Lenny Bruce on the Steve Allen Show – April 5th, 1959

Lenny Bruce’s Controversial Comedy Style

Lenny Bruce’s obscene humor and jokes on stage became more focused once he gained more notoriety. He began to develop a distinct style called black humor. Lenny started to focus his shows and jokes towards criticizing religion, moral attitudes towards sex and drugs, and legal and social establishments. In the 1950s and 60s, too discuss these topics in public was considered taboo, let alone criticize them. 

Lenny Bruce was a martyr for free speech in comedy. However, most martyrs rarely see how their influence has impacted others. Lenny Bruce paved the way for other modern comedians and popular comic books. His career began to take off in the 1950s but, by the early 1960s, he was called “the most shocking comedian” of the day. 

Unfortunately, Lenny Bruce was not able to see the impact his career has on people and comics today. 1966, he died due to an apparent overdose.