Andrew "Dice" Clay (born on September 29, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for his profane comedy in a career that has lasted more than 20 years. His popularity peaked in the late 1980s.
Director Jay Dubin was quoted on the "E! True Hollywood Story: Andrew 'Dice' Clay" as saying, in effect, "What's the bad news? That he's making seven figures in Vegas?", a reference to Clay's popular Las Vegas Strip comedy shows. He was ranked number 95 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. After a live comedy appearance on the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards he received a "lifetime ban" due to his profane language and offensive jokes. According to his new show Dice: Undisputed on VH1, Clay is engaged to Eleanor Kerrigan, a former professional wrestler with the professional name EZ Rider, from Women of Wrestling.
His first wife is Kathleen Swanson, whom he wed in 1984 and divorced in 1986. He called his two years of matrimony a "horror show". His second wife is Kathleen Monica -- he calls her Trini, and he has been married to her since 1992. The two met while he was on location filming the Chicago episodes of "Crime Story" (1986)--she was his waitress in a restaurant where he ate regularly. He has two sons with her--Max, who was born in 1990 and, Dylan, who was born in 1994. His first son is named after the character he played on "Crime Story", Max Goldman.
Has been managed by his father, Fred Silverstein, for most of his career.
Even after he made enormous amounts of money with his "Diceman" act he decided to live in his hometown borough of Brooklyn for a number of years.
He now resides somewhere in New Jersey, the hometown of his current wife.
Clay's "Dice Man" character is modeled after the main character in "The Dice Man" by Luke Rhinehart.
His trademark "Ooh!" is sampled in the popular dance club song "Unbelievable" by EMF.
Was the first and only person banned for life from MTV, for using foul language during the live broadcast of the music awards. The ban was subsequently lifted.
Was close to the late comic Sam Kinison.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 106-108. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Perhaps the only stand-up comic ever to sell out Madison Square Garden two nights in a row.
Used to employ a plant, fellow comic Ed "The Machine" Regine, to heckle him during his act. He would later open for Clay on tour.
Engaged to Eleanor Kerrigan.
