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DramaComedy

The King of Comedy

- It's no laughing matter.

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.

Release Date : 1982-12-18

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Embassy International Pictures20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Rupert Pupkin

Cast

Robert De Niro

Character Name : Rupert Pupkin

Original Name : Robert De Niro

Gender : Male

Jerry Lewis

Character Name : Jerry Langford

Original Name : Jerry Lewis

Gender : Male

Diahnne Abbott

Character Name : Rita

Original Name : Diahnne Abbott

Gender : Female

Sandra Bernhard

Character Name : Masha

Original Name : Sandra Bernhard

Gender : Female

Shelley Hack

Character Name : Cathy Long

Original Name : Shelley Hack

Gender : Female

Frederick de Cordova

Character Name : Bert Thomas

Original Name : Frederick de Cordova

Gender : Male

Ed Herlihy

Character Name : Ed Herlihy

Original Name : Ed Herlihy

Gender : Male

Lou Brown

Character Name : Band Leader

Original Name : Lou Brown

Gender : Male

Loretta Tupper

Character Name : Stage Door Fan

Original Name : Loretta Tupper

Gender : Female

Peter Potulski

Character Name : Stage Door Fan

Original Name : Peter Potulski

Gender : Male

Vinnie Gonzales

Character Name : Stage Door Fan

Original Name : Vinnie Gonzales

Gender : Male

Whitey Ryan

Character Name : Stage Door Guard

Original Name : Whitey Ryan

Gender : Male

Doc Lawless

Character Name : Chauffeur

Original Name : Doc Lawless

Gender : Male

Marta Heflin

Character Name : Young Girl

Original Name : Marta Heflin

Gender : Female

Katherine Wallach

Character Name : Autograph Seeker

Original Name : Katherine Wallach

Gender : Female

Charles Kaleina

Character Name : Autograph Seeker

Original Name : Charles Kaleina

Gender : Male

Richard Baratz

Character Name : Caricaturist

Original Name : Richard Baratz

Gender : Male

Catherine Scorsese

Character Name : Rupert's Mom (voice)

