Bob Einstein, an offbeat comedian and writer whose career stretched from “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” to “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” has died. He was 76.
Einstein was known most recently for playing Marty Funkhouser, the aggravating old friend of Larry David on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Einstein also created the character of Super Dave Osborne, a fearless but accident-prone daredevil who made appearances on “Smothers Brothers” and other comedy-variety shows starting in the late 1960s.
The Super Dave Osborne character starred in a four-part special for Spike TV, “Super Dave’s Spike Tacular,” in 2009. Einstein also logged guest shots in recent years on such shows including “Arrested Development,” “Crank Yankers” and “Anger Management.”
Einstein won an Emmy as part of the writing staff of “Smothers Brothers” in 1969. He also earned a writing Emmy in 1977 for his work on Dick Van Dyke’s short-lived NBC variety show “Van Dyke and Company.” Einstein was a regular performer on the show, along with a young Andy Kaufman.
Einstein’s death was confirmed Wednesday by his brother, comedian and filmmaker Albert Brooks.
“R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever,” Brooks wrote.
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(Pictured: Einstein, right, with Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”)