Avery Schreiber


Avery Lawrence Schreiber was an American actor and comedian. He was a veteran of stage, television, and film who came to prominence in the 1960s in a comedy duo with Jack Burns. He then went on to an array of acting roles mostly on television sitcoms, and a series of popular advertisements for Doritos tortilla chips.

Life and career

Schreiber was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Minnie and George Schreiber. He started his career in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre. He joined The Second City and later teamed with Jack Burns to form the comedy team of Burns and Schreiber. They recorded several comedy albums and appeared on numerous television shows.
Schreiber is remembered for his many Doritos commercials during the 1970s and '80s, as well as his appearances on several television series. He was known for his trademark bushy handlebar moustache, curly hair, and comedic reactions.
In 1965, Schreiber played the role of Captain Manzini on My Mother the Car. In the summer of 1973 he co-hosted the ABC comedy The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour. He was a regular guest star on the situation comedy Chico and the Man, and was also a frequent guest panelist on the game show Match Game, and a guest in a first-season episode of The Muppet Show.
His film appearances include The Monitors, Don't Drink the Water, Deadhead Miles, Swashbuckler, The Last Remake of Beau Geste, The Concorde... Airport '79, Silent Scream, Scavenger Hunt, Caveman, Jimmy the Kid and .
Avery continued to work in film, television and theater, as well as teaching improvisational theater technique up until the time of his death. He taught master classes at The Second City in Chicago and Los Angeles, and also taught out of his home.
He and his wife Rochelle had two children.

Death

In 1994, Schreiber suffered a heart attack resulting from complications of diabetes. Though he survived triple coronary artery bypass surgery, he never fully recovered. He died of another heart attack on January 7, 2002 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Legacy

In 2003, the Avery Schreiber Theatre was founded in North Hollywood, California. In 2013, the Avery Schreiber Theatre changed its name to The Avery Schreiber Playhouse with the approval of Rochelle Isaacs Schreiber, Avery's widow. It is located at 4934 Lankershim Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District.

Filmography

Features

Television