Lotus Weinstock

Marlene Weinstock, (January 29, 1943[1] – August 31, 1997)[2] more commonly known by her stage name Lotus Weinstock, was an American stand-up comedian, author, musician, and actress.

Lotus Weinstock
Birth nameMarlene Weinstock
Born(1943-01-29)January 29, 1943
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 31, 1997(1997-08-31) (aged 54)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up comedy, actress, author
SpouseDavid Jove
ChildrenLili Haydn

Weinstock was born in Philadelphia.[3] Her parents were Robert and Lucille Weinstock.[4] She studied at the Philadelphia Dance Academy.[5]

Early in her career, she changed her name to Maurey Haydn.[6] Under this name, one of her songs was recorded by Richie Havens.[1] After moving to Los Angeles, she regularly performed at The Comedy Store and the LA location of The Improv. She performed on The Merv Griffin Show and The Tonight Show.[7] At The Comedy Store's Belly Room she was considered a "den mother" to the roster of female comics.[8] She often is cited along with Paul Mooney as a mentor to Sandra Bernhard, whom she met performing in Los Angeles at the Ye Little Club.[9] Bernhard and Weinstock would collaborate on an act where they would perform a catfight onstage.[8] She wrote a book titled The Lotus Position in 1982, which had sold over 60,000 copies at the time of her death in 1997.[2] The LA Improv had a memorial for her a week after her death.[3]

She was the fiancée of comedian Lenny Bruce at the time of his death in 1966 and later married filmmaker David Jove, with whom she had a child, the violinist Lili Haydn.[3]

References
  1. Weide, Bob. "A Lotus By Any Other Name". Whyaduck Productions. Whyaduck Productions, Inc. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  2. Variety Staff (September 10, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock". Variety.
  3. Oliver, Myrna (September 4, 1997). "Lotus Weinstock; Comedian and Author". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times.
  4. Slesin, Suzanne. "Chintz Galore: Just What She Wanted". New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. Christon, Lawrence. "COMEDY : A Room of Their Own". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  6. Pinn, Jamie (June 22, 1984). "The making of two Jewish comediennes". The Jewish Floridian of South Broward-Hollywood: 8. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  7. Krier, Beth Ann. "The Unfunny Struggle of Some Aspiring Comediennes". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  8. Knoedelseder, William (July 27, 2010). I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-up Comedy's Golden Era (reprint ed.). PublicAffairs. pp. 136–137. ISBN 1586488961.
  9. Trauring, Michelle. "Sandra Bernhard Brings A Whole Lot of Brass to East Hampton". 27east.com. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
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