Began career at age 15, sending jokes to columnists Walter Winchell and Earl Wilson.
Hired as a writer for Your