Mort Sahl
Born 1927 · Age 98
Canadian-born American comedian, actor and social satirist who pioneered improvised, newspaper-propped political stand-up and influenced generations of comics.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Morton Lyon Sahl born to Jewish parents Harry and Dorothy Sahl in Montreal.
Family relocated to Los Angeles
By age seven Sahl's family had moved from Montreal to Los Angeles where his father worked for the DOJ.
Joined ROTC in high school
After Pearl Harbor Sahl joined his high school's ROTC program and won marksmanship and Americanism awards.
Dropped out of high school and attempted to enlist
At 15 he lied about his age to join the U.S. Army; his mother discovered the deception and brought him home two weeks later.
Enlisted in the Army Air Forces (post-high school)
After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was later stationed in Alaska with the 93rd Air Depot Group (service period ended 1947).
Discharged from military; enrolled in college
Discharged in 1947; enrolled at Compton College then transferred to University of Southern California.
Early attempts at comedy and Theater X
Between 1950–1953 Sahl auditioned around 30 LA nightclubs, rented an old theater called Theater X, wrote one-act plays, worked odd jobs and wrote fiction.
Received B.S. from USC
Graduated from University of Southern California with a B.S., majors in traffic engineering and city management.
Left master's program to pursue acting and writing
Entered a masters program but dropped out to pursue a career in acting and playwriting.
Hired at the hungry i for $75/week
Enrico Banducci gave Sahl a steady job at the hungry i at $75/week (approx. $720 in 2020 dollars).
Moved to Berkeley; auditioned for the hungry i
Followed girlfriend Sue Babior to Berkeley, audited classes and auditioned at Enrico Banducci's hungry i nightclub.
Earning $3,000/week at hungry i
By the end of his first year at the hungry i his popularity surged and he was reported earning $3,000 per week (approx. $29,000/week in 2020 dollars).
Began touring national nightclubs and college campuses
After success at the hungry i, Sahl began performing nationally at clubs and college campuses (Black Orchid, Mister Kelly's, Village Vanguard, The Blue Angel).
Earliest modern stand-up recording (studio event)
Recorded At Sunset (1955) — later regarded as the earliest example of modern stand-up on record; released in 1958.
Recorded 'At Sunset' (recorded)
Recorded what Library of Congress later cited as the earliest example of modern stand-up on record.
Network TV debut on The NBC Comedy Hour
Made his network television debut on The NBC Comedy Hour (May 1956).
Released 'At Sunset' (record release) and 'The Future Lies Ahead'
At Sunset (recorded 1955) was released in 1958; also released The Future Lies Ahead in 1958.
First comedian to host major awards ceremonies
Credited as the first comedian to host the Grammys (1959) and co-host the Academy Awards (1959), elevating stand-up's mainstream profile.
Hosted inaugural Grammy Awards; co-hosted Academy Awards
Served as host of the Grammys (inaugural host credited by press) and co-hosted the 1959 Academy Awards.
Wrote jokes for John F. Kennedy's campaign
Provided a bank of political jokes for JFK's campaign events (later turned satirical toward the president).
Starred in Broadway revue (peak-era Broadway work)
Performed in live theatrical and Broadway productions during his peak late-1950s/1960 period (one-man show / revue appearances cited).
Recognized as 'Will Rogers with fangs' by Time
Time magazine dubbed him 'Will Rogers with fangs' in coverage of his 1960 prominence.
First comedian on Time and pioneering political satire
By 1960 Sahl had become widely credited with inventing a modern style of improvised political satire—using a newspaper onstage as a prop and improvising monologues.
Featured on Time magazine cover
Became the first comedian featured on the cover of Time (called 'the patriarch of a new school of comedians').
Kennedy assassination shifted focus
After JFK's assassination Sahl became deeply involved in questioning the Warren Commission, changing the tone of his shows and public profile.
Fired from starring Broadway role (Sidney Brustein's Window)
Lost a starring role in Lorraine Hansberry's Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window amid mid-1960s career turbulence.
