Freddie Prinze

As a stand-up comedian Freddie Prinze, whose comedy performances were famous for a political edge that was poignant and raw, frequently took to the stage sans prepared material. Prinze was a self-titled "observation comic" whose routines included impressions of ethnic minorities and film stars such as Marlon Brando. One of his most famous impersonations was of his Puerto Rican apartment building superintendent who, when asked to fix a problem in the complex, would say with a thick accent, "Eez not my yob." The line became a national catch phrase in the early 1970s.

Because he was a heavyset child, Freddie Prinze's mother enrolled him in ballet classes at an early age to help him reduce his weight. Even though Prinze aspired to be a star --in particular, a musical entertainer, and not a dancer-- Freddie would later continue his ballet studies while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Although born Frederick Karl Pruetzel, Freddie Prinze changed his name to its Spanish derivative, Frederico Carlos, and billed himself as Freddie Prinze. According to his friend and fellow comedian, David Brenner, Freddie's last name selection was his second choice. He wanted to be known as the "King" of comedy, but since comedian Alan King had already assumed that name, he settled for Prinze, a play on the word "prince."