10 Things You May Not Know About Andrew Dice Clay Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Close
Is It Time to Take Andrew Dice Clay Seriously
10 unexpected things we learned about the controversial comic-turned-actor
Andrew Dice Clay as Butchie in "Pam & Tommy." Kelsey McNeal/Hulu Andrew Silverstein, 64, won fame in the 1980s by creating an alter ego, the shock comic Andrew Dice Clay, described by The New York Times A Star Is Born
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. 1 He wanted to act not tell jokes
I started out to be an actor. I couldn’t care less about comedy. But instead of acting school, I got on a stage every night. The whole comedy stand-up career took over. It just became a phenomenon. It hurt the drama for a while. The last decade I’ve gotten to work with the likes of (Vinyl) and Woody Allen (Blue Jasmine). Doing those kinds of roles is what I really started out to do. I’m glad I’m getting to do that now. 2 He ran with the cool kids
The ’80s and the ’90s was a decadent time in rock ’n’ roll and comedy. I hung with Billy Idol, Guns N’ Roses, and some would become real friends. It was crazy, like, I couldn’t believe it. Tommy Lee — he was with Heather Locklear then — he really liked me. Tommy grabs me and he goes, “Would you want to do the Garden with us?” I couldn’t believe he would even talk to me. This was before my career took off. I said, “If you're crazy enough to take me on, I’m crazy enough to do it.” Of course, I never heard from him. We reconnected when I went to a Bon Jovi concert. 3 He shows respect
I used to go to Crave on Sunset Boulevard a lot, and Pamela Anderson was always there with her girlfriends. I would sit right next to her, but unless I knew somebody, I wasn’t getting into another celebrity’s face. I didn’t want to be bothered, and I didn’t want to bother anybody. Unless you lock eyes and you sort of say hello — next thing you know, you’re talking. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > 5 He s evolved
At that time “Dice” was like a robotic cartoon onstage. It was a certain time in history. The younger “Dice” never even thought about that stuff, but it’s been about 34 years since my career took off and so you evolve. When I hear my older performances I go, “Wow, that was crazy.” I enjoy performing more now. I’m more myself onstage today than ever. 6 He raised a pair of chips off the old block
My sons have a rock band, Still Rebel, and they’ve done Ozzfest and Sonic Temple festival. One of them goes back and forth with stand-up. But they’re doing it their way. I would take them up hiking in Runyon Canyon when they were young, and to Gold’s Gym. You know, teach by example. Now they are men. They do it on their own. 7 He won t hide infirmities
This summer I wound up with Bell’s palsy. It’s about 75 percent better. I did a ton of shows, from Detroit to Jersey. When your lip is down to your chin and your eyelid is down to your nose, you feel a little vulnerable. I would make fun of it. I didn’t hide. A lot of celebrities, they get a little thing, they try to hide. That’s one thing that’s very real about me. It’s just show business. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS