1. Early Life and Religious Background
Samuel Burl Kinison's early life was marked by a strong religious upbringing and personal challenges that would later influence his comedic style.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Samuel Burl Kinison was born in Yakima, Washington, on December 8, 1953, to Marie Florence (née Morrow) and Samuel Earl Kinison, a Pentecostal preacher. When Kinison was three months old, his family relocated to East Peoria, Illinois. At the age of three, he was hit by a truck, an accident that left him with brain damage and epilepsy. His father pastored several churches across the country, often earning very little income.
Kinison had two older brothers, Richard and Bill, and a younger brother, Kevin. His parents divorced when he was 11 years old. After the divorce, his brother Bill went to live with their father, while Kinison, despite his protests, remained with the rest of the family. Bill later suggested that this separation was a significant source of Sam's underlying anger. Kinison attended East Peoria Community High School in East Peoria.
1.2. Preaching Career
Following in their father's footsteps, Kinison and his brothers became Pentecostal preachers. Between 1968 and 1969, Kinison attended Pinecrest Bible Training Center, an interdenominational, unaccredited three-year bible school in Salisbury Center, New York. After his mother remarried another preacher, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Kinison also lived for a period.
He preached from the age of 17 to 24. Recordings of his sermons reveal a "fire and brimstone" style, punctuated by shouts that bore a striking resemblance to the vocalizations he would later employ in his stand-up routines. Despite his passionate delivery, his brother Bill noted that Kinison "ironically, he had no stage presence" and was not particularly successful at generating income from preaching, as he prioritized making sermons informative over entertaining. After his first divorce, Kinison abandoned his ministry and transitioned into comedy, initially working as a temporary preacher when he was struggling financially.
2. Career in Comedy
Kinison's career in comedy evolved from humble beginnings in local clubs to national and international recognition, largely due to his aggressive and controversial style.
2.1. Early Career and Influences
Kinison began his comedy career in Houston, Texas, performing in small clubs. He became a member of a comedic group at the Comedy Workshop known as the Texas Outlaw Comics, which included notable comedians such as Bill Hicks, Ron Shock, Riley Barber, Steve Epstein, Andy Huggins, John Farneti, and Jimmy Pineapple. Bill Hicks cited Kinison as a major influence on his own comedic style, remarking that Kinison "was the first guy I ever saw to go on stage and not in any way ask the audience to like him."
In 1980, Kinison moved to Los Angeles with aspirations of working at The Comedy Store, initially finding employment as a doorman. During this period, he developed a severe cocaine and alcohol addiction, rapidly progressing to freebasing cocaine. He struggled to establish himself in the comedy business until his brother Bill relocated to Los Angeles to help manage his career.
2.2. Rise to Stardom
Kinison's major breakthrough occurred in August 1985 with his appearance on HBO's Rodney Dangerfield's Ninth Annual Young Comedians Special. Reviewer Stephen Holden of The New York Times noted Kinison's performance, describing him as "the savagely funny Sam Kinison" who specialized in a "grotesque animalist howl that might be described as the primal scream of the married man." This unique vocalization, often likened to a heavy metal singer's shriek, captivated audiences. Kinison later appeared in Rodney Dangerfield's 1986 film Back to School, where his powerful shouts contributed to a scene that remains legendary in comedy.
His debut television appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 1985 further propelled him to fame. David Letterman's introduction of Kinison famously warned his audience, "Brace yourselves. I'm not kidding. Please welcome Sam Kinison." The performance, characterized by its instant and overwhelming laughter, solidified Kinison's innovative comedic style as one of the most compelling of his time.
Kinison often drew upon his past as a preacher, delivering satirical and sacrilegious commentary on the Bible, Christianity, and the prominent Christian evangelist scandals of his era. A significant example was his incorporation of the 1988 Jim Bakker scandal into his routines. The scandal, involving the head of the PTL Club television ministry, became a source of Kinison's material, especially given that a former playmate and girlfriend of Kinison's was among the women involved. This approach, which blended his religious background with biting social commentary, transcended mere comedy to become a form of radical social antithesis, garnering widespread resonance and pushing him to even greater heights of stardom. His 1986 Chevrolet Corvette notably featured a personalized license plate that read "EX REV," a nod to his former profession.

