Bob Einstein: ‘Unforgettable’ Comic Remembered by Larry David, Patton Oswalt, and More
Some of Hollywood’s top comedians are remembering the life and career of Bob Einstein, the comic actor known for his characters Super Dave Osborne and Marty Funkhouser on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” who died Wednesday at 76.
“Never have I seen an actor enjoy a role the way Bob did playing ‘Marty Funkhouser’ on ‘Curb.’ It was an amazing, unforgettable experience knowing and working with him,” Larry David said in a statement. “There was no one like him, as he told us again and again. We’re all in a state of shock.”
Einstein’s brother, writer-director-actor Albert Brooks, called him “a great brother, father and husband,” but also a “brilliantly funny man.” In addition to his work on TV, several comedians also held up Einstein’s scene in the Brooks-directed comedy “Modern Romance” as a clerk at a running store calmly pressuring Brooks into spending a fortune on running gear as one of Einstein’s finest moments.
Also Read: Bob Einstein, Super Dave Osborne Actor, Dies at 76
“The scene with you two in ‘Modern Romance’ always wrecks me. ‘I’m not perfect,'” Patton Oswalt tweeted Wednesday, who in a separate tweet referred to the scene as “Perfection.” “RIP to a comedy genius and a slow-burn god.”
Other comedians including Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Weird Al Yankovic and others applauded Einstein’s wild, over the top stunts and physical comedy as Super Dave, who Kimmel says they always referred to by the nickname “Supe.”
“Dave was a great friend and the master of a joke you could see coming for miles that still killed when it arrived,” Kimmel said in a tweet along with a video of one of Einstein’s most famous stunts, “King of the Road.”
Even rock stars loved Einstein. Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood revealed in a tweet that while on tour with the band, he would check into hotels with the pseudonym “Marty Funkhouser,” Einstein’s character on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Also Read: 'Mean' Gene Okerlund, Legendary WWE Interviewer, Dies at 76
“I was Marty Funkhouser on the last two Radiohead tours in tribute to his beautifully pitched performance,” Greenwood said. “So subtle. And to think it was all improvised.”
See some more tributes to Einstein below:
R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) January 2, 2019
The scene with you two in MODERN ROMANCE always wrecks me. “I’m not perfect.” RIP to a comedy genius and a slow-burn god. https://t.co/ftD2oB9yS9
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 2, 2019
Whenever Bob Einstein was on Letterman as “Super Dave” it was un-missable. No one was more confident with the long payoff. A genius panel guest. Look how excited Dave is to have him on: https://t.co/WELSE0ZH8B
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 2, 2019
RIP Super Dave and Mean Gene. Thinking maybe I better stay inside today.
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) January 2, 2019
Oh no, Super! Bob Einstein’s character, Super Dave Osbourne, was so embedded that we all called him Super. Except for his grandkids, who called him Grandpa Super. I will miss his brilliant comedy and vice-like hugs.
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 2, 2019
His name was Bob Einstein, but we all called him Supe. Super Dave was a great friend and the master of a joke you could see coming for miles that still killed when it arrived. I will miss him https://t.co/JRkMp8XkCJ
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 2, 2019
So sad to hear this. He was amazing in Curb: I was Marty Funkhouser on the last two Radiohead tours in tribute to his beautifully pitched performance. So subtle. And to think it was all improvised. https://t.co/Mu5jH4B86w
— Jonny Greenwood (@JnnyG) January 2, 2019
Crappy New Year. The great Bob Einstein – AKA Super Dave Osborne, has left us. He was a brilliant comedian & I'm proud to say a dear friend. If you want to belly laugh 100x listen to the podcast @BillSimmons & I did with him last year. #RIPFunkhouser https://t.co/zHs8HMvOHZ
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) January 2, 2019
I loved Super Dave Osborne.
RIP Bob Einstein
— Eric Stonestreet (@ericstonestreet) January 2, 2019
Very sad news about the brilliantly funny Bob Einstein. I first saw him in "Modern Romance" and was hooked. Love and healing thoughts to @AlbertBrooks and his family.
"I misjudged you, I"m not perfect."
— Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler) January 2, 2019
The running store scene in “Modern Romance” is just too great. Albert Brooks with his brother, Bob Einstein. Rest In Peace Bob. https://t.co/cS2T6wr3Wl
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) January 2, 2019
RIP Bob Einstein. A very funny man.
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) January 2, 2019
Such a funny man. Here’s the amazing running store scene with the two brothers in “Modern Romance” https://t.co/suMwahxkrL https://t.co/hsskP53AsE
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) January 2, 2019
RIP Bob Einstein. Honestly, one of the best comedians that ever lived. One of my favorite scenes in movie history is the scene where Bob tries to upsell Albert Brooks in MODERN ROMANCE. It’s wonderful. He was wonderful. https://t.co/U9B9AqreaE
— Sean O'Connor (@seanoconnz) January 2, 2019
Damn! "Super Dave" and "Mean Gene" both pass away today. Both at the age of 76. Bad way to start out the new year. pic.twitter.com/TNBmKdWAQU
— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) January 2, 2019
Two weeks ago, @DavidLevien and I standing around on set with @kevinpollak telling Bob Einstein jokes. We said that night, and have said many times, that nobody made us laugh harder than Bob Einstein. He was the best joke teller of all time. Working with him on o13 was an honor.
— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) January 2, 2019
What an incredible family of brothers, the great baseball writer and editor Charles Einstein, the incomparable @AlbertBrooks and the impossibly funny Bob Einstein. RIP. https://t.co/vSgBT6GOjT
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) January 2, 2019
Read original story Bob Einstein: ‘Unforgettable’ Comic Remembered by Larry David, Patton Oswalt, and More At TheWrap
