David Steinberg

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on August 9, 1942, David Steinberg is the son of Romanian‑born Rabbi Yasha Steinberg and Ruth Steinberg. He grew up with three older siblings, endured the loss of his brother Hymie in World War II, and initially pursued theological studies in Israel before switching to English literature at the University of Chicago. A chance viewing of Lenny Bruce’s act sparked his decision to become a comedian, leading to his discovery by a founder of The Second City, where he joined the troupe in 1964 and performed alongside Robert Klein, Fred Willard, and Joe Flaherty for six years. His early stand‑up work blended observational comedy with sharp satire, earning him a reputation as a daring and self‑deprecating voice that challenged religious and cultural norms.

During the late 1960s and 1970s Steinberg became one of the most visible comics in the United States, appearing over 130 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and guest‑hosting a record twelve times, the youngest ever to do so. He later transitioned to television directing, contributing episodes to iconic sitcoms such as Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Golden Girls, and Designing Women. Steinberg also hosted the interview series Inside Comedy on Showtime and the interview‑style show Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg on TV Land. An accomplished author, he released The Book of David in 2007, and his contributions have been recognized with multiple Emmy wins, a CableACE Award, induction into Canada's Walk of Fame, and membership in the Order of Canada.