Andrew Dice Clay

Andrew Dice Clay (born Andrew Clay Silverstein; September 29, 1957)<ref name=allmovie>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, deliberately offensive persona known as "The Diceman". In 1990, he became the first stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That same year, he played the lead role in the comedy-mystery film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

Clay has appeared in several films and television shows, including critically acclaimed supporting roles in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine (2013) and the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, the latter of which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. He continues his acting career while also touring and performing stand-up. The television show Dice aired on Showtime for two seasons. He also launched a podcast, I'm Ova Hea' Now, in September 2018.

Early life

Clay was born to parents Jacqueline and Fred Silverstein<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, where he was raised.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is Jewish.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has one sister.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Clay's father was a boxer and real estate agent.<ref name="tvguide1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="filmref">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At age five, Clay was entertaining his family with impressions, and by seven he was playing drums, inspired by the sounds of big band music.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=latimes1987/> Clay attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn and as a teenager worked as a drummer on the Catskill Mountains circuit in the 1970s, playing bar mitzvahs and weddings under the name Clay Silvers.<ref name=latimes1987/><ref name=latimes1990/><ref name=desmoines1992>Template:Cite news</ref> Upon returning to New York City, he failed to form a big band of his own. He pursued higher education but dropped out to become a full-time comedian.<ref name=latimes1987/><ref name=desmoines1992/> Clay cites Elvis Presley, Fonzie, John Travolta, and Sylvester Stallone as his heroes.<ref name=latimes1990/>

Career

1970s

Clay began his stand-up career in 1978 when he auditioned at Pips comedy club in Sheepshead Bay, which turned into a headline spot at the venue the next week, billed as Andrew Clay.<ref name=latimes1990/> His act was mainly impressions, including a character named "The Diceman", based on Jerry Lewis as Buddy Love from The Nutty Professor, which transformed into John Travolta in Grease.<ref name=desmoines1992/> It took him three weeks to prepare the act.<ref name=latimes1987/> A picture of him on stage during his early sets at Pips was described: "In a baggy white shirt, pants rolled up to his knees and a pair of thick glasses", with a black leather jacket underneath the shirt so he could seamlessly switch to his Travolta character when the lights went out.<ref name=latimes1990/> With his new act, Clay graduated to larger and more prestigious comedy venues, including The Improv, Catch a Rising Star, and Dangerfield's.<ref name=desmoines1992/> He recalled his father being supportive of his act during one performance at Dangerfield's. "He knew it was different right off the bat [...] He saw it worked". The persona was more of a shock to his mother, but she got used to it and he recalled her laughing at his jokes.<ref name=latimes1990/>

1980s

By 1980, Clay had moved to Los Angeles and landed work at the Comedy Store, owned by Mitzi Shore.<ref name=latimes1990 /><ref name=desmoines1992 /> His sets were not an instant hit, and because of his dirty act and her unwillingness to have other comics follow him, Shore had Clay perform at late hours, making him "wait and perform for ten drunks".<ref name=latimes1990 /> In 1982, Clay landed his first film role, in Wacko.<ref name=desmoines1992 /> In 1983, Clay added the "Diceman" moniker to his name and no longer relied on impressions, instead creating an alter ego based on his heroes.<ref name=latimes1990 /><ref name=desmoines1992 /> He first used the act at the Comedy Store after he was asked to fill in for a comic who canceled their spot. He said: "I didn't have my Jerry Lewis stuff with me, so I just winged it, saying whatever popped in my head".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

His performances at the venue led to his first sitcom roles, with appearances on M*A*S*H and Diff'rent Strokes, and feature-length films, including Making the Grade (1984), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Casual Sex? (1988). A review by Los Angeles Times critic Michael Wilmington described Clay's character as "a macho bozo from Jersey".<ref name=latimes1990 /><ref name=desmoines1992 /> From 1986 to 1988, he had a regular role as Max Goldman on Crime Story.<ref>Crime Story | TV. EW.com (2001-07-20). Retrieved October 5, 2014.</ref> His act included a drum solo as a tribute to Buddy Rich.<ref name=latimes1987>Template:Cite news</ref> Clay then pursued stand-up comedy full-time as the Dice character.

