The Comedian List / Comedians / Lenny Bruce
Stand-up · satirist · free-speech landmarkLenny Bruce
The satirist whose 1964 obscenity conviction became a free-speech landmark, pardoned in 2003 (1925–1966).
- Born
- October 13, 1925
- Died
- August 3, 1966
- Convicted
- 1964 obscenity trial
- Pardoned
- 2003
Who is Lenny Bruce?
Leonard Alfred Schneider, known by his stage name Lenny Bruce, was an American stand-up comedian, social critic and satirist.
He was renowned for an open, free-wheeling and critical style that combined satire, politics, religion, sex and vulgarity.
His 1964 conviction in an obscenity trial, a landmark for freedom of speech in the United States, was followed by a posthumous pardon in 2003. In 2017 Rolling Stone ranked him third, behind Richard Pryor and George Carlin, among the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.
Timeline
- 1925Born in New York
- 1964Convicted in an obscenity trial
- 1966Dies August 3
- 2003Posthumous pardon
- 2017No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s 50 best stand-ups
On the podcasts
Full episodes where Lenny is a guest or comes up, newest first.
On My Show Notes
Live My Show Notes episode pages that mention Lenny Bruce.
- MyShowNotes ✓ Sam Morril on TYSO – #376
- MyShowNotes ✓ Bobby Lee on TYSO – #11
Lenny Bruce FAQ
Why was Lenny Bruce arrested?
He was convicted in a 1964 obscenity trial over his act, and was pardoned posthumously in 2003.
Where does Rolling Stone rank Lenny Bruce?
Third on its 2017 list of the 50 best stand-up comics, behind Richard Pryor and George Carlin.
If you like Lenny
More comics on the list who share stages and mics with Lenny.
Richard Pryor
Bill Hicks
Sam Kinison
Mel Brooks
Bobby Lee
Rick GlassmanPhotos: Richard Pryor: Photo: NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Bill Hicks: Photo: Angela Davis (Angela D.) from Austin, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Sam Kinison: Photo: The World Famous Comedy Store, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Mel Brooks: Photo: Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Bobby Lee: Photo: Neal Brennan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Rick Glassman: Photo: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Unknown. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection (Library of Congress)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Facts checked Oct 26, 2026.
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