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(
September 2011
)
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Lenny Bruce
(October 13, 1925 ? August 3, 1966), was an
American
comedian
. His real name was
Leonard Alfred Schneider
. He is considered an innovator of modern
stand-up comedy
and changed the way many people see comedians. His jokes and routines were very improper and off limits for the time and he got in a lot of trouble for them. He is considered a hero for the defense of the
First Amendment
rights in the
United States
, especially for
free speech
.
In the
1960s
he was the last person arrested for impersonating and swearing, overwatched by martial law and police and banned from many cities and comedy clubs.
He appeared on the cover of
The Beatles
'
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
album.
He died in 1966 of an accidental
morphine
overdose whist on trial.
In 1970 the New York's highest court of appeals decided that he is "not guilty for using bad words".