Biography - Lewis Black

Who is Lewis Black?

Lewis Black is an American actor, comedian, and playwright.

Lewis Black – Age, Parents, Siblings

Lewis Black was born on August 30, 1948, in Washington, D.C., the U.S.A. as Lewis Niles Black. His mother is Jeannette Black, who worked as a teacher and his father is Sam Black, who worked as an artist and mechanical engineer.

He was raised by his parents in Silver Spring, Maryland with his younger brother Ronald Black. Sadly, Ronald Black died of cancer at the age of 46 in July 1997.

Education, Ethnicity

Lewis Black attended Springbrook High School and graduated from the same in 1966. He then enrolled at the University of Maryland and transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied playwriting. Black graduated in 1970. He also was educated at the Yale School of Drama, graduating in 1977 with an MFA (Master in Fine Arts) degree. 

His ethnicity is Ashkenazi-Jewish.

Lewis Black – Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Divorce

Lewis Black dated Caitlin Clarke and Kathleen Madigan. But both of his relationships with his girlfriends did not last and they broke up soon after. He was married for about ten months when he was 26 years old before divorcing his wife.

As of now, he is not married and has no children. As a matter of fact, Black seems to be happy and content with his single life.  

Also read: Jeff Ross – Comedian, Writer, Author, Actor, Director

Lewis Black – Career

Early Days

After graduating in 1970, he moved back to Washington, working at the Appalachian Regional Commission. He wrote plays and performed stand-up comedy too.

Later on, he began his career in theater as a playwright and wrote the musical The Czar of Rock and Roll in 1990. Soon he was the play's opening act, making people roar with laughter with his stand-up comedy.

In the year 1998, Black starred in Comedy Central Presents, featuring his first comedy special. In 2000 and 2002, he got opportunities to star on the show.

Also read: Creed Bratton – Singer, Actor

TV Shows, Films, Comedy Albums

Over the years he has hosted shows such as "World Stupidity Awards" ceremony (2003-2005), Comedy Central's Last Laugh '07 (December 2, 2007),  The Root of All Evil (2008), History of the Joke (2008), Surviving the Holidays with Lewis Black (2009), Last Laugh '06 (December 10, 2006).

Black has also starred in an HBO special. His stand up- special includes Unleashed (2002), Black on Broadway (2004), A Pair of Lewis Black Shorts (2006), Red, White, and Screwed (2006), Stark Raving Black (2009), In God We Rust (2011), Old Yeller: Live at the Borgata (2013), The Rant is Due (2017), Black to the Future (2017).

For his album The Carnegie Hall Performance (2007), he received a Grammy award for Best Comedy Album. In addition, Black has also appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Big Bang Theory (2009), The Weather Channel, The Happy Elf (2005), Accepted, Man of the Year, Unaccompanied Minors, Inside Out (2015), Accepted (2006), Man of the Year (2006).

Also read: Gerry Dee – Actor, Comedian

Arrest, Books

In 2000, Lewis Black and fellow comedian Jim Norton were arrested for their involvement with The Naked Teen Voyeur Bus. The bus was specially designed with an acrylic glass wall to show off its containment of 18 to 19-year-old topless young women. Both were released twenty-eight hours after their arrest.

He has published several books- namely Nothing's Sacred (2005), Me of Little Faith (2008), I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas (2010), Stark Raving Black (2010), One Slight Hitch (2013), and Lost in Place (2016).

Lewis Black – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth of Black is estimated to be around $2.5 million while the figure on his annual salary is unknown.

Lewis Black – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media sites Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Lewis Black is followed by thousands of followers. He also has an official website - lewisblack.com.

Also read: Christopher Knight - Actor, Comedian of The Brady Bunch