Cast & creator
Robert Klein
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Robert Klein (born February 8, 1942) is an American stand-up comedian, singer, and actor. He is known for his appearances on stage and screen. He has released four standup comedy specials including, A Child of the 50s (1973), Mind Over Matter (1974), New Teeth (1975), and Let's Not Make Love (1990). The first two albums received Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nominations. Klein hosted Saturday Night Live in its first season in 1975 and again in 1978. Klein made his Broadway debut in the 1966 production of The Apple Tree opposite Alan Alda. He earned a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical nomination for his performance in Neil Simon's musical comedy They're Playing Our Song (1979). He is known for his film roles in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), Mixed Nuts (1994), One Fine Day (1996), Primary Colors (1998), Two Weeks Notice (2002), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), and Reign Over Me (2007). He is also known for his recurring television roles in Law & Order: SVU (2009-2012), The Good Wife (2013-2014), Madam Secretary (2014), Will & Grace (2018-2019). He has received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his specials, Child in his 50's (2001), and Unfair and Unbalanced (2010). He was profiled in the Starz documentary Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg (2016).
96
film credits
52
television credits
135
1948–2024 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (148)
Showing 148 of 148 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host
1962
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dwight Stannich
1999
Law & Order
Rick Mason
1990
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975Saturday Night Live
Guest (uncredited)
1975
The View
Self
1997
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Frasier
Gary (voice)
1993
The Good Wife
Lyle
2009The Good Wife
Lyle Pollard
2009
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Murder, She Wrote
Barney Drake
1984
The King of Queens
Bruce Degner
1998
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Tony Awards
Self - Performer
1956
Mad About You
Stan Freitus
1992
Madam Secretary
Lester Clark
2014
Heartland
Dwayne Trent
2007
Family Ties
Roger "Eggy" Erdman
1982
Oz
Self (uncredited)
1997
The Twilight Zone
(segment "Wordplay")
1985
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Duckman
Uncle Mo Dorkin (voice)
1994
Will & Grace
Martin Adler
2017
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Robert (voice)
1995Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Additional Writing
1995
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Self
2012
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
1970
The Mysteries of Laura
Leo Diamond
2014
The Midnight Special
Self
1972
Yes, Dear
Robert Klein
2000
Life on Mars
Elliott Casso
2008
Rock Concert
Self
1973
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Phillip Warren
2003
Inside Comedy
Self
2012
The Early Show
Self
1999
The Comedy Factory
Robert Morgan
1985
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self
1996
The History of Comedy
Self
2017
The Back-Up Plan
Dr. Scott Harris
2010
Definitely, Maybe
Robert Klein
2008
Two Weeks Notice
Larry Kelson
2002
Reign Over Me
Jonathan Timpleman
2007
Primary Colors
Norman Asher
1998
George Burns Comedy Week
1985
Gravity
Father Anthony
2010
Bob Patterson
Landau
2001
The Last Unicorn
The Butterfly (voice)
1982Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
1974
One Fine Day
Dr. Martin
1996
Mixed Nuts
Mr. Lobel
1994
Sharknado 2: The Second One
Mayor
2014
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Wyatt (segment ‘Lover’s Vow’)
1990
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
Mayor of New York
2015
Hooper
Roger Deal
1978
Radioland Murders
Father Writer
1994
The Owl and the Pussycat
Barney
1970
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
(archive footage)
1999
People I Know
Dr. Sandy Napier
2002
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
The Safety of Objects
Howard Gold
2002
The Stones
Stan Stone
2004
The Gang
1977
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
2008
Dirty Movie
The CEO
2011
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
I'm with Lucy
Dr. Mort Zalkind
2002
The Gypsy
1975
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
Self
1992
Jeffrey
Skip Winkley
1995
Demoted
Bob Farrell
2011
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Mervyn Kant (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
2006
The Pursuit of Happiness
Melvin Lasher
1971
Let's Go Mets
Self
1986
Poison Ivy
'Big Irv' Klopper
1985
Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time
Self
1998
Piñero
Doctor
2001
The Contract
Jackson
1999
National Lampoon's Another Dirty Movie
CEO
2012
Dick Clark's Good Old Days
1977
Dangerous Curves
Bam Bam
1988
Nobody's Perfekt
Walter
1981
Ira & Abby
Seymour Black
2006Since '45
Self - Performer
1979
Goosed
Mel
1999
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Host
1998
The Best of John Belushi
Various Characters
1985
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
Self
1979
Table Settings
1982From Where I Sit
Lenny
2000
The Landlord
Peter
1970
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Self
1980
Rivals
Peter
1972
This Wife for Hire
Alan Harper
1985
Before I Go
Jasper
2021
They're Playing Our Song
Vernon Gersch
1979
Next Stop Wonderland
Arty Lesser
1998
Pocket Full of Soul: The Harmonica Documentary
Self
2009
Your Place... or Mine?
Nick
1983
Yesterday's Tomorrows
Self
1999Comic Relief '90
Self
1990
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Narrator (voice)
1990Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Writer
1990
Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award
Self
2007
Funny Is Money
Self
1999
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
Self
1982
The Bell Jar
Lenny
1979
Robert Klein: Child in His 50s
Himself
2000Robert Klein: Child in His 50s
Writer
2000
Clarissa
Hugh Hamilton
1995
Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Self
2005Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Writer
2005Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Original Music Composer
2005Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue
Executive Producer
2005
Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's
Himself
1984Robert Klein: Child of the 50's, Man of the 80's
Writer
1984Robert Klein: It All Started Here
Himself
1995Robert Klein: It All Started Here
Writer
1995
An Evening with Robert Klein
Himself
1975An Evening with Robert Klein
Writer
1975
An All-Star Toast to the Improv
Self
1988
Pajama Tops
Lenny Jolie-Jolie
1983
Comedian
Self
2002
Summer Switch
Bill Andrews
1984
Suits
Tom Cranston
1999
Notice to Quit
2024On Location: Robert Klein at Yale
Himself
1982On Location: Robert Klein at Yale
Writer
1982
Robert Klein on Broadway
Himself
1986Robert Klein on Broadway
Writer
1986Putzel
Narrator (voice)
2012
Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced
Robert Klein
2010Robert Klein: Unfair & Unbalanced
Writer
2010
Puzzle
Executive Producer
1978
Robert Klein Revisited
Himself
1977Labor Pains
David Raymond
2000
Robert Klein Still Can't Stop His Leg
2016
Tax Attack '87
Self
1987