How Andrew Dice Clay reinvented himself for a new generation with the antics of the ‘Fool’ character

Andrew Dice Clay doesn’t do anything by halves. Even his breakfast orders are taken to the limit of his eating capacity.

“Three scrambled eggs, very nice. The hash browns are done, just burn them. Wheat toast, destroy it,” he instructs the waiter at the Madison restaurant in Manhattan’s Midtown East, dangling an unlit Marlboro Light from his hand — the comedian quit smoking in 2017.

It’s a cheat meal for Dice, who is shaping up for his stand-up show at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 15 — a triumphant return for the comic, who sold out Madison Square Garden two consecutive nights in 1990.

“I shrink and fall to pieces,” Dice, who grew up Jewish in Sheepshead Bay, told me about his body. “I scream like a Jewish person, not like an Italian. The Jewish people are not doomed.”

As a foul-mouthed Mother Goose in a black leather jacket – “Hickory Dickory Dock” becomes a signature routine; We can’t print the rest – dice ,n Andrew Silverstein) reinvented stand-up in the late 1980s and early 90s.

Today, at the age of 66, he is still a committed artist.

“I still have a strong desire to do really great shows,” he said. “I don’t call it that for nothing.”

His dedication to his art has led to an unparalleled resurgence across social media.

In video after video, Dice walks up to distraught strangers on the street or in airports, and asks, in his distinctly Brooklynese, if they are “the people who wanted a picture with him”.

Their targets become confused, unable to recognize this world-famous man whom they dismiss as a runaway madman.

“This is the character of a fool. I call him Doobie,” Dice said. “He’s Dice’s stupid brother. I love it.”

People might not recognize him – to be fair, he’s older, browner and in a tie – but they love the videos. She has 1.7 million likes on TikTok and has gained 100,000 new followers on Instagram in the past month. Even the New York Times recently described her performance art on the streets of New York as “Norma Desmond.”

Although his new character may be bumbling and foolish, Dice is finally beginning to be understood as an artist. Certified.

“What no one understood throughout my career was that it was never about comedy. It was about acting. I took to the comedy stage to develop my own style of acting. And dice evolved,” he said. “Now they understand. Now they understand what I do. better late than never.”

In the 1990s, an unattainable dice was a walking parental-warning label, boycotted by women’s groups and gay groups. MTV banned her after an altercation with producer Dick Clark at the 1989 VMAs. He had a very remarkable television career and a busy life raising his sons, Dillon and Max, with ex-wife Kathleen Monica.

But in 2011, the Diceman was revived by an arc on “Entourage.” Two years later, she gave a powerful performance in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.” And things moved on: He landed a role in Scorsese’s HBO show “Vinyl,” starred in the Showtime series “Dice” and won praise playing Lady Gaga’s father in “A Star is Born.”

Dice has recently been cast in “The Pickup” alongside Pete Davidson and Eddie Murphy.

“I like Eddie Murphy. He’s a real star… He’s the only person who supported me when the press was against me,” Dice said, adding that Murphy told him during his early career when he was criticized for vulgarity. , “Don’t let them mess with me” you.”

Now, comedian Bill Burr is providing assistance.

In 2021, Dice was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy temporary situation This caused his right cheek to droop – and diminished his confidence on big stages.

That all changed in June, when a recovered Dice visited Burr at the Prudential Center and the comedian called him onstage. A star was reborn.

Dice recalled: “I proved something that night.” He can still set the arena on fire.

,[Burr] Didn’t know about my physical problems. He didn’t know what I was facing. I give him credit for flipping that switch again. Next thing I know, I’m doing a Carnegie Hall commercial.”

Although he has retained his electric swagger, Dice’s material has evolved. He’s more self-deprecating—expressing concerns over aging, pill commercials, and retirement, but with his characteristic edge.

“I don’t trust 1990. It was a different time in America. It was a different attitude. Everything is changed.”

Even his attitude towards love.

After swearing off relationships, she has found the one.

“I call her Sugarplum,” he said, dropping the “r” because she’s Southern. “She is the best girl I have ever been with. I have been married three times, each marriage more toxic than the last. I have been with this girl for four and a half years and there has never been any argument between us.

Sometimes “Sugaplum”, whom he met through opening act Eleanor Kerrigan, films their street encounters from a distance, like a wildlife photographer.

After more than three decades in business, Dice is like a celebrity jukebox. Drop a boldface name and he’ll get a great story. Sinatra advised him to take over the industry. Bradley Cooper’s mom is a fan. Guns N’ Roses, well, he’s responsible for their reunion. Wayne Newton introduced him to Ol’ Blue Eyes, and when he became famous Billy Joel was the first celebrity to call him.

However, when the subject turns to his late parents, Jackie and Fred Silverstein, he becomes sadder and softer.

When his father was dying, he made a prophecy for the dice. “He told me, ‘You’re going to climb up there again. And they’ll never let you down.'”

Fred’s prediction was based on the belief that the industry would see the full breadth of his son’s talent – ​​not just in comedy.

“My parents would have loved it,” Dice said of his upcoming Carnegie Hall concert.

Then he asked me if I wanted “da picture.” A lifelong fan of his, I went up to the booth with him and thanked him.