night with David Letterman
Made his debut on David Letterman's show (first of many Letterman appearances).
Period of heavy drug use and financial difficulties
By January 1986 Hicks' recreational drug use increased and finances dwindled; a low point before later upturn.
Appear on Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special; move to NYC
Breakthrough TV appearance on Dangerfield special; moved to New York and began intense touring (about 300 performances/year).
Signs with manager Jack Mondrus; quits drinking
Signed with his first professional business manager Jack Mondrus; reportedly quit drinking that year.
Releases first video 'Sane Man' (initial)
First official Bill Hicks video Sane Man released (recorded around 1988; remaster released later with extra footage).
Releases debut album 'Dangerous' and HBO One Night Stand
Released first album Dangerous, performed for HBO's One Night Stand and at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival.
First UK appearances; engaged to Colleen McGarr (manager)
Performs in London's West End as part of an American revue; Britain and Ireland quickly became major markets. Reportedly later engaged to manager Colleen McGarr (she had booked Just for Laughs).
1991 UK tour — fills large venues; records 'Relentless' video
Extensive UK touring, playing large venues; filmed Relentless (Just for Laughs / Centaur Theatre recordings).
Releases 'Marble Head Johnson' (music) and records 'Revelations' video
Recorded rock album Marble Head Johnson with Kevin Booth and Pat Brown; recorded Revelations for Channel 4 and the Salvation double-CD.
Appears on BBC Two interview 'Funny Business'
Interviewed for BBC Two series Funny Business (clip discussing audience reactions and philosophy aired 1992).
Records 'Arizona Bay' and 'Rant in E-Minor' while undergoing chemotherapy
Continued performing and recorded these later albums during weekly chemotherapy sessions; public largely unaware of his illness.
Voted 'Hot Standup Comic' by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone named Hicks 'Hot Standup Comic' of the year, marking critical recognition in the U.S.
Tours Australia; opens for Tool at Lollapalooza
Toured Australia; invited by progressive metal band Tool to open several 1993 Lollapalooza appearances.
Public quarrel over alleged Denis Leary plagiarism
Broke off friendship with Denis Leary after Leary released material allegedly lifting large parts of Hicks' act; controversy intensifies in 1993.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (metastasized to liver)
On June 16, 1993, Hicks was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to his liver; he continued to tour and receive chemotherapy.
Entire performance cut from 'Late Show with David Letterman' broadcast
His 12th Letterman appearance was taped but producers cut the entire routine for being controversial; a major censorship controversy. (Letterman later apologized and aired it in 2009).
Final live performance at Caroline's, New York
Performed the last show of his career at Caroline's on January 6, 1994; thereafter returned to his parents' home in Little Rock to spend his final weeks with family.
Stopped speaking
Made final telephone goodbyes to friends and stopped speaking on February 14, 1994 during the final stages of illness.
Death from pancreatic cancer
Died in Little Rock, Arkansas of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994; buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Leakesville, Mississippi.
Posthumous dedications and references by musicians (Radiohead, Faith No More)
Radiohead dedicated The Bends (1995) to Hicks' memory; Faith No More used his line in 1995's 'Ricochet'.
Tool dedicates Ænima to Bill Hicks
Tool dedicated their album Ænima (1996) to Hicks and sampled his work on 'Third Eye' (album later certified triple-platinum).
Posthumous album releases on Rykodisc
Arizona Bay and Rant in E-Minor released posthumously (1997) on Voices/Rykodisc; Dangerous and Relentless re-released the same year, raising his posthumous profile.
Remastered 'Sane Man' released with extra footage
Sane Man remastered and re-released in 1999 with ~30 minutes of additional footage.
Counts of the Netherworld pilot screened at tributes (pilot filmed pre-death)
Pilot of Counts of the Netherworld (a Channel 4 talk show project Hicks was developing before his death) was shown at tenth-anniversary tribute events on February 26, 2004 (pilot had been filmed before his death).
Comedy Central '100 Greatest Stand-ups' ranking
In 'Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time' (2004), Hicks was ranked 19th.
One-man stage show 'Bill Hicks: Slight Return' premieres
Chas Early's one-man show portraying Hicks premiered in 2004 imagining Hicks' view 10 years after his death.
Parliamentary early day motion commemorates 10th anniversary
British MP Stephen Pound tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 678) noting the 10th anniversary of Hicks' death (motion dated Feb 25/26, 2004).
Comedians' poll: 'Comedian's Comedian' ranking
In a 2005 poll (comedians and comedy insiders), Hicks placed 13th in 'The Top 20 Greatest Comedy Acts Ever'.
Channel 4 '100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics' — #6
Voted number six on Channel 4's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics (2007).
David Letterman airs the previously censored 1993 routine
Letterman aired the previously cut 1993 Hicks performance and apologized on-air to Hicks' mother; the tape had been kept from broadcast in 1993.
Channel 4 list updated — Hicks rises to #4
On Channel 4's 2010 updated list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics, Hicks rose to number four.
Documentary 'American: The Bill Hicks Story' premieres at SXSW
Documentary based on interviews with family and friends premiered March 12, 2010 at South by Southwest (Austin).
Russell Crowe announces intent to direct Hicks biopic
Russell Crowe announced in 2012 he would direct a Bill Hicks biopic (later stalled); generated renewed interest in Hicks' life.
Rolling Stone ranks Hicks #13 on 50 best stand-up comics list
Rolling Stone placed Bill Hicks at number 13 in its 2017 list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
Richard Linklater attached to direct biopic (announced)
On October 28, 2018, it was announced Richard Linklater would direct a Bill Hicks biopic for Focus Features; project remained in development (as of 2024).
Ongoing cultural influence and sampling in music
Hicks' routines continued to be sampled and referenced by bands (Tool, Super Furry Animals, Adam Freeland) and artists; sustained cult following.
Key Achievement Ages
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