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Michael Drelich (August 20, 1953 – November 2, 2016), better known by the stage name Max Alexander, was an American stand-up comedian and actor who appeared numerous times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
| Max Alexander | |
|---|---|
Pic.jpg) | |
| Birth name | Michael Drelich |
| Born | August 20, 1953 U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 2016 (aged 63) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1983–2016 |
Biography
editCareer
editBorn on August 20, 1953 on the East Coast, he moved to Los Angeles in his late twenties.[1] In addition to doing stand-up comedy, Alexander also began appearing in supporting appearances on many sitcoms (Full House) and other series (Matlock). Alexander's film credits include supporting roles with stars such as Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, and Jason Segel, in such films as Roxanne (1987), Punchline (1988), and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
He also appeared in Comedy Central's Best of the Improv, Vol. 5 (2003) and Comedy Club Greats with Jerry Seinfeld (2007). In recent years Alexander was frequently in Las Vegas, performing his comedy alongside Tom Jones and others. He appeared in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 as the "Big Sticky Mess" trade show vendor. His last film was Trainwreck (2015). He entertained at the 1989 wedding of Ann-Margret's son Lars, in Las Vegas, He appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon as well.
His stand-up routine focused primarily on his large size, frequently poking fun at his weight. He was known for pulling his pants up to his chest during routines.[citation needed]
Personal life
editIn 2008, Alexander was hospitalized with a kidney ailment and needed a transplant to survive. His brother Rabbi Moshe Drelich was the donor.[2] A few weeks after his transplant, Alexander suffered a stroke.[3]
Alexander died on November 2, 2016, from a form of throat cancer, at age 63.[4]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1983 | Treasure of the Haunted House | Melvin | |
| 1984 | Garbo Talks | Roger Kellerman | Credited as Maxwell Alexander |
| 1987 | Roxanne | Dean | |
| 1988 | Punchline | Mister Ball | |
| 1990 | Honeymoon Academy | Sack | Alternative title: For Better or For Worse |
| 1992 | Brain Donors | L.A. stage manager | Alternative title: Lame Ducks |
| 1998 | A Fare to Remember | ||
| 1999 | Man on the Moon | Harrah's Booker | |
| 2007 | Stand Up | Leo Stein | |
| 2008 | Forgetting Sarah Marshall | Big Dracula Head | Credited as Maxwell Alexander |
| 2015 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | Security Rep ("Big Sticky Mess") | Uncredited in film, credited as Max Drelich in SOTA: Trade Show featurette |
| 2015 | Trainwreck | Max the Wheelchair Orderly | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Full House | Dr. Wynager | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Out of This World | Older Billy | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Matlock | Max Sugarman | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Louis | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Hart to Hart: Crimes of the Hart | Waiter | Television movie |
| 1996 | Pearl | Professor Millhouse | 1 episode |
| 1997 | The Practice | Benjamin Holsten | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Hang Time | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | My Wife and Kids | Bartender | 2 episodes |
References
edit- ^ "Person Details for Max Alexander, "United States Public Records, 1970-2009"". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 2016-11-04.
- ^ Judd, N. Clark (2008-07-10). "Heard the one about the rabbi's kidney? It's no joke". The Riverdale Press. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ "Comedy Headliners Salute Max Alexander". comedytothemax.com. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ Feldman, Kate (November 2, 2016). "Comedian Max Alexander, who appeared in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' 'Trainwreck,' dies". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
External links
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