marriages, 133, 257, 318
mother, relationship with, 2–3, 6–8, 11, 15, 26–29, 43–44, 56–57, 69–70, 77–79, 82–83, 265–66, 291–97, 313, 318–19
sister, relationship with, 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 31, 35, 46, 59, 64, 65–66, 69, 92, 107, 119, 177, 182, 312, 313
son Dillon, xi, 299, 306, 309, 312, 313, 315, 319–20
son Maxwell Lee, xi, 239–40, 257, 281, 305, 306, 309–10, 312, 313, 315, 317, 319–20
Trini (Kathleen), second wife, xi, 165–70, 179, 182, 257, 274, 281, 286, 289, 306, 312, 313, 315
Uncle Ernie, Aunt Carol, and cousins Jamie and Lori, 4, 5, 10, 11 13, 76, 221
Uncle Jay, lawyer, 301–4
Valerie (Vasquez), third wife, 317–18, 319
PRIVATE LIFE:
affair with Sandy Shore, 93–94, 97–98, 119, 121
condo in Boca Raton, Florida, 291
Dice persona as part of personality, 115–16, 162
dieting, 213
favorite food: bagel, butter, and bacon, 149
friends from Brooklyn, 22, 35–36, 37–38, 41–43, 46, 52, 95, 139, 147, 187, 198, 226, 239, 243, 258, 265 (see also Downtown Ronny; Feder, Kenny “Club Soda Kenny”; Lustig, Neil “Hot Tub Johnny West”)
gambling and, xi, 92, 128, 229–30, 233–34, 257–64, 319
girlfriends, 1980s, 155, 156
home in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, 269
home in Beverly Hills, 273
home in Saddle River, New Jersey, 273
home on Metz Place, West Hollywood, 239
home on Metz Place, West Hollywood, Club 33 (room in), 273–74, 306, 310, 311
libido and sexual desire, 20, 22–23, 35, 36, 53–54, 55, 61, 80, 83, 114–16, 212, 322–23
living at Mitzi Shore’s and the Red Room, 99–102, 111–12, 119–21, 125–26, 130, 134, 135, 153
marijuana and, 80, 82
mix tapes and, 274
relationship with Eleanor Kerrigan, 315–17
relationship with Teri Hatcher, 279–87
sessions with Frank the Shrink, 291–97
sex and music, 111–12
sex bet with Dan Frischman, 119–21
sexual education of, 76
sexual encounter, “Baby Elephant,” 161–64
sexual encounter, San Antonio, 153–55
sexual encounters, California, 95–96, 113–17, 126, 137–39
sexual encounters, older women, 75–76, 79–80, 111–14
sex with dancer, Bright, 89
Stern and house for sale/voodoo anecdote, 202
RECORDINGS AND VIDEOS:
The Day the Laughter Died, 235
Dirty Dirty Jokes video, 149–50, 165
Face Down Ass Up, 310–11
TELEVISION AND FILMS:
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, 203, 211–13, 215–16, 243, 247, 250–51
Bless This House, 300, 305
Blue Jasmine, 321–22
Brain Smasher . . . A Love Story, 279, 283, 287, 300
Casual Sex? 179
Crime Story, 157, 159, 164
Entourage, 320–21
HBO: Assume the Position, 305
HBO: The Diceman Cometh, 182, 189–93
HBO: Young Comedians Special: Nothing Goes Right, 175–78, 179, 180
Hitz, 305
Making the Grade, 143
Night Patrol, 145
No Apologies, 270–71
Pretty in Pink, 145, 156
Private Resort, 143
Showtime: Indestructible, 322
Wacko, 123–24
Clay, Dillon Scott (son), xi, 299, 306, 309, 312, 313, 315, 319–20
Clay, Maxwell Lee (son), xi, 257, 273, 274, 305, 306, 309–10, 312, 313, 315, 317, 319–20
birth, 239–40
Cocker, Joe, 180
Cohen, Sylvia, 81–85, 139
“Colour My World” (Chicago), 31–32
comedy. See also specific comics
Clay and comedian as rock star, 188, 198, 222, 240
Clay’s impact on, 194–95, 235
bathroom humor, 150
blue material, 147–50, 173, 177, 191, 218–19, 221, 225, 236–37, 322–23
comedians as backstabbing, 204–6
disrespect and humor, 150
Rodney Dangerfield and, 171–72
rule of, 150
traditional Jewish comics, 98, 108