2.3. Comedic Style and Themes
Kinison's comedic style was defined by his aggressive delivery, punctuated by his distinctive, high-pitched scream. He tackled controversial subjects with a raw and unfiltered approach, including relationships, religion, and broader social commentary. His humor was often described as crass observational comedy, particularly when addressing themes related to women and dating. He harnessed the energetic, high-pitched, and extreme talkativeness he had developed during his time as a Pentecostal preacher, often culminating in an "Ahhh!" scream at the peak of his excitement. This unique blend of personal history and provocative content allowed his comedy to function as a powerful form of social critique.
2.4. Connections with the Music Industry
Kinison maintained close ties with the Los Angeles rock and metal music scene, forging strong connections with numerous musicians from the late 1980s. He often toured with a band and frequently performed secret live shows in Los Angeles clubs after hours, often for an invited audience of insiders and fans. He possessed a remarkable singing ability and a powerful shout that rivaled professional musicians, sometimes performing with a fluid lineup of band members, including Chuck Wright of Quiet Riot.
His musical endeavors extended to collaborative projects, such as his 1988 cover of "Wild Thing". This recording notably featured a gathering of top LA metal players from bands like RATT, Mötley Crüe, Dokken, and Quiet Riot, who not only participated in the recording but also appeared in the promotional music video. Other notable artists from different genres, such as Billy Idol, and Japanese musician 藤本智司Sato FuimotoJapanese, also contributed, symbolizing the widespread respect and camaraderie Kinison commanded within the music industry.
Following his death, there were discussions and press releases between 2008 and 2013 regarding a potential dramatic film based on the memoir Brother Sam: The Short, Spectacular Life of Sam Kinison, co-authored by his brother Bill Kinison and Steve Delsohn. At one point, HBO was reported to be developing the film with Dan Fogler cast as Kinison. Later, the project was considered for the big screen, with Josh Gad slated to headline. Bill Kinison also mentioned that at the time of Sam's death, film deals were in development for projects with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rick Moranis.
3. Personal Life and Struggles
Kinison's personal life was marked by complex relationships, family tragedies, and legal challenges, which often influenced his comedic material.
3.1. Marriages and Relationships
Much of Kinison's early comedic material was drawn from his experiences in his first two marriages: to Patricia Adkins (1975-1980) and Terry Marze (1981-1989). Towards the end of his marriage to Marze, he began a relationship with dancer Malika Souiri.
Despite his public image, Kinison was known to be very caring in his relationships. While he often frequented the Rainbow Bar & Grill in West Hollywood accompanied by several adult film actresses, this was reportedly part of his image strategy, and he was not promiscuous in his personal life. His tendency towards loneliness was a key factor in his strong friendships with musicians, as he found it difficult to be without people to socialize with.
On April 4, 1992, just six days before his death, Kinison married Malika Souiri at the Candlelight Chapel in Las Vegas. They spent five days honeymooning in Hawaii before returning to Los Angeles on April 10 to prepare for a sold-out show that night in Laughlin, Nevada.
After Kinison's death, Malika Souiri sued his brother, Bill Kinison, in 1995 for allegedly defaming her in his book Brother Sam: The Short Spectacular Life of Sam Kinison. She sued Bill a second time in 2009, claiming he forged Sam's will, a fact she alleged she did not discover until 2007. In February 2011, the Toronto Sun reported that Kinison had fathered a child with the wife of his best friend and opening act, Carl LaBove. LaBove had been paying child support for the girl for nearly 13 years. LaBove filed legal papers asserting the girl was Kinison's, and DNA tests conducted using samples from Kinison's brother Bill indicated a 99.8% probability that Sam was the father of the unnamed woman.
3.2. Family Tragedies and Legal Issues
In May 1988, Kinison was devastated by the death of his youngest brother, Kevin, who died by suicide at the age of 28.
In 1990, Malika Souiri alleged that she was raped by a man Kinison had hired as a bodyguard while Kinison was asleep in the house. The bodyguard claimed the sex was consensual. The jury in the subsequent trial deadlocked, and the charges were later dropped. This incident reportedly inspired Kinison to attempt to reform his life, leading him to try to live a straighter life with Souiri and join an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter. By March 1990, he was telling audiences that he was no longer using drugs.
Kinison frequently attended rock shows and often socialized with musicians. In May 1991, he was involved in an altercation with guitarist Slash at a hotel after Slash missed a planned appearance at one of Kinison's shows. Slash stated that Kinison nearly "choked [him] to death" before Slash's bandmate Duff McKagan intervened. Both Slash and McKagan declined to press charges after the incident.
4. Death and Funeral
Sam Kinison's life was cut short by a tragic car accident, which occurred just as he was experiencing a significant career resurgence.
4.1. The Fatal Car Accident
On April 10, 1992, Kinison was driving his 1989 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am with his newlywed wife in the passenger seat. They were en route to Laughlin, Nevada, for a sold-out show at the Riverside Casino, a trip that also served as a continuation of their honeymoon. Just minutes after leaving his home, his vehicle was struck head-on on Needles Highway, approximately 3.2 mile north of Interstate 40 (Exit 141), near the coordinates 34.896180 N, 114.644944 W. The collision involved a pickup truck driven by a 17-year-old juvenile named Troy Pierson, who had been drinking alcohol prior to the crash. Pierson's truck crossed the center line of the roadway while attempting to pass another vehicle, entering Kinison's lane and colliding with his car.
Ironically, Kinison had recently achieved a complete recovery from years of alcohol and drug abuse to marry Souiri. This personal transformation had also led to a successful career rebuilding, with renewed trust from film studios, major television networks, promoters, and agents, all of whom anticipated and had promised even greater success for him. The accident occurred precisely at this promising juncture.
After the crash, Kinison initially appeared stable, with only minor visible facial wounds. He managed to exit his vehicle and sat down on the side of the road. However, he soon succumbed to severe internal injuries. He was not wearing his seat belt, and his head had struck the windshield. He was 38 years old at the time of his death. His wife sustained a concussion in the collision but recovered after being transported to a hospital in Needles for treatment.
Kinison's last words, reportedly spoken to no one in particular at the crash scene, were "why now?". After a pause, he asked "but why?", and following another pause, he stated "okay, okay, okay". A friend who was present at the scene later recounted, "Whatever voice was talking to him gave him the right answer and he just relaxed with it." An autopsy revealed that Kinison suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including a dislocation in his cervical spine, a torn aorta, and torn blood vessels in his abdominal cavity, leading to his death within minutes of the impact.
Troy Pierson pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He was sentenced to one year of probation, 300 hours of community service, and had his driver's license suspended for two years in connection with the collision.
4.2. Funeral and Burial
A funeral service for Sam Kinison was held on April 15, 1992, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burbank, California. His body was subsequently buried in a family grave plot at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The inscription on his gravestone reads: "In another time and place he would have been called prophet."
5. Legacy and Critical Reception
Sam Kinison's legacy is marked by his profound influence on comedy and his controversial yet enduring presence in popular culture.
5.1. Tributes and Commemorations
Following his death, Kinison was fondly remembered by his friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry. Comedian George Carlin dedicated his eighth HBO stand-up comedy special, Jammin' in New York, to Kinison's memory, displaying the words "This show is for SAM" on screen at the beginning of the broadcast.
Ozzy Osbourne shared a poignant recollection of Kinison's final moments, stating, "Apparently when Sam had the accident, I heard he got out of the car and looked up to the heavens and said, 'I don't want to die,' and then just said, 'Oh, okay,' and laid down and died. It sounds crazy and will probably offend a lot of my fans, but I believe there's a higher power. Some people may think Sam Kinison's in one place, but I know where he is. He's upstairs; he's next to God."