Original Name : Catherine Scorsese

Gender : Female

Cathy Scorsese

Character Name : Dolores

Original Name : Cathy Scorsese

Gender : Female

Chuck Low

Character Name : Man in Chinese Restaurant

Original Name : Chuck Low

Gender : Male

Liza Minnelli

Character Name : Liza Minnelli

Original Name : Liza Minnelli

Gender : Female

Leslie Levinson

Character Name : Roberta Posner

Original Name : Leslie Levinson

Gender : Male

Alan Potashnick

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Alan Potashnick

Gender : Male

Michael Kolba

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Michael Kolba

Gender : Male

Robert Colston

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Robert Colston

Gender : Male

Ramon Rodriguez

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Ramon Rodriguez

Gender : Male

Chuck Coop

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Chuck Coop

Gender : Male

Sel Vitella

Character Name : Man at Telephone

Original Name : Sel Vitella

Gender : Male

Margo Winkler

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Margo Winkler

Gender : Female

Tony Boschetti

Character Name : Mr. Gangemi

Original Name : Tony Boschetti

Gender : Male

Mick Jones

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Mick Jones

Gender : Male

Joe Strummer

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Joe Strummer

Gender : Male

Paul Simonon

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Paul Simonon

Gender : Male

Kosmo Vinyl

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Kosmo Vinyl

Gender : Male

Ellen Foley

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Ellen Foley

Gender : Female

Pearl Harbour

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Pearl Harbour

Gender : Male

Gaby Salter

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Gaby Salter

Gender : Male

Jerry Baxter-Worman

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Jerry Baxter-Worman

Gender : Male

Don Letts

Character Name : Street Scum

Original Name : Don Letts

Gender : Male

Matt Russo

Character Name : Cabbie

Original Name : Matt Russo

Gender : Male

Thelma Lee

Character Name : Woman in Telephone Booth

Original Name : Thelma Lee

Gender : Female

Joyce Brothers

Character Name : Dr. Joyce Brothers

Original Name : Joyce Brothers

Gender : Female

George Kapp

Character Name : Mystery Guest

Original Name : George Kapp

Gender : Male

Victor Borge

Character Name : Victor Borge

Original Name : Victor Borge

Gender : Male

Ralph Monaco

Character Name : Raymond Wirtz

Original Name : Ralph Monaco

Gender : Male

Rob-Jamere Wess

Character Name : Security Guard

Original Name : Rob-Jamere Wess

Gender : Male

Kim Chan

Character Name : Jonno

Original Name : Kim Chan

Gender : Male

Audrey Dummett

Character Name : Cook

Original Name : Audrey Dummett

Gender : Male

June Prud'Homme

Character Name : Audrey

Original Name : June Prud'Homme

Gender : Male

Edgar J. Scherick

Character Name : Wilson Crockett

Original Name : Edgar J. Scherick

Gender : Male

Thomas M. Tolan

Character Name : Gerrity

Original Name : Thomas M. Tolan

Gender : Male

Ray Dittrich

Character Name : Giardello

Original Name : Ray Dittrich

Gender : Male

Richard Dioguardi

Character Name : Captain Burke

Original Name : Richard Dioguardi

Gender : Male

Jay Julien

Character Name : Langford's Lawyer

Original Name : Jay Julien

Gender : Male

Harry J. Ufland

Character Name : Langford's Agent

Original Name : Harry J. Ufland

Gender : Male

Scotty Bloch

Character Name : Crockett's Secretary

Original Name : Scotty Bloch

Gender : Male

Jim Lyness

Character Name : Ticket Taker

Original Name : Jim Lyness

Gender : Male

Bill Minkin

Character Name : McCabe

Original Name : Bill Minkin

Gender : Male

Diane Rachell

Character Name : McCabe's Wife

Original Name : Diane Rachell

Gender : Male

Dennis Mulligan

Character Name : Plainclothesman

Original Name : Dennis Mulligan

Gender : Male

Tony Devon

Character Name : Plainclothesman

Original Name : Tony Devon

Gender : Male

Peter Fain

Character Name : Plainclothesman

Original Name : Peter Fain

Gender : Male

Michael F. Stodden

Character Name : Plainclothesman

Original Name : Michael F. Stodden

Gender : Male

Gerard Murphy

Character Name : Plainclothesman

Original Name : Gerard Murphy

Gender : Male

Jimmy Raitt

Character Name : Stage Manager

Original Name : Jimmy Raitt

Gender : Male

Martin Scorsese

Character Name : TV Director

Original Name : Martin Scorsese

Gender : Male

Tony Randall

Character Name : Tony Randall

Original Name : Tony Randall

Gender : Male

Charles Scorsese

Character Name : First Man at Bar

Original Name : Charles Scorsese

Gender : Male

Mardik Martin

Character Name : Second Man at Bar

Original Name : Mardik Martin

Gender : Male

William Jorgensen

Character Name : Newsman (voice)

Original Name : William Jorgensen

Gender : Male

Marvin Scott

Character Name : Newsman (voice)

Original Name : Marvin Scott

Gender : Male

Chuck Stevens

Character Name : Newsman (voice)

Original Name : Chuck Stevens

Gender : Male

William Littauer

Character Name : Newsman (voice)

Original Name : William Littauer

Gender : Male

Jeff David

Character Name : Announcer (voice)

Original Name : Jeff David

Gender : Male

Reviews

I

Ian Beale

@IanBeale

2021-06-23

**De Niro as yet another deluded psycho** De Niro is Rupert Pitkin, a comedian who seeks to be as famous as his hero, Jerry Lewis. Pupkin could be Travis Bickle's equally disturbed brother - both of them living in New York and both of them losing their minds in unison. After much rejection, the crazed Pupkin decides to kidnap his hero and hold him for ransom until a studio gives him a big break. Jerry Lewis is impressive as the total bastard that Pupkin so admires. A disturbing movie that is more relevant nowadays than ever since the advent of the Big Brother tv show which places national attention on people with no talent. - Ian Beale

A

adorablepanic

@adorablepanic

2021-06-23

Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY was the lowest-grossing major studio film of 1982. It isn't difficult to see why: It's loaded with uncomfortable situations; there is no obvious protagonist; no sympathetic characters (the one that could potentially get our sympathy turns out to be a thief); and everyone is grating and/or unpleasant (even Tony Randall plays 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 as a demanding prick). This lack of popularity was the audience's loss, as Paul Zimmerman graced Scorsese with a screenplay which was just as prescient on the topic of fame as Paddy Chayefsky's NETWORK (1976) was on the future of television. In a day and age where television reality shows and online video platforms allow talent-bereft fame-seekers to offer their wares to an anesthetized public, De Niro's Rupert Pupkin displays an uncanny ambition just by leaving his mother's basement, much less his willingness to use crime as a means to his end.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-10-22

Robert De Niro is great in this enjoyable comedy about the aspiring comedian "Pupkin" who is prepared to go to great lengths to get his moment in the sun. To that end he doorsteps acclaimed chat-show host "Jerry" (the entirely convincing Jerry Lewis) and, not exactly lacking in self-confidence, convinces him to listen to his material. Anything for a peaceable life thinks the star and agrees clearly just to be rid of the man. "Pupkin", though, isn't so easily deterred and what ensues now are a rather darkly comedic series of escapades as the little man determines to get that spotlight - even if he has to turn to lying, housebreaking - even kidnapping. The writing here is taut and entertaining; the characters - especially that of the rather pompous "Jerry" are well crafted by the actors who really seem to be enjoying their roles. Martin Scorsese manages to skilfully keep this on the right side of what could easily have become far-fetched farce. It's the ultimate speculate to accumulate film poking fun at the whole television "opportunity" system, and with the odd sight of an almost unrecognisable Ed Herlihy it all adds up to a fun film to watch and I challenge anyone not have a laugh here.

R

r96sk

@r96sk

2024-08-12

A bit long-winded, but undoubtedly a very good movie. 'The King of Comedy' has a sturdy Robert De Niro lead performance, as well as solid support from Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. I enjoyed seeing the split from what actually happens and how De Niro's Rupert Pupkin views things via his dreams; especially with how merged they become by the end. Absolutely zero surprise to now learn that Todd Phillips and Scott Silver used this and 'Taxi Driver' as inspiration when writing 'Joker'. Quite cool though!