Lewis Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian, author, and playwright. He is best known for his regular appearances on Comedy Central's The Daily Show delivering his "Back in Black" commentaries.

Background

Lewis Black was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He earned a Masters in Fine Arts at the Yale School of Drama in 1977. Originally, his career was in the theater as a playwright. He has written over forty plays besides serving as the playwright in residence and associate artistic director of a Hell's Kitchen theater bar and restaurant on 42nd Street in New York City from 1981 to 1989. Black's stand-up comedy began as an opening act for the plays as he was also the master of ceremonies. After a management change at the theater, Black left and began working as a comedian as well as finding bit parts in television and films.

Comic Career

Lewis Black's comic delivery is noted for his animated rants which feature shouting, pointed fingers and punctuating gestures. He is often critical of politicians, the U.S. government and big business. Since joining The Daily Show in 1997, Black has also appeared in four specials on Comedy Central as well as making occasional appearances on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His most recent special (his first for HBO) was Lewis Black: Black on Broadway, filmed at the Brooks Atkinson Theater . Besides his regular television work, Black spends most of his time touring as a stand-up comedian. He was named Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic at the 2001 American Comedy Awards.

In addition to his television appearances, Lewis Black has released four comedy CDs- The White Album, recorded in Madison, Wisconsin, The End of the Universe, recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, Rules of Enragement, recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues, recorded in Santa Rosa, California.

In other media, two DVDs are available; Black on Broadway, recorded in New York City, and Unleashed, comprised largely of material previously shown on Comedy Central. In 2005, his first book Nothing's Sacred was released.

External links

• Lewis Black's Official Site
• Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
• Internet Movie Database entry for Lewis Black