Clay's breakthrough came in 1988 when he performed at an all-male Big Brother Association dinner event with "all of Hollywood's royalty [...] dressed in tuxedos, and I show up in a black leather jacket with a flag on the back that said 'Rock and Roll'". The set was a hit; the next day, 20th Century Fox offered him a film deal and entered talks with producer Joel Silver.<ref name=latimes1990 /><ref name=desmoines1992 /> Also in 1988, Clay performed a seven-minute set at Dangerfield's in New York City for Rodney Dangerfield's HBO stand-up showcase special Nothing Goes Right, launching him into the national spotlight.<ref name=desmoines1992 />

In January 1989, Clay's HBO special, The Diceman Cometh, appeared on HBO. It became a top video rental, according to Entertainment Weekly. In March, he released his debut comedy album, Dice, which was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies in the U.S.<ref name=journal1991>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It peaked at No. 89 on the Billboard 200.<ref name=billboardchart>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Clay was named Comedy Act of the Year by readers of Performance magazine.<ref name=desmoines1992 />

In September 1989, Clay performed a three-minute set at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, which included Otto Petersen's adult versions of the Mother Goose nursery rhymes. The incident led to MTV imposing a lifetime ban on Clay from appearing on the network.<ref name=tampa1994 /> The ban was lifted in 2011.

In December 1989, Clay performed two unadvertised, largely improvised sets at Dangerfield's, which were recorded for his second comedy album, The Day the Laughter Died, produced by Rick Rubin. Released in March 1990 on Geffen Records, the album sold 250,000 copies in seven weeks,<ref name=latimes1990>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> peaking at No. 39 on the Billboard 200.<ref name=billboardchart />

1990s

In February 1990, Clay became the first comedian to sell out two consecutive nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City,<ref name=desmoines1992/> totaling 38,000 people in attendance.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

When Clay was booked to host the Saturday Night Live episode of May 12, 1990, cast member Nora Dunn refused to appear in the episode due to the sexist and homophobic content in Clay's stand-up act. Sinéad O'Connor also canceled her appearance as the episode's musical guest in protest.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=leader1990>Template:Cite news</ref> During Clay's opening monologue, security guards removed protesters from the studio. NBC used a five-second tape delay to cut offensive content from the live broadcast, but one remark escaped removal.<ref name=latimes1990/><ref>Los Angeles TImes May 14, 1990 Clay on Good Behavior on 'SNL'--Almost</ref> The episode was the show's fourth-highest-rated episode of the season.

Clay first met his agent, Dennis Arfa, at Dangerfield's, which led to his first HBO special and ultimately his starring role in the 1990 film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane;<ref>TELEVISION REVIEW;The 'Dice' Is Back, And So Is the Act – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1996-05-15). Retrieved October 5, 2014.</ref> in 1991, he received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for his performance in the film.

In 1991, Clay ran his own production company, Fleebin Dabble Productions.<ref name=journal1991/> He is featured on the front cover of the April 1991 issue of Penthouse, becoming the second man to front the magazine, after George Burns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Footage of Clay's shows at Madison Square Garden was used to produce his 1991 stand-up concert film Dice Rules. His controversial act affected the number of venues willing to screen the film; it opened in 40 theatres nationwide.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 20th Century Fox was originally to release it, but it dropped out over the controversial material, leaving it to be picked up by Seven Arts.<ref name=lincoln1993/> This was followed by the release of One Night with Dice, filmed in 1986.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A sell-out show at Symphony Hall in Salt Lake City in August 1991 was met with angry protesters outside the venue over his perceived homophobia and hateful material, during which police were called.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1993, ABC dropped a proposed one-hour television drama that was to feature Clay after management deemed him too controversial. Clay had signed a one-year deal with ABC that kept him from working with other networks.<ref name=lincoln1993>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 1993, Clay released No Apologies, the first stand-up concert pay-per-view special.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was purchased by over 250,000 homes and was the highest-grossing non-sports pay-per-view event of the year.<ref name=tampa1994>Template:Cite news</ref> It was to feature Joey Buttafuoco, but the plan was dropped on his attorney's advice after the publicity it attracted.<ref name=lincoln1993/> Clay followed it with a second pay TV special, The Valentine's Day Massacre, which aired in around 100,000 homes.<ref name=tampa1994/> In 1994, Clay accepted more TV roles.<ref name=tampa1994/>

In 1995, he signed a development deal with CBS and producer Bruce Helford, resulting in his starring role on the sitcom Bless This House.<ref name=chronicle1995>Template:Cite news</ref> In mid-1995, Clay explained that the Diceman character had "sort of gone out of hand", which he felt happy about because it allowed him to pursue more television and film work. The situation led to a change in his stand-up act, focusing more on being a husband and a father, yet still with an "edge".<ref name=chronicle1995/>

In 1996, Clay released an HBO special, Assume the Position, returning to his Diceman character.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1998, Clay released the triple album Filth through his website. Later in 1998, he began appearing on the New York City-based radio show Opie and Anthony. His opening act at the time, Jim Norton, became the show's co-host in late 2000.

2000s

In 2000, Clay released I'm Over Here Now and Banned for Life.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later in 2000, he released Face Down, Ass Up. He supported these with a nationwide tour that included a headline show at Madison Square Garden, ten years after his two sold-out performances.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2005, Clay signed a deal with Sirius Satellite Radio to broadcast his own show, Out of the Cage.

In 2007, he attempted a comeback with the reality TV series Dice: Undisputed on VH1, which lasted seven episodes.<ref name=Heff07>Template:Cite news</ref>

He appeared as a part of NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice 2 and was the first celebrity to be fired after he openly entertained the idea of quitting in Donald Trump's presence and called him "Donny Trump". On The Howard Stern Show, Clay said the show was edited to exclude situations where Trump treated Clay poorly, based on his comic treatment of women rather than his accomplishments.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Throughout the season, each celebrity was raising money for a charity of their choice; Clay had selected StandUp For Kids.<ref>Breaking News – NBC Announces the 16 All-Star Celebrities Ready to Take on Donald Trump in the Boardroom When 'The Celebrity Apprentice' Premieres Sunday, March 1 (9 p.m. ET). TheFutonCritic.com (2009-01-08). Retrieved October 5, 2014.</ref>

2010s

In 2011, Clay was featured in the eighth and final season of Entourage as Johnny Drama's co-star in the fictional program Johnny's Bananas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Clay also appeared as himself in the Entourage film. He appeared in an episode of Raising Hope as himself, which aired on November 29, 2011.

File:AndrewDiceClay2012.jpg

Clay in 2012

In May 2012, Clay appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and also did a set at The Bamboozle festival in Asbury Park. In December 2012, he had a stand-up comedy special on Showtime titled Indestructible.

In May 2013, Clay began a podcast with Michael Wheels named Rollin' with Dice and Wheels...The Podcast. It ran for 46 episodes, the last of which was released in December 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Clay appeared with Cate Blanchett in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, which opened on July 26, 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an interview with Good Day L.A., Clay said that, as he had not been in a movie in 12 years, "It was a thrill to do something dramatic, something I've always wanted to do."<ref>On Good Day LA in Los Angeles Template:Webarchive, interviewed on July 26, 2013.</ref> His performance was critically praised.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In July 2013, Clay signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster for a memoir to be co-authored with David Ritz.<ref>Yin, Maryann. Andrew Dice Clay Lands Book Deal for a Memoir. Galleycat. July 22, 2013.</ref> In November 2014, Clay released his book The Filthy Truth.<ref>[1] Andrew Dice Clay dishes 'The Filthy Truth' on protests that killed his movie 'The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.' and about the Saturday Night Live appearance that led to the downfall of the film and many other Hollywood Moments of this world-famous comic and actor</ref>

In 2015, Clay hosted The Blue Show, showcasing some of his favorite blue comics, which was released on Showtime.

In 2016, Clay had a guest role as a record executive in the Martin Scorsese/Mick Jagger-produced television series Vinyl for HBO.

In 2017, Clay competed in and won, with his wife Valerie Silverstein, the Fox reality cooking series My Kitchen Rules.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In September 2018, Clay launched his podcast I'm Ova Hea' Now on the GaS Digital Network.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, he appeared as Lorenzo in the musical drama film A Star is Born, alongside Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, playing Gaga's character's father. Clay beat out several high-profile actors for the part, including Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, and his performance received positive reviews, as did the film.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

Clay has married three times. From 1984 to 1986, he was married to Kathy Swanson and from 1992 to 2002 to Kathleen "Trini" Monica.<ref name=filmref/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He had two sons with Monica,<ref name=filmref/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> one of whom, Max, has followed his father into stand-up comedy<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and occasionally opens for him on tour.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Clay's third marriage was to hairstylist Valerie Vasquez from 2010 to 2014.<ref name="dicevalerie">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Clay was in an eight-year relationship with his ex-fiancée, comedian Eleanor Kerrigan.<ref name=RS16>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2017, Clay had a stent placed in a partially blocked artery.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, though the condition was declared temporary and he continues to perform live.Template:Citation needed

He has homes in New York City and Los Angeles.Template:Citation needed

In popular culture

On the third-season Murphy Brown episode "Brown and Blue", a reluctant Murphy is made to interview a rising yet crudely controversial comedian, Tony Rocket (Michael Chiklis), whose character is loosely modeled on the Diceman and his material during the height of his popularity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A December 1990 episode of Night Court focuses on a raunchy comedian, Monte "The Potty Man" Potter, who alienates everyone with his jokes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Clay's voice was sampled in EMF's 1991 hit "Unbelievable". Clay can be heard saying "Oh!" repeatedly throughout the song. He also utters "It's Unbelievable" at the song's midway point and near its conclusion.

Clay also played himself in season 8 of HBO's Entourage, with his trademark brash voice starring in an animation series Johnny's Bananas alongside "Johnny Drama".

