Before appearing as Marty Funkhouser in Larry David ’s improvisational HBO comedyCurb Your Enthusiasm , doer Bob Einstein was familiar to cable’s length interview as “ Super Dave ” Osborne , an alter self create as a parody of reckless daredevils likeEvel Knievel . Like a human cartoon , Osborne ’s bravado would usually get him maimed .
1. Bob Einstein is the brother of Albert Brooks.
No Super Dave fuze would be complete without acknowledgment of the fact that Einstein vied for attention as a child with youthful brother Albert , who sound on to become an acclaimed writer , director , and actor with films like 1985’sLost in Americaand 1991’sDefending Your Life . clearly , Albert realized that a show business career might be hindered by his Father-God ’s refutable determination to name him “ Albert Einstein , ” so he change his name to Albert Brooks . Bob kept the family surname .
2. The Super Dave character wasn’t directly inspired by Evel Knievel.
When Einstein came up with the Super Dave character reference for a 1976 potpourri show , Van Dyke and Company , Evel Knievel ’s popularity was in full swing . The lunatic — who had break dozens of bones jumping over the fountains at Caesar ’s Palace in 1967 and afterward achieved superstardom doing similarly badly - counsel stunts — seemed ripe for parody . But according to Einstein , Super Dave was born more out of the false bravado he had seen exhibit by stuntmen in the flick business . “ Where it started was from every a**hole who worked on a movie or worked in sport or anything and when they were interviewed they were always Mr. Gladhand,”Einstein order the Futon Criticin 2009 . " ' This was the best game I ever had ! ’ ‘ This is the best stunt I ’ve ever done ! ’ But then behind the scenes they said what they really felt . I want to create a character where you see both English of it . He was happy as sh*t before he got killed and then afterwards you assure the veridical side of him , so that ’s where it come from . It did n’t really have to do with Evel except that I was a stuntman . ”
3.Super Davemight have been cable TV’s first spin-off series.
Einstein portrayed Super Dave in a Showtime miscellanea series titledBizarrefrom 1979 to 1985 . In 1987 , the cable canal gave the character his own series , Super Dave , whichThe New York Timesdeclared“cable ’s first spin - off serial ” and a “ doubtful turning point of kind . ” Super Dave ’s first episode feature guest appearance by Ray Charles and Carol Burnett .
4. Bob Einstein nearly seriously injured himself for real.
Super Dave aficionado are familiar with the graphic symbol ’s formula , which involves bragging about his stunt artistry before inevitably getting mangled , crushed , or otherwise maim after thing go awry . ( In one sketch , Super Dave plummet to sure destruction after his bungee cord corduroy snap . His assistant tries to lower an ambulance via bungee cord , which then falls on him . ) But for a 1990 episode , Einstein told theLos Angeles Timesthat he came close to getting decimated for tangible . Trying to navigate a “ corrida ” in a mini - Cooper with a tank , the elephantine military vehicle advanced after Einstein ’s car stalled out , nearly drop him .
5. Super Dave endorsed Nike.
Super Davebecame a cult cable come to in the early 1990s — enough for Nike to invite Einstein to appear in a serial of commercial for Nike Air place alongside Reggie Miller and other NBA stars . As with most of Super Dave ’s stunts , his attempt to out - maneuver basketball ’s upright players typically did not finish well .
6. Super Dave had his own animated series.
In 1991 , Super Dave enrol a new dimension — animation — withSuper Dave : Daredevil for Hire , ashort - livedanimated serial on Fox that aired for 13 episodes in 1992 . Something appeared to get lost in translation , as Osborne was already a animated cartoon and relegating him to vivification seemed somewhat superfluous .
7. Friends called Bob “Dave” in public.
Actors are unremarkably irritated when they ’re bewildered for their onscreen personas , but Einstein and Super Dave became so linked that Einstein ’s friend — andSuper Daveco - God Almighty — Allan Blye repair to call him “ Dave ” when the two were out in public . “ When I call him Bob , people are very confused , ” BlyetoldThe New York Timesin 1995 . “ Super Dave Osborne , to millions of the great unwashed , is a real person . ”
8. Einstein resurrected Super Dave on several occasions.
A version of this report ran in 2017 ; it has been updated for 2021 .
