Given Larry Charles’ career, a memoir titled “Comedy Genius” wouldn’t have been too self-aggrandizing or off the mark. Charles was a writer on Seinfeld, directed Borat and Bruno, produced and directed classic episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and, most recently, helmed Dicks: The Musical. For decades, he’s made audiences laugh until it hurts.
He broke through the mainstream time and time again, mostly by breaking the rules — often showing people at their worst, especially in the case of Borat and Bruno. He’s found laughs in some of the darkest parts of the world, as in his series Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy. The man travels far for laughs.
Given his raucous Sullivan’s Travels journey, the title of his memoir — Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter — couldn’t be more apt. Comedy genius? Yes, maybe so. But first and foremost, a Comedy Samurai. The director wanders into towns and finds comedy, even when the laughs aren’t apparent or easy. He fights for his life at times to get laughs, accepting rather than running from danger.
Often, the comedy is in chaos.
Out of the chaos, with more and more bizarre life and professional experiences to share, Charles is left only with more questions than answers. He wrote a memoir full of pathos, sex, drugs, and comedy, with closure — but no real ending in sight to the questions that define his comedy and life.
Recently, Charles spoke with High Times Magazine about his journeys in the world of comedy, his lessons from working with Bob Dylan, and why he can’t complain.
Let’s begin with the end: there’s no tidy bow here. You’re left with questions, fewer answers. When you finished the book, did you still just feel like you’ …
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Author: Jack Giroux / High Times
