Marty Feldman: The Biography of a Comedy Legend

Marty Feldman was one of the true pioneers of comedy. 

Over a thirty year career he would embrace situation comedy, satire, slapstick, surrealism and even resurrect the glorious days of silent comedy. Marty proudly had the dust of music hall and variety on his big boots thanks to his time with the comedy troupe Morris, Marty and Mitch. It momentarily satisfied a desire for fame that would drive him throughout his life. 

Throughout the 1960s he was a major architect for the lunacy of Monty Python and the Goodies, guiding writers like John Cleese and Bill Oddie through early work on 'The Frost Report'. The oldest and most experienced of this gang of surrealists, Marty was also the first to became a major comedy star in his own right. Marty's own television shows of the late 1960s and early 1970s would win two British Film and Television Academy Awards and pick up the Golden Rose of Montreux. He achieved international stardom on American television appearing with everyone from Dean Martin to the Muppets and in international film comedy blockbusters opposite the likes of Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks. 

At the peak of his fame in the 1970s Marty became the Orson Welles of comedy. He was a wayward, indulged genius directing, producing, writing and starring in a string of white elephant romps which cost him his reputation and most of what was left of his sanity. In 1982 he ultimately reverted to pure comedy performance and died working, surrounded by friends in Mexico City, on Graham Chapman's pirate romp 'Yellowbeard'. 

He was just 48 years old. 

Marty has been the missing link in the history of British humour: until now. With first hand commentary from Marty's widow, Lauretta, and his sister, Pamela, never before published files from the B.B.C. and Granada Television, as well as copious unpublished photographs: this is the first and last word on a much-loved and respected legend of comedy.