Michael Drelich (August 20, 1953 – November 2, 2016), better known by the stage name Max Alexander, was an American

stand-up Stand-up comedy is a comedic performance to a live audience in which the performer addresses the audience directly from the stage. The performer is known as a comedian, a comic or a stand-up. Stand-up comedy consists of one-liners, stories, ...

comedian and actor who appeared numerous times on ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. The show has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2009 and 201 ...

''.

Biography

Career

Born on August 20, 1953 on the East Coast, he moved to Los Angeles in his late twenties. In addition to doing stand-up comedy, Alexander also began appearing in supporting appearances on many sitcoms (''

Full House ''Full House'' is an American television Situation comedy, sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The show is about widowed father Danny Tanner who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and childhood best ...

'') and other series ('' Matlock''). Alexander's film credits include supporting roles with stars such as

Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...

, Jim Carrey, and

Jason Segel Jason Jordan Segel ( ; born January 18, 1980) is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Marshall Eriksen in the CBS sitcom '' How I Met Your Mother'', as well as for his work with director and ...

, in such films as '' Roxanne'' (1987), ''

Punchline A punch line (a. k. a. punch-line or punchline) concludes a joke; it is intended to make people laugh. It is the third and final part of the typical joke structure. It follows the introductory framing of the joke and the narrative which sets up ...

'' (1988), and ''

Forgetting Sarah Marshall ''Forgetting Sarah Marshall'' is a 2008 American comedy film directed by Nicholas Stoller and starring Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Russell Brand. The film, which was written by Segel and co-produced by Judd Apatow, was released b ...

''. He also appeared in

Comedy Central Comedy Central is an American basic cable channel owned by Paramount Global through its network division's MTV Entertainment Group unit, based in Manhattan. The channel is geared towards young adults aged 18–34 and carries comedy programmin ...

'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. 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 The ''MDA Labor Day Telethon'' was an annual telethon held on (starting the night before and throughout) Labor Day in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Muscular Dystrophy Association was founded in ...

as well. His stand-up routine focused primarily on his large size, constantly poking fun at his weight. He was known for pulling his pants up to his chest during his routines.

Personal life

In 2008, Alexander was hospitalized with a kidney ailment and needed a transplant to survive. His brother Rabbi Moshe Drelich was the one who donated it. A few weeks after his transplant, Alexander suffered a stroke. Alexander died on November 2, 2016, from a form of throat cancer.Comedian Max Alexander, who appeared in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' 'Trainwreck,' dies
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Filmography

References

External links

* 1953 births 2016 deaths American male comedians American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American comedians 21st-century American comedians Jewish American male comedians Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from throat cancer 21st-century American Jews {{US-comedian-stub