On May 23, 1993, the FOX network aired a special titled A Tribute to Sam Kinison. This program featured archival footage of Kinison's performances and stand-up comedy sets by fellow comedians, including Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, and Jim Carrey.
5.2. Criticism and Controversy
Kinison's comedy material faced criticism, at times being accused of containing misogyny and homophobia, as noted in a retrospective on his career in the Los Angeles Times. For instance, the group Queer Nation Nebraska organized a demonstration outside a Kinison show in Lincoln, Nebraska, in February 1991, chanting "Anti-woman, anti-gay, Sam Kinison go away!"
His album Have You Seen Me Lately? was released with a disclaimer sticker that read: "The Material On This Album Does Not Reflect The Views Or Opinions Of Warner Bros. Records." Employees at Warner Brothers had even requested that their bosses not release the album due to the controversial nature of the material on his first record.
In a 2016 article for New York, John Hugar discussed how the comedy of past comedians, including Kinison, has not always been well-received by younger generations, suggesting that their material might be viewed as anachronistically sexist and misogynistic over time. Hugar acknowledged that a modern reevaluation of Kinison's work is complex, partly because it is debatable whether he was speaking as himself or intentionally portraying a shocking character.
5.3. Cultural Impact
Sam Kinison had a significant influence on subsequent generations of comedians, and he continues to hold an enduring place in popular culture as a unique and often polarizing figure. His aggressive, confessional, and often boundary-pushing style paved the way for many who followed.
6. Discography
Sam Kinison released several albums and singles throughout his career, showcasing his distinctive comedic and musical talents.
6.1. Albums
- Louder Than Hell (1986)
- Breaking The Rules (1987)
- Have You Seen Me Lately? (1988) - This album was a rare nationwide hit for a comedy talk recording and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
- Leader of the Banned (1990)
- Live from Hell (1993) - This album posthumously earned him a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1994.
6.2. Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
AUS | |||
"Wild Thing" | 1988 | 19 | Have You Seen Me Lately? |
7. Filmography
Sam Kinison's filmography includes a range of appearances in film, television, and music videos, reflecting his diverse presence in media.
7.1. Film
- Savage Dawn (1985)
- Back to School (1986)
- Three Amigos (1986) (scenes deleted)
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2004) (archive footage)
- I Am Sam Kinison (2017) (Documentary)
7.2. Television
- Rodney Dangerfield Hosts the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special (1985)
- Saturday Night Live (1985-1986, guest performer; 1986, host)
- Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me (1986)
- Rodney Dangerfield: Opening Night at Rodney's Place (1989, guest star)
- Married... with Children (1989, guest star)
- Tales from the Crypt (1990, guest star)
- Charlie Hoover (1991, as Hugh)
- In Living Color (Season 3, Episode 7, closing skit, Sunday, November 3, 1991)
- Fox New Year's Eve Live: 1992 (1991-1992, co-host)
7.3. Other Appearances and Music Videos
- Live in a Rusted Out Garage concert video, Neil Young (1986) (Extended Cameo)
- Breaking the Rules (1987) (HBO Special)
- "Wild Thing" music video, Sam Kinison (1988)
- "Bad Medicine" music video, Bon Jovi (1988) (Cameo)
- "Under My Thumb" music video, Sam Kinison (1989)
- "Kickstart My Heart" music video, Mötley Crüe (1989) (Cameo)
- "The Kids Goes Wild" music video, Babylon A.D. (1989) (Voice Over)
- "The Walk" music video, Cherry St. (1989) (Cameo)
- "Mississippi Queen" music video, Sam Kinison (1990)
- "Heartbeat" music video, D'Priest (1990) (Cameo)
- "What Do I Have To Do" music video, Kylie Minogue (1991) (Voice Over)
- Family Entertainment Hour (1991)
- Unleashed (2006) Sam Kinison Banned Live at Felt Forum NYC 1990