tradition of Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl, 150
Comedy Alley, 244
Comedy Store, La Jolla, California, 92, 98, 119
Comedy Store, Los Angeles, California, 91, 129, 174, 276, 316
Clay as Diceman, 108, 111, 113
Clay performing at, 168, 175, 306
Clay’s audition and contract, 96
Clay’s late-night spot at, 140–41
history of, 102
Howie Mandel at, 147
Kinison fight at, 205–6
rooms in, 102–3
“Come Fly with Me” (Sinatra), 16
Cool Hand Luke (film), 124
Corman, Maddie, 203
Cosell, Howard, 33
Crime Story (TV show), 157, 159, 164
Cunningham Junior High, Brooklyn, 4
Dangerfield, Rodney, 67, 171–72, 267, 273, 315
Clay and, Miami, 221–22
Clay’s big break and, HBO special, 175–78
agent for, 180
jokes and routines, 171
playing at Pips in Brooklyn, 31, 67
signature line, origins, 67
Dangerfield’s, New York, 171–73
Davis, Bette, 102
Davis, Miles, 159
Davis, Sammy, Jr., 17, 92, 102, 320
Day, Morris, 215
Day the Laughter Died, The (comedy album)
goes gold, 235
release of, 235
Dean, James, 108, 114
Delmar Hotel, Catskills, New York, 41–43, 45, 53–54
De Niro, Robert, 300
Denison, Tony, 159
Diamond, Neil, 174, 241
Die Hard (film), 203
Die Hard 2 (film), 215
Diller, Barry, 283
Clay’s three-picture deal, 190
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and, 243, 247
caves in to pressure and kills Ford Fairlane, 249–51
Gay Mafia and, 174, 248
party by and Streisand’s snubbing of Clay, 241
20th Century Fox and, 174, 190
Dillon, Kevin, 321
Diner (film), 168
Diorio, Frank, 222
Dirty Dirty Jokes (video), 149–50, 165
“Disco Inferno” (Trammps), 68
Dollface. See Kathleen “Dollface”
“Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” (song), 112
Douglas, Kirk, 97
Downtown Ronny, 127–28, 199–200, 243, 265, 269–71, 299–304
“ya heah,” 202
drummers
Clay, 21, 37–39, 40, 41–43, 51, 53–54, 82, 111, 145, 215, 222, 319
Frank Diorio, 222
Gene Krupa, 11
Max Clay, 319
Ringo Starr, 12
Santa brothers band and, 198
Tommy Lee, 145
Dunn, Nora, 248
Eden Roc, Miami, 17
Ed Sullivan Show (TV show), 11–12, 21
Edwards, Blake, 157, 158
Edwards, Carl, 120
Edwards, Eric, 282
8 Mile (film), 306
Electric Circus (disco), 76–79
Eminem, 305–7, 309
Errico, Greg, 39
Fabian, 106
Face Down Ass Up (album), 310–11
Fagotron and queer jokes, 148, 150, 249
Farina, Dennis, 159, 164
Feder, Kenny “Club Soda Kenny,” 187, 226, 230, 243, 258, 260, 275, 281, 282, 283, 285, 292, 309, 312
“Feelings” (song), 43
Ferrara, Abel, 159
Fireside Lounge, Queens, 89
Fleebin’ Dabble Pr
oductions, 197–98
Fly, The (film), 169
Fly Studios, Brooklyn, New York, 63–65
Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami, 17
“Forever Your Girl” (Abdul), 217
Foxx, Redd, 149–50, 165
Franklin, Aretha, 320
Franklin, Joe, 87–89
Frischman, Dan, 119, 120
From Here to Eternity (film), 33
Funhouse (disco), 76–79
Gable, Clark, 102
Gallin, Sandy, 217, 243, 249, 250, 283
Clay at Big Brothers banquet and, 185–88
Clay banned from MTV and, 219–20
Clay’s attitude toward performing and, 192
as Clay’s manager, 180–82, 190
Clay’s three-film deal, 190
estate of, 183
HBO and, 182
ignores Clay, 174–75
Gardner, Ava, 102
Gay Mafia, 174, 249
Geffen, David, 243
anti-Dice critics and, 249
dropping of Clay, 254
Gay Mafia and, 174, 249
record deal with Clay, 194, 203, 250
Geffen Records, 194
Goldberg, Whoopi, 174
Goldblum, Jeff, 169
Golden Gate Motor Inn, Shore Parkway, Brooklyn, 77, 82–83
Clay’s first honeymoon at, 133–34
Goldfarb, Marcel, 50, 51–52
Gold’s Gym, Paramus, New Jersey, 243, 244
Goodfellas (film), 159, 302
Goodman, Benny, 11
Gossip Columnist, The (film), 243
Gottfried, Gilbert, 215
Gould, Elliott, 241–42
Grease (film), 63, 64, 69
“Greased Lightning” (Travolta), 64, 65, 69, 88, 89, 92
Greenblatt’s Deli, Los Angeles, 149, 194
Guns N’ Roses, 174, 194, 222, 236, 320
Clay guest appearance, 240
Hackett, Buddy, 91
Hackett, Sandy, 91, 92
Hamilton, Argus, 97, 100
Hamilton, Jeff, 189–90
Hannah, Daryl, 243
Harlin, Renny, 215
Harris, Major, 222
Harry, Deborah, 159
Hatcher, Teri, 279–87
Hawkins, Sally, 321
HBO
Clay’s special: Assume the Position, 305
Clay’s special: The Diceman Cometh, 183, 189–93
Entourage, 320–21
Gallin and, 182
viewing party for Clay, 192–93
Young Comedians Special: Nothing Goes Right, 175–78, 179–80
Young Comedians Specials, 173–74
“Heartbreak Hotel” (Presley), 15
Hicks, Bill, 100, 176
Holly, Lauren, 203
“Honky Tonk Woman” (Rolling Stones), 21
Howard Stern show, 201–2, 204
Hudde Junior High, Brooklyn, 22, 107
Hughes, John, 145, 156
“I Ain’t Got You” (song from Ford Fairlane), 215
Idolmaker, The (film), 106
“I Love the Nightlife” (song), 111
Improv comedy club, New York, 66
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (Sinatra), 33
“I Want to Take You Higher” (Sly Stone), 21
Jackie Gleason Show, The (TV show), 17
Jackson, Michael, 174, 220, 236
Jackson, Victoria, 179
Jacobs, Max, 45, 46
James Madison High School, Brooklyn, 37–40, 41
Clay’s drum solo, 38–39
Jeanery clothing store, New York, 35
Jeremy, Ron, 89
Joel, Billy, 180
John, Elton, 236
Jones, Tom, 92
Josephson, Barry, 174–75, 186, 207, 211, 213, 219
Kaplan, Stanley, 35
Kath, Terry, 31, 32
Kathleen “Dollface” (first wife), 124–26, 127, 129
apartment of, and Clay’s account of sex at, 135–37
divorce from Clay, ix, 156
marriage to Clay, 133–37, 139–41, 153–56
pregnancy scare, 133, 139
return of, 253–55
Kathleen “Trini” (second wife), 179, 182, 189, 192, 231, 232, 281, 286, 306, 312, 313
appearance, 165
divorce from Clay, ix, 315
first pregnancy, 221
first son born, 239–40
home in Saddle River, New Jersey, 273
marries Clay, 257
meets Clay in Chicago, 165–70
Mercedes as present from Clay, 231
problems and marital difficulties, 257, 274, 289, 312, 315
second pregnancy, 289
second son born, 299
Katz, Larry, 35–36
KC and the Sunshine Band, 111
Kennedy, George, 124
Kerrigan, Eleanor, 315–17
Kill Bill (film), 161
King of New York (film), 159
Kinison, Sam, 131, 172, 173, 267
act of, 129–30
anger and jealousy of, 204–6
death of, 267–68
fistfight with Hot Tub Johnny, 205–6
friendship with Clay, 130–31, 134, 193, 267
Kirshner, Don, 108
Kogan, Sy, 51
Kool and the Gang, 320
Krupa, Gene, 11
“Lady Is a Tramp, The” (Sinatra), 33
Lake Tahoe, 91–92
Las Vegas
Clay buys Mercedes with gambling winnings, 230–31
Clay first gambles in, 92
Clay gambling in, 233–34, 257–64, 319
Clay in, xi–xii
Clay’s first appearance in (1979), 92
Laugh Factory, Los Angeles, 149
“Laughter in the Rain” (song), 43
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” (Presley), 15
Lawrence, Lee, 178, 215
Led Zeppelin, 21, 320
Lee, Tommy, 145
Leifer, Carol, 176
Lemmon, Jack, 186
Leno, Jay, 92, 108
Lethal Weapon (film), 203
Letterman, David, 108
Levenstein, Marty “Noodles,” 243
Lewis, Jerry, 63, 102, 123
Clay and remake of The Nutty Professor deal, 225–28
Buddy Love character, 63, 115, 123, 226
“Like a Prayer” (Madonna), 217
Lincoln Motel disco, Staten Island, 76–79
Lock Up (film), 207
Clay at the Forum, 222
Clay moves to, 1979, 91–94
Clay’s home in, 239, 273–74, 306, 310, 311
“Love the One You’re With” (Stills), 119
“Love Will Keep Us Together” (song), 43
“Love Won’t Let Me Wait” (Harris), 222
Lustig, Neil “Hot Tub Johnny West,” 52, 63, 81, 83–85, 139, 147–48, 187, 189, 205–6, 211, 212, 215, 230, 258, 269, 275, 282, 283, 285, 292
Madison Square Garden, 195
Clay returns to, October 26, 2000, 309–13
Clay sold-out performance, 1990, 197, 236–37
Main Event: Sinatra in Concert, 32–33, 232–33, 236
Madonna, 217, 220
Madson, Michael, 159, 161–62, 164
Mafia/the Mob/organized crime, 76–77
Bay Ridge social club and, 265–66
disappearance of the man from Bay Ridge, 304
Downtown Ronny, 127–28, 199–200, 265
Uncle Jay and Clay’s problem with, 301–4
wiseguy story, 302–3
Making the Grade (film), 143
Malandra, Mike “Happy Face,” 243–45, 258, 275, 297, 312
Mancini, Henry, 96–97
Mandel, Howie, 147
Mann, Michael, 157, 159
Marcucci, Bob, 105–6
Maria, Jimmy D., 22, 107
; Married with Children (TV show), 215
Martin, Dean, 102
Martin, Steve, 108, 130
McCawley, Jim, 104
McKagan, Duff, 222
Metallica (band), 180
Miami, Florida, 17–18
Clay plays in, 221–22
celebrities and, 17
Parkview Point, 17
Silverstein family moves to, 17
Miami Beach Auditorium, 17
Miami Vice (TV show), 157
Michael, George, 189–90
Michaels, Lorne, 247–48
Miller, Larry, 71
Mirage, Las Vegas, 259–60, 261–63
Mitchelson, Marvin, 253–55
Modern Family (TV show), 215
Moore, Steve, 96
Moriarity, Cathy, 300
Mötley Crüe (band), 145
MTV, 217–20
Clay banned from, 219–20
Murphy, Eddie, 71, 130–31, 190, 251
Musiker, Lee, 42–43, 46
Musiker, Mr. (high school music teacher), 38–39
My Cousin Vinny (film), 243
“My Kind of Town” (Sinatra), 16
My Two Dads (TV show), 217
Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, New York, 222–23
Nelson, Judd, 143
New Line Cinema, 227
Newman, Paul, 124
Newton, Wayne, 92, 203, 215, 229–33
throws party for Clay, 231–33
New York Daily News, 193
New York Times, 193
Night Patrol (film), 145
No Apologies (TV special), 270–71
Nutty Professor, The (film), 63, 123–24
Nutty Professor, The (remake, film), 71
Nutty Professor/Grease act by Clay, 63–66, 68–70, 79, 88, 89, 92, 105, 172
O’Connor, Sinéad, 248
“On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” (song), 43
O’Neill, Ed, 215
“One Night with You” (Presley), 15
Pacino, Al, 37, 114
Parise, Michael “Wheels,” 198–200, 202, 243, 261, 262–63, 265, 270, 275, 282, 300
Parker, Larry, 144–45
Parton, Dolly, 174
Paulsen, Pat, 145
Pearl Jam, 320
Pesci, Joe, 302
“Pick Up the Pieces” (song), 43
Pink Panther, The (film), 158
Pipasik, George, 208–9, 311–12
Pips comedy club, Brooklyn, New York, 27, 67
Clay comedy debut at, 67–70
Clay playing at, 81, 84, 91
Michael “Wheels” Parise at, 198–99
Wednesday Amateur Night, 67
Piscopo, Joe, 67
Playboy mansion, 317
Poitier, Sidney, 186
Power, Tyrone, 102
Prater, Ollie Joe, 97, 100–102, 108, 113, 134, 282
Presley, Elvis, 15–16, 114, 258
Clay’s favorite goof and, 275–77
clothes of, influence on Clay, 108
influence on Clay, 15–16, 47, 65, 130, 187, 198, 215
Presley, Priscilla, 203, 215
Pretty in Pink (film), 145, 156
Pretty Woman (film), 71
Private Resort (film), 143