Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Synopsis
For fans of comedy, Sam Kinison needs no introduction. His scathing comedy tackled tough topics no other comedian dared to touch. Fed up and disenfranchised with his career as a Pentacostal preacher, Sam left the ministry to try his hand at comedy. Almost immediately, and thanks in part to the foresight of Rodney Dangerfield who showcased Sam on an HBO special, his piercing scream, extreme humor and irreverent take on life attracted attention. Containing rare, early footage of Sam preaching and performing stand up at the world famous Comedy Store, the Award Winning "Why Did We Laugh" tells the story of a comedic genius who touched a deeper chord in people than most entertainers. Sadly, Sam was taken from us far too early, yet leaving us with a lasting and unique legacy.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
April 1, 1999
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Larry Carroll
- Screenplay & Story
- Larry Carroll, Sam Kinison
- Original Score
- Paul Hoffman, Bill Lane, Frank Floyd
- Original Title
- Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Larry Carroll
Larry Carroll, Sam Kinison
Paul Hoffman, Bill Lane, Frank Floyd
Larry Carroll, Arnold H. Orgolini, Linda Agnelli, Stuart Garret, Bill Kinison
Department Leadership Roster
Arnold H. Orgolini
Producer
Larry Carroll
Director
Linda Agnelli
Producer
Paul Hoffman
Original Music Composer
Bill Lane
Original Music Composer
Frank Floyd
Original Music Composer
Larry Carroll
Writer
Sam Kinison
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?.
MovieLens[40K:50K]
Silly Comedies
Stand up
Stand up comedy
Comedy Documentaries
Comedy Documentaries
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh?
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? about?
For fans of comedy, Sam Kinison needs no introduction. His scathing comedy tackled tough topics no other comedian dared to touch. Fed up and disenfranchised with his career as a Pentacostal preacher, Sam left the ministry to try his hand at comedy. Almost immediately, and thanks in part to the foresight of Rodney Dangerfield who showcased Sam on an HBO special, his piercing scream, extreme humor and irreverent take on life attracted attention. Containing rare, early footage of Sam preaching and performing stand up at the world famous Comedy Store, the Award Winning "Why Did We Laugh" tells the story of a comedic genius who touched a deeper chord in people than most entertainers. Sadly, Sam was taken from us far too early, yet leaving us with a lasting and unique legacy.
Who directed Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh??
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? was directed by Larry Carroll.
Who stars in Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh??
The principal cast of Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? includes Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Dennis Miller, Judy Tenuta.
When was Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? released and how long is it?
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh??
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? was composed by Paul Hoffman, Bill Lane, Frank Floyd.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh??
Sam Kinison: Why Did We Laugh? holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).