The Real Comeback Kid

Robert Schimmel is from the school of hard knocks. Lots of people claim to have started off there, but his schooling was extreme. Ten years ago, Schimmel got his start in comedy, when he went to L.A. to visit his sister and she dumped him onto stage at an open-mic night. He wowed the crowd, and the club owner asked him to come back. He caught the bug, went home, packed his bags, and sold his house. The day he returned to the club, he found the place burned to the ground, thus ending his first shot at the little stage. That was knock number two — the first came when his son Derek died from brain cancer. Knock three came in June, 2000 when Schimmel himself was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and had to pause his career of writing for Yakov Smirnoff and In Living Color to take weekly chemo treatments.

Related Content

• The Real Comeback Kid
  July 9, 2009
• Can I Call him “Gorbie?”
  April 10, 2008
• Smart Guy
  November 24, 2005
• This Week's Day-by-Day Picks
  March 31, 2005
• A What Comic?
  August 12, 2004

More About

• Robert Schimmel
• Yakov Smirnoff

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

But even cancer couldn’t clean up Schimmel’s raunchy act. He’s dirtier than ever and even more in-your-face with his sex talk. By bringing behind-doors nookie onto the stage, he softens up crowds who can relate. On his website (www.robertschimmel.com), he features a Word of the Day. Most recently, he highlighted “bukkake” and “buddy booths,” both hints at what you’ll see when you catch his act. Just don’t forget the protection. Schimmel splatters his dirt all over the crowd at the Palm Beach Improv (550 S. Rosemary Ave, West Palm Beach) for three nights starting Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $19.17 to $21.30. Call 561-833-1812, or visit www.palmbeachimprov.com.
Feb. 10-12