Biography
Shecky Greene — comedian with roots in the Russian Empire
Shecky Greene (born Fred Sheldon Greenfield) was an American stand-up comedian who became one of Las Vegas's greatest headliners and one of the most acclaimed improvisational comedians of the 20th century. Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, and Jerry Seinfeld all cited him as among the finest comedians they ever saw.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Jewish
Born in Chicago in 1926 to parents who had emigrated from Russia, Greene grew up in the Jewish immigrant comedy tradition of Chicago. His Russian-Jewish immigrant household gave him the restless, self-deprecating, I'll-make-you-laugh-or-die-trying energy that powered six decades of Las Vegas performances.
Family Tree
Subject
Shecky Greene🇺🇸 USA
↑
Parents
Russia (Jewish)
↑
Origin
Jewish🇷🇺
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Las Vegas comedy headliner for six decades
02
Praised by Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, and Jerry Seinfeld as one of the greatest comedians alive
03
Bobby Deerfield (1977) — film role with Al Pacino
04
Grammy-nominated comedy albums
05
One of the last great improvisational comedians of the Borscht Belt tradition
Sources