Morty Gunty - 1
January 3rd, 2007
Morty Gunty was a New York Jewish comedian in the grand, old tradition. Like so many others, he learned his craft by working the clubs in the Catskills.
Morty Gunty was in the original TV pilot for what later became “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” playing a nebbish. The part was reworked into Morey Amsterdam’s character. It was called “Head of the Family,” and the video has a little bit of it with Carl Reiner in the role that he would give to Van Dyke.
Morty Gunty. A name that shall haunt me forever. Why? I’ll get to that later, but first take note of the passage I’ve highlighted below in his obituary from The New York Times.
Published: July 17, 1984
Morty Gunty, the Brooklyn-born nightclub comic who played himself in the recent Woody Allen film, ”Broadway Danny Rose,” died of cancer yesterday in the Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn. He was 55 years old and lived in New City.
Mr. Gunty made his Broadway debut in 1967 in ”Love in E Flat.” He had his own local television show for children, ”The Funny Company,” and appeared in numerous benefits.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two daughters, Sheryl Seiferas of Fort Lee, N.J., and Lori Gunty; a brother, Elliott Gunty of Spring Valley, and his parents, Belle and Abraham Gunty of Lauderhill, Fla.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11:30 A.M. today at the Riverside Memorial Chapel, Amsterdam Avenue and 76th Street, in Manhattan.
Filed under: All Posts, Morty Gunty
4 Comments Add your own
1. jeaniebeanie | January 3rd, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Don’t worry, Dougie. I don’t think people of the Jewish faith believe in heaven, so you won’t have to face Morty at the pearly gates! And remember! I did terrible things too, at the age. It was I who broke your moon station back in 1963! I snuck down early in the hours of December 26th because you wouldn’t let me even LOOK at it the day before. Yes! I DID IT!
2. DogRat | January 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Watch the video on part 2. Don’t know if you know about this. I was outright stunned the first time I saw it. Morty finishes then BOOM! There they are. The one act no one would ever want to warm-up or follow.
3. DogRat | January 3rd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Oh, wait. Did I send you a copy of the DVD, Jean?
4. jeaniebeanie | January 4th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Yes, you sent us the video over two years ago. I know it was before Mom died. Molly LOVED it, especially the short, tantalizing B&W Pillsbury commercials with the “hot, flaky biscuts.” She also made us play the Mr. Aker Bilk number over and over again! Tom loved the magician. We ALL loved the Beatles! So where IS the proof that you got his butt canned?
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