Lenny Schultz, the high-energy comedian known for his wild stage antics, unconventional props, and physical humor, has died at the age of 91. His son, Mark Schultz, confirmed that he passed away on Sunday of natural causes at his home in Delray Beach, Florida.
Schultz made a name for himself with an unpredictable performance style that involved food, props, and absurdist routines, often leaving audiences in hysterics. His influence could be seen in later comedians such as Robin Williams, Gallagher, Carrot Top, and Sam Kinison. Fans would regularly chant “Go crazy, Lenny!” during his shows, a phrase that encapsulated his comedic philosophy.
“They would go nuts, the people,” Schultz recalled in a 2017 interview. “It was very hard to follow my act because I’m doing silly and crazy things.”
Born in the Bronx on December 13, 1933, Schultz originally pursued a career in baseball and was offered a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees. A shoulder injury derailed that path, leading him to earn a bachelor’s degree from NYU and a master’s in education from Hunter College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he became a gym teacher in Queens in 1955, a job he held for more than a decade even as his comedy career gained traction.
Schultz’s entry into stand-up came in 1969 when he performed at Budd Friedman’s The Improv in New York. His rapid rise led to appearances on television staples such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Mike Douglas Show. He also performed regularly in the Catskills, developing a reputation for his sound effects, slapstick routines, and prop-based humor.
As an actor, Schultz portrayed pitcher Lenny “Birdman” Siegel on the 1976 CBS sitcom Ball Four, based on Jim Bouton’s best-selling book. The series was short-lived, as was his tenure on the 1977 reboot of Laugh-In, which ran for only six episodes. He also appeared on The Late Summer Early Fall Bert Convy Show in 1976 and later played a cartoon artist on NBC’s children’s program Drawing Power in 1980.
Even at the height of his success, Schultz continued teaching, often rushing from late-night club performances to early mornings in a high school gymnasium. “The next day I’m in a smelly gym with kids! It was crazy!” he said in a 1980 interview.
Schultz’s act frequently included elaborate visual gags, including a cockfight between a Russian chicken and a Japanese chicken and playing a banana as a violin. His second wife, Helen, assisted him with sound cues and props during performances. The couple was married from 1965 until their divorce in 1982. According to Helen, Schultz experienced two bouts of COVID in his later years.