Discography

• ADC: The Mixtape That Hates You (1988)
• Dice (1989)
• The Day the Laughter Died (1990)
• Dice Rules (1991)
• 40 Too Long (1992)
• The Day the Laughter Died, Part II (1993)
• No Apologies (1993)
• Filth (1998)
• Face Down, Ass Up (2000)
• Indestructible (2012)
• Comedy King (2023)
• Nursery Rhymes (2023)

Filmography

Comedy specials

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	An Evening at the Improv	Himself
1984	Dirty Dirty Jokes	Himself	Stand-up showcase hosted by Redd Foxx
1986	Andrew Dice Clay: One Night with Dice	Himself	Stand-up special
1987	Nothin' Goes Right	Himself	HBO stand-up showcase hosted by Rodney Dangerfield
1989	The Diceman Cometh	Himself	HBO stand-up comedy special
1991	Dice Rules	Himself	Stand-up concert film
1992	Andrew Dice Clay: For Ladies Only	Himself	HBO stand-up comedy special
1993	Andrew Dice Clay: No Apologies	Himself	Pay-per-view stand-up comedy special<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1994	Andrew Dice Clay and His Gang Live! The Valentine's Day Massacre	Himself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	Andrew Dice Clay: Assume the Position	Himself	HBO stand-up comedy special
2000	Andrew Dice Clay: I'm Over Here Now	Himself	Pay-per-view stand-up comedy special
2012	Andrew Dice Clay: Indestructible	Himself	Showtime stand-up comedy special
2015	Andrew Dice Clay presents The Blue Show	Himself	Showtime stand-up comedy special

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	Wacko	Tony Schlongini
1984	Making the Grade	"Dice"
	Night Patrol	Tony Baroni
1985	Private Resort	Curt
1986	Pretty in Pink	Bouncer
	Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment	Tough Kid
1987	Amazon Women on the Moon	Frankie	Segment: "Video Date"
1988	Casual Sex?	Vinny
1990	The Adventures of Ford Fairlane	Ford Fairlane
1993	Brainsmasher... A Love Story	Ed "The Brainsmasher" Malloy	Direct-to-video film
1995	No Contest	Raymond Ulysses Brice / Oz
	Jury Duty	Uncle Sal	Uncredited
	The Chili Con Carne Club	Voice of The Cooler	Short film
	National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins	Richard Spencer	Television film, segment "Anger"
1997	The Good Life	Albert	Never released<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1998	Whatever It Takes	Dave Menardi
1999	Foolish	Ron "El Dorado Ron"
2000	My 5 Wives	Tony Morano
	Point Doom	Frankie
2001	One Night at McCool's	Utah / Elmo	As Andrew Silverstein
2012	JJ Star... How Embarrassing	Himself (voice)
2013	Blue Jasmine<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Augie
2015	Entourage	Himself
2018	A Star Is Born	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Warrior Strong	Avery Schmidt
2025	The Pickup	Template:TBA	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	M*A*S*H	Corporal Hrabosky	Episode: "Trick or Treatment"
1982–1983	Diff'rent Strokes	Larry "Crazy Larry"	2 episodes
1986–1988	Crime Story	Max Goldman	13 episodes
1995–1996	Bless This House	Burt Clayton	16 episodes
1997	Hitz	Jimmy Esposito	10 episodes
1997	Rugrats	Plumber (voice)	Episode: "Angelica Nose Best/Pirate Light"
1998	Dharma and Greg	Himself	Episode: "Unarmed and Dangerous"
2003	Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn	Himself	Episode 101
2007	Dice: Undisputed	Himself	6 episodes
2008	Down and Dirty with Jim Norton	Himself	Episode 2
2011	Entourage	Himself	5 episodes
2011	Raising Hope	Himself	Episode: "Bro-gurt"
2012	That Metal Show	Himself	Episode: "Herman Rarebell & Andrew Dice Clay"
2013	The Blacklist	Abraham Maltz	Episode: "General Ludd (No. 109)"
	Tosh.0	Himself
2015	TripTank	Grant / Paulie / Frankie / Caller (voice)	3 episodes
2016	Vinyl	Frank "Buck" Rogers	Episode: "Pilot"
2016–2017	Dice	Himself	13 episodes
2017	My Kitchen Rules	Himself (winner)
2018	Hap and Leonard	Sonny Knox	6 episodes
2020	The Comedy Store	Himself
2021	Gravesend	Rinaldo	2 episodes
2022	Pam & Tommy	Louis 'Butchie' Peraino	2 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
1991	Golden Raspberry Awards	Worst Actor	The Adventures of Ford Fairlane	Template:Won
1992			Dice Rules	Template:Nominated
		Worst Screenplay Template:Small		Template:Nominated
2019	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Template:Small	A Star Is Born	Template:Nominated

External links

• Template:Official website
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