Income collapsed from ~$1M to $13k
Reported that his income dropped from roughly $1,000,000 to $13,000 by 1964 as bookings dried up amid controversy over his JFK focus.
Compilation 'Great Moments of Comedy with Mort Sahl'
Compilation release of earlier material (Verve Records 1965).
Attempt to open own nightclub failed
A 1966 effort to open a Los Angeles nightclub failed when backers withdrew after press previews.
Married China Lee
Married model/actress China Lee (marriage lasted until 1991).
Film roles in late 1960s
Film appearances include Johnny Cool (1963) earlier and in 1967 films such as Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! and Don't Make Waves.
Supported Jim Garrison on national TV
Used his influence to secure a Tonight Show spot for New Orleans D.A. Jim Garrison who was investigating JFK assassination (circa 1968).
Partial comeback during 1970s
Countercultural shift and Watergate-era politics revived interest in Sahl's satire and led to touring and recording (general comeback in the 1970s).
Released album 'Sing a Song of Watergate'
Recorded topical album satirizing the Watergate scandal (GNP Crescendo Records, 1973).
Published memoir 'Heartland'
Published an autobiography titled Heartland (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976).
Film appearance in 'Nothing Lasts Forever'
Appeared as 'Uncle Mort' in the 1984 film Nothing Lasts Forever among other film roles across decades.
Successful multiweek run in Australia
Performed a successful multiweek engagement in Australia, part of a renewed international presence.
Mort Sahl's America Off-Broadway
Performed a one-man Off-Broadway show Mort Sahl's America to generally positive reviews though limited box-office success.
PBS documentary 'Mort Sahl: The Loyal Opposition'
Robert Weide produced a biographical documentary on Sahl which aired on PBS in 1989.
Monitor Channel broadcast 'Mort Sahl Live' series
The Monitor Channel broadcast a series of eight shows entitled Mort Sahl Live beginning in November 1991.
Continued national television and talk show bookings
Despite ups and downs, Sahl continued to appear on major TV talk shows through the 1970s–1990s (e.g., The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, David Frost), maintaining visibility.
Released 'Mort Sahl's America' (audio)
Compilation/recording Mort Sahl's America released (Dove Audio, 1996).
Death of son Mort Sahl Jr.
Sahl's son, Mort Sahl Jr., died at age 19 from an unknown drug-related reaction (reported March 27, 1996).
Married Kenslea Ann Motter
Married Kenslea Ann Motter (marriage ended around 2009).
Alan King Award in American Jewish Humor
Received the Fifth Annual Alan King Award in American Jewish Humor from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture (2003).
Ranked #40 on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups
Comedy Central listed Sahl at #40 among the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time.
80th birthday tribute
June 2007 tribute by many star comedians (George Carlin, Jonathan Winters, others) celebrated Sahl's 80th birthday.
Began weekly performances at the Throckmorton Theater
Performed regularly (weekly, Thursdays) at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, streaming via Periscope/Twitter until 2020.
Moved to Mill Valley, California
Relocated from Los Angeles to Mill Valley; befriended neighbor Robin Williams and played local venues.
Library of Congress: 'At Sunset' placed in National Recording Registry
The Library of Congress placed Sahl's 1955 recording At Sunset into the National Recording Registry for cultural significance.
Film role in 'Max Rose'
Appeared in the 2013 film Max Rose, one of his later screen roles.
Publicizes friendship with Robin Williams
Reported that Sahl and Robin Williams were close friends after Sahl moved to Mill Valley; Williams' death in Aug 2014 prompted Sahl commentary.
Biography 'Last Man Standing' published
James Curtis published Last Man Standing: Mort Sahl and the Birth of Modern Comedy (Univ. Press of Mississippi).
Stopped regular live Throckmorton shows due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic halted his weekly Thursday performances at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley.
Died in Mill Valley, California
Mort Sahl died of natural causes at his home in Mill Valley on October 26, 2021. He was 94. Resting place: Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City.
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