Freddie Roman, Borscht Belt comedian, Friars Club staple, dead at 85
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Comedian dies: Freddie Roman was a veteran of the Borscht Belt circuit and starred in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. ( Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)
( Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Freddie Roman, a fixture on the Borscht Belt comedy scene in the Catskill Mountains of New York, died Saturday. He was 85.
Roman died in a hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida, after suffering a heart attack, Deadline reported. His booking agent, Alison Chaplin, confirmed the comedian’s death to The Associated Press on Sunday.
Roman had a long career in comedy, working rooms at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Bally’s Grand in Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to the news organization.
Freddie Roman Dies: Borscht Belt Comedian Who Appeared In Film And TV Was 85 https://t.co/JgWyBZlgoT
He was a regular on Comedy Central roasts, skewering the likes of Jerry Stiller, Hugh Hefner, Drew Carey, Rob Reiner and Chevy Chase, Deadline reported.
He was also made dean of the New York City Friars Club, where he mentored many aspiring comedians, according to the AP.
Roman carved out his comedy niche in the Catskill Mountains. The so-called Borscht Belt featured comedians such as Don Rickles and Mel Brooks, the AP reported.
He also came up with the idea of “Catskills on Broadway,” where he brought his standup comedy style to New York City, according to the AP.
Roman also appeared on “Red Oaks” on Amazon.
“A great loss to the world of comedy,” Paul Reiser tweeted. “He was such a huge supporter & mentor when I was starting out. A GREAT comic, the ultimate pro with the biggest heart. I will miss our phone calls and his big, beauty laugh. RIP my friend.”
A great loss to the world of comedy. My dear friend #FreddieRoman has left us. He was such a huge supporter & mentor when I was starting out. A GREAT comic, the ultimate pro with the biggest heart. I will miss our phone calls and his big, beauty laugh. RIP my friend. pic.twitter.com/cFNmvVVF2q
Born Fred Kirschenbaum on May 28, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, Roman was raised in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens in New York City. His uncle and grandfather owned the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills, where Roman got his start as an emcee when he was 15 years old, the AP reported.
Roman appeared in several movies, including “Welcome to Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort” (2012), “The Last Laugh” (2006), “Bittersweet Place” (2005), “Christ in the City” (2005), “Finding North” (1998) and “Sweet Lorraine” (1987), according to Deadline.
His television work included guest appearances on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “The Tonight Show.”
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Photos: Freddie Roman through the years Here are some memorable photos of comedian Freddie Roman through the years. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 1992: Comedian Freddie Roman attends the sixth annual Broadway Easter Bonnet Competitions to Benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on April 14, 1992, at the Palace Theatre in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 1995: Freddie Roman, Nancy Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and Billy Stritch are shown on Nov. 6, 1995. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 1998: Freddie Roman and Drew Carey attend the New York Friar's Club Celebrity Roast of Drew Carey on October 2, 1998, at the Friar's Club in New York. (Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2000: Freddie Roman (left), Michael McKean, Rob Reiner and Alan Kingr at the Roast held at the New York Friars Club in honor of Rob Reiner on Oct. 6, 2000. The Roast was presented by Comedy Central. (Nick Elgar/ImageDirect via Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2004: Donald Trump and comedian Freddie Roman attend the Donald Trump Friars Club Roast Luncheon at the New York Hilton October 15, 2004, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2009: Comedian Freddy Roman attends the "A Serious Man" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre on September 24, 2009, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2010: Actor Samuel L. Jackson, Freddie Roman and director Quentin Tarantino attend the Friars Club roast of Quentin Tarantino at the New York Hilton and Towers on December 1, 2010, in New York City. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2011: Friars Club President Freddie Roman and comedian Colin Quinn attends as Larry King is honored at the 2011 Friars Club Testimonial dinner gala at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers on November 14, 2011, in New York City. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2013: John Mayer, Arturo Sandoval, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Kathy Griffin, Bob Saget, Freddie Roman and Lewis Black attend The Friars Foundation Annual Applause Award Gala honoring Don Rickles at The Waldorf Astoria on June 24, 2013, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2014: Dean of the Friars Club, Freddie Roman attends the Friars Foundation Gala honoring Robert De Niro and Carlos Slim at The Waldorf Astoria on October 7, 2014, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2015: Actor Craig Roberts, comedian Freddie Roman and actor Oliver Cooper attend the Amazon red carpet premiere for the brand new original comedy series "Red Oaks" on September 29, 2015, in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)
Photos: Freddie Roman through the years 2017: David Gordon Green, Alexandra Socha, Ennis Esmer, Alexandra Turshen, Freddie Roman, Paul Reiser, Joe Gangemi, Gregory Jacobs and Craig Roberts attend the Tribeca TV Festival season premiere of Red Oaks at Cinepolis Chelsea on September 24, 2017, in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca TV Festival)
