Stewart Robert Einstein (November 20, 1942January 2, 2019) was an American actor, comedy writer, and producer. He created and performed the satirical stuntman character Super Dave Osborne, and was also known for his roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman on Arrested Development.
Einstein got his start on several television variety shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Einstein won two Emmy Awards as a writer and was nominated four other times. He also won a CableACE Award for acting as Super Dave, along with five other nominations.
Einstein was the son of radio comedian Harry Einstein, and the older brother of fellow actor and comedian Albert Brooks.
Background Einstein was born in 1942 in Los Angeles, to Jewish parents. His parents were the comic Harry Einstein, best known for playing the character Parkyakarkus on radio and in the movies, and the actress-singer Thelma Leeds. On October 24, 1949, at the age of six, it was reported in the Los Angeles Times that he had contracted polio. His younger brother is comedian and writer Albert Brooks (born Albert Lawrence Einstein). He was a Beverly Hills High School graduate and a 1965 graduate of Chapman College.Bob Einstein's death notice on Chapman University Athletics' Instagram account. Retrieved January 9, 2019
Career Einstein got his start writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, for which he won an Emmy Award. The writing team also included Steve Martin and Murray Roman.The Forgotten Murray Roman WFMU's Beware of the Blog. He also appeared on the show as Officer Judy, a uniformed police officer who gave Liberace a speeding ticket for playing his piano too fast.Officer Judy Gives Liberace a Speeding Ticket. Retrieved June 24, 2025 In 1977 he won an Emmy for outstanding comedy-variety series for his work on Van Dyke and Company.
Super Dave Osborne
Einstein created the goofy stuntman Super Dave Osborne character for the John Byner Comedy Hour. The character later became a regular on the 1980 television series Bizarre, also hosted by Byner, and was a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman where he would show clips of his ill-fated stunts and tell long semi-crude jokes. In 1987, Einstein got his own variety show titled Super Dave, which ran until 1991 on the Global Television Network in Canada (where the show was produced at the network's Toronto studio) and Showtime in the United States. In 1992, an animated series Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire aired on Fox. Einstein later starred in the 2000 movie The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave.
On November 12, 2009, the airing of TNA Impact!, he was the booker and host of the night. He made Super Dave's Spike Tacular, a four-episode sketch series on Spike TV reprising his Super Dave character, once again engaging in outrageous stunts.
Other roles Einstein had recurring roles as Marty Funkhouser in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Larry Middleman in the third season of Arrested Development. He was also featured on the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers as obnoxious district selectman Tony Deloge. Einstein was also on The Man Show where he did Century Club with Adam and Jimmy. In Ocean's Thirteen he played Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon)'s father, Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, a master robber and con artist whose day job is an FBI agent.IMDb entry for Robert "Bobby" Caldwell
Einstein appeared on the second season of Anger Management as Charlie Goodson's very angry neighbor, and his character in the show instantly got an unflattering nickname based on a feminine hygiene product.
Einstein voiced two characters from The Life & Times of Tim, playing the Elephant Trainer in Tim & the Elephant in the second season, and the bookie in Pray for the Jets in the third.IMDb entry for Nagging Blonde/Tim and the ElephantIMDb entry for The Well Dressed Snitch/Pray for the Jets
Einstein was the first comedian to appear twice on Jerry Seinfeld's Web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
In the 2010s, Einstein was a frequent guest on the sports talk radio program The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. Einstein called in as a "Celebrity Prognosticator" to give his thoughts on sports and various other topics.
Death Einstein died on January 2, 2019, at the age of 76, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Curb Your Enthusiasm series creator and star Larry David said in a statement: "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. There was no one like him, as he told us again and again. We're all in a state of shock." Jerry Seinfeld paid tribute to Einstein on Twitter.
A documentary about his life, The Super Bob Einstein Movie, was released on 28th December 2021 on HBO.IMDB entry for The Super Bob Einstein Movie
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1972Get to Know Your RabbitPolice Officer1972Another Nice MessAgent Nussbaum1981Modern RomanceSporting Goods Salesman2000The Extreme Adventures of Super DaveSuper Dave Osborne2002Teddy Bears' PicnicDom Molinari2007Ocean's ThirteenRobert "Bobby" Caldwell2010Shit YearRick2015Strange MagicStuffVoice
Television As Super Dave YearTitleNotes1972The John Byner Comedy HourFirst appearance as Super Dave1976Van Dyke and CompanyEpisode #1.61977The Redd Foxx Comedy HourProducer1980–1985Bizarre1981-19851980Late Night with David LettermanRecurring guest1989The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonEpisode: "Super Dave/Park Overall/Mark Schiff" 1987–1991Super DaveAlso writer1992Super Dave: Daredevil for HireAlso writer1993In Living Color1994–1995WWE Monday Night RAWTelevision Special1995Super Dave's Vegas SpectacularTelevision Special1997Super Dave's All StarsTelevision Special1998–2004Hollywood SquaresRecurring guest2003The Man ShowEpisode: "Jimmy Asks Women 'What Do You Weigh?'" 2009Super Dave's Spike-TacularEpisode: "Mr. Big Meeting" 2009The Tonight Show with Conan O'BrienNovember 11, 20092009TNA Impact!
Other roles YearTitleRoleNotes1967–1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Officer Judy 9 episodes1970 Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour Various Roles 8 episodes1971 The Steve Allen Show Himself August 31, 1971 1971 Tom Smothers' Organic Prime Time Space Ride Himself 5 episodes1971–1991 The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Himself - Guest 10 episodes1973 The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour Himself Episode #4.11975 The Smothers Brothers Show Himself 4 episodes1988–1991 Late Night with David Letterman Himself 9 episodes 1993–1995 Late Show with David Letterman Himself 5 episodes1997 Roseanne Howard Morton Episode: "The Truth Be Told" 1999 The Norm Show Al Episode: "Norm Pimps Wiener Dog" 2002–2003 Crank Yankers Tony DeLoge/Bob Carlman 8 episodes2003 Gadget & the Gadgetinis Himself - Story consultant 52 episodes2003–2007 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Himself - Guest / co-Host 22 episodes 2004–2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Marty Funkhouser 22 episodes2005–2006 Arrested Development Larry Middleman 5 episodes2008 Welcome to the Captain Mickey Tittle Episode: "Mr. Big Meeting"2009 The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Himself Episode: "Jessica Biel/Bob Einstein/John Fogerty"2010–2012 The Life & Times of Tim Elephant Trainer / The Bookie (voice) 2 episodes2011 Conan Himself Episode: "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish -Oh, God, My Whole Life Has Been a Horrible Lie" 2012–2017 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Himself 2 episodes2013 Anger Management Hoffler Episode: "Charlie and Lacey Piss Off the Neighborhood" 2013 Norm Macdonald Live Super Dave Osborne 2 episodes2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Harvey Wrinkleman Episode: "Karen Gillan Wears a Black and White Striped Pullover and Coral Skirt"
Awards and nominations Primetime Emmy Awards Year Category Project Result Ref.1969 Best Writing for a Variety Series The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 1972 Best Writing Achievement in Variety or Music The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour 1974 Best Writing in Variety or Music 1976 Best Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special Van Dyke and Company 1977 Best Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series Outstanding Variety or Music Series
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