# David Steinberg
**David Steinberg**, C.M. (born 1942 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian comedian, director, and producer known for his stand-up drawing on his religious education[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg), his controversial biblical "sermons" on *The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*, his frequent guest hosting of *The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson*, and a second career directing sitcoms including *Seinfeld*, *Friends*, and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942, Winnipeg, Manitoba, son of a rabbi[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg) |
| Education | Hebrew Theological College, Chicago; M.A. in English literature, University of Chicago, 1962[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942) |
| Stand-up breakthrough | Opened at the Bitter End in 1969; *The New York Times* called him a cross between Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio) |
| *The Tonight Show* | Appeared more than 100 times and often filled in for Johnny Carson; his own bio counts 140 appearances, second only to Bob Hope[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg) • [3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio) |
| Directing | *Paternity* (1981) and *Going Berserk* (1983) failed at the box office; later directed *Newhart*, *Seinfeld*, *Designing Women*, *Mad About You*, *Friends*, and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg) |
| Honors | Member of the Order of Canada, invested 2017 by Governor General Julie Payette[4](https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4678) • [3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio) |
| Books | Memoir *The Book of David* (Simon & Schuster, 2007); interview collection *Inside Comedy*, based on more than 75 interviews[5](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Book-of-David/David-Steinberg/9780743272339) • [6](https://canoe.com/entertainment/interview-with-david-steinberg-canadas-first-funnyman) |
## Early life and education
Steinberg was born in Winnipeg in 1942, the son of a rabbi[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). Encyclopedia.com records his parents as Jacob (some sources cite Yasha), a rabbi, and Ruth Steinberg[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942). The Canadian Encyclopedia states that he left home at 15 to study at the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg), while his own biography puts the departure at age 16 to study theology at Yeshiva[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). He then entered the master's program in [English literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/english-literature) at the University of Chicago, completing the M.A. in 1962[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942).
At the University of Chicago he formed the comedy act Kadish and Steinberg before being invited to join [The Second City](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-second-city), where he stayed four years[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). The Canadian Encyclopedia lists his Second City colleagues as [Alan Arkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-arkin), Robert Klein, and [Fred Willard](https://www.edgepedia.org/fred-willard)[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg).
## Stand-up career
Before settling into stand-up, Steinberg starred with [Elliott Gould](https://www.edgepedia.org/elliott-gould) in Jules Feiffer's *Little Murders* and in *Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights*, directed by [Sidney Poitier](https://www.edgepedia.org/sidney-poitier)[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). He opened in stand-up at the Bitter End in 1969, and also played clubs including the hungry i[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942).
His material drew on his religious education. *The New York Times* called him a cross between [Lenny Bruce](https://www.edgepedia.org/lenny-bruce) and [Woody Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/woody-allen)[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). He recorded four comedy albums with two Grammy nominations, won a Playboy Humor Award for his parody of the novel *Ragtime*, and received an Emmy nomination for the special *This Is Sholem Aleichem*[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). In 1974 he was scheduled for the cover of *Newsweek* alongside [Richard Pryor](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-pryor) and Lily Tomlin but was bumped by Richard Nixon[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio).
## Television controversies and variety series
The sermons that made his reputation were developed during his Second City improv days: humorous, mildly sacrilegious on-air sermons on the [Old Testament](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-testament), delivered on *The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, they brought CBS more complaints than at any time in its history and were said to have contributed to the show's cancellation[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). Steinberg's own account is more hedged: he has said the sermon lines are "said to have gotten the show cancelled," and that the [Smothers Brothers](https://www.edgepedia.org/smothers-brothers) later won $1 million in a lawsuit against CBS[7](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-steinberg-just-wants-to-talk-comedy/). His "Existentialist Psychiatrist" character coined the phrase "Booga Booga!"[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio).
CBS gave him *The David Steinberg Show* in 1972; it was canceled after one season[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). A show of the same name was picked up by CTV for a season in 1976, featuring members of Toronto's Second City troupe before the launch of SCTV, including [Martin Short](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-short), Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, John Candy, and [Andrea Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrea-martin)[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). Steinberg has said the Canadian show helped launch the careers of [John Candy](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-candy) and Martin Short[7](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-steinberg-just-wants-to-talk-comedy/).
