Ed Sullivan brought me to TV first in 1952, then Garry Moore's program gave me a lot of confidence and freedom.

The ability to absorb a book and make someone else's words and story your own was exactly was I was doing on stage.

My mother kept the house clean and we ate good. I didn't know we were poor until I started giving interviews.

Let's face it: It's difficult enough to be funny without worrying about what is going to offend whom.

A summary of every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat!

I always plan dinner first thing in the morning. That's the only way I can get through the day, having a specific meal to look forward to at night.

There's a charm, there's a rhythm, there's a soul to Jewish humor. When I first saw Richard Pryor perform, I told him, 'You're doing a Jewish act.'