Comedy
Remembering Fred Willard, Emmy-Winning Comedy Actor And Improviser
Willard, who died May 15, was known for his scene-stealing roles in the Christopher Guest films Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman, and later the series Modern Family. Originally broadcast in 1997.
Remembering 'Monty Python' Star Terry Jones
Jones, who died Jan. 21, co-founded the British comedy troupe in 1969, and went on to direct and co-star in the 1979 Python film Life of Brian. Originally broadcast in 1987.
Remembering 'New Yorker' Cartoonist Gahan Wilson
Wilson, who died Nov. 21, was fascinated by monsters, which he saw as metaphors for human fears and weaknesses. His work was often inspired by science fiction. Originally broadcast in 1986.
Playwright Neil Simon Explains Why He 'Just Always Wanted To Write'
Simon, who died Sunday, spoke to Fresh Air in 1996 about finding balance between his desire for leisure time and his need to write: "They were at odds," he says. "I'm my own odd couple."
Jerry Lewis On His Borscht Belt Childhood And The Lonely Work Of Comedy
In our 2005 interview with Jerry Lewis he talks about how he got started in show biz, his partnership with Dean Martin, and his film career.
Remembering Don Rickles, The Insult Comic Who Made Fun Of Everything
Rickles, who died yesterday, mined racial, ethnic and religious stereotypes for laughs. "I crossed the line when nobody else could do it," he once said. Originally broadcast in 2008, 1998 and 2007.
Comedy Loses Its Edge: Richard Pryor
We remember the comedian Richard Pryor, who died on Saturday. This interview originally aired on May 22, 1995.
Remembering Barry Crimmins, A Comic Who Advocated For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse
Crimmins, who died last week, mentored Bobcat Goldthwait when they were up-and-coming comics in the '80s. The two men spoke to Fresh Air in 2015 about their documentary Call Me Lucky.
With Age, Joan Rivers Learned To Say Anything: 'It Has Freed Me Totally'
The comedian died Thursday at the age of 81. Rivers talked with Fresh Air is 1991, 2010 and 2012 about how her comedy evolved -- and why she didn't care what others thought of her.