## Guest hosting and later performing
Steinberg became a fixture on *The Tonight Show*. The Canadian Encyclopedia records more than 100 appearances and frequent fill-ins for [Johnny Carson](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-carson)[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg); his own biography counts 140 appearances as guest and guest host, second only to Bob Hope[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio); and a Canoe interview reports more than 130 appearances with 12 hosting stints, adding that he was the youngest person to host the show at the time[6](https://canoe.com/entertainment/interview-with-david-steinberg-canadas-first-funnyman). Simon & Schuster's page for his memoir likewise says he appeared with Carson more than anyone except Bob Hope[5](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Book-of-David/David-Steinberg/9780743272339). Steinberg himself treated the role as central: "I always was doing 'The Tonight Show'... it turned out *The Tonight Show* was my career," he told CBS News[7](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-steinberg-just-wants-to-talk-comedy/).
## Directing career
His first two films as director, *Paternity* (1981) with Burt Reynolds and *Going Berserk* (1983) with John Candy, failed at the box office[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). He then moved into commercials, including Pizza Hut ads, as a partner at MBST Entertainment[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942), and became an in-demand sitcom director whose credits include *Newhart*, *Evening Shade*, *Seinfeld*, *Designing Women*, *Mad About You*, and *Curb Your Enthusiasm*[1](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg). Canoe also lists *Friends* and *Weeds* among his credits[6](https://canoe.com/entertainment/interview-with-david-steinberg-canadas-first-funnyman).
## Collaboration with Larry David and Inside Comedy
In 2017 Steinberg directed his ninth season of *Curb Your Enthusiasm*[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). The Order of Canada citation credits him with award-winning directing on *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, *Friends*, and *Seinfeld*[4](https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4678).
His interview work began with *Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg*, which he created, hosted, and executive produced from 2005 to 2007, a one-on-one series shot live at UCLA[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). *Inside Comedy*, a documentary series chronicling the evolution of comedy over five decades and executive produced with Steve Carell, premiered on Showtime on January 26, 2012, and later became an Apple podcast[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio).
## Honors and recognition
Steinberg was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada; the Governor General's record lists him as of Bel-Air, California, and Winnipeg, and credits a five-decade career as comedian, director, producer, and mentor[4](https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4678). He was invested by then-Governor General Julie Payette at Rideau Hall in Ottawa in 2017[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio). The Television Academy lists Emmy nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special (2012) and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (2003)[8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/david-steinberg-comedian), in addition to the earlier nomination for *This Is Sholem Aleichem* and the Playboy Humor Award[3](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio).
## Writing
Simon & Schuster published his memoir *The Book of David* (ISBN 9780743272339) in 2007, describing his path from a traditional Jewish childhood in Winnipeg to network television, Broadway, and nightclub stardom[5](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Book-of-David/David-Steinberg/9780743272339). His second book, *Inside Comedy*, draws on more than 75 interviews with comedians[6](https://canoe.com/entertainment/interview-with-david-steinberg-canadas-first-funnyman).
## References
1. [David Steinberg, The Canadian Encyclopedia](https://prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-steinberg)
2. [Steinberg, David 1942–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/steinberg-david-1942)
3. [Biography, thedavidsteinberg.com](https://www.thedavidsteinberg.com/bio)
4. [David Steinberg, C.M., Governor General of Canada honours record](https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4678)
5. [Book of David, Simon & Schuster](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Book-of-David/David-Steinberg/9780743272339)
6. [Interview with David Steinberg — Canada's first funnyman, Canoe](https://canoe.com/entertainment/interview-with-david-steinberg-canadas-first-funnyman)
7. [David Steinberg Just Wants To Talk Comedy, CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-steinberg-just-wants-to-talk-comedy/)
8. [David Steinberg, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/david-steinberg-comedian)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians › American stand-up comedians, contemporary › Stand-up comedians born 1940–1959*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license