This Day in Comedy: May 11
🗓️ This Day in Comedy: May 11
🎂 **Mort Sahl turns 99 (born 1927, d. 2021)** — The godfather of political stand-up comedy. Sahl revolutionized comedy in the 1950s by bringing newspaper-sharp wit to the stage, pioneering the style that inspired generations of comedians from George Carlin to Jon Stewart.
🎂 **Foster Brooks born (1912, d. 2001)** — Famous for his hilarious "loveable drunk" character, Brooks became a fixture on The Dean Martin Show and late-night TV throughout the 70s and 80s, proving that a single well-crafted character could launch a career.
🎂 **Richard Gadd turns 37 (born 1989)** — The Scottish comedian and creator of *Baby Reindeer*, one of the most acclaimed dark-comedy series in recent memory. His raw, autobiographical storytelling shook Netflix audiences worldwide and sparked a global conversation about trauma and comedy.
🎭 **Carol Burnett's Broadway Debut (1959)** — On this date in 1959, a 25-year-old Carol Burnett stepped onto the Phoenix Theatre stage in "Once Upon A Mattress." The role launched one of the most celebrated careers in comedy history, leading to The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78), which ran for 11 seasons.
🎭 **Liza Minnelli's Broadway Debut (1965)** — On this date in 1965, a 19-year-old Liza Minnelli opened in Kander & Ebb's musical *Flora, the Red Menace* at the Alvin Theater, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical — becoming one of the youngest winners in history.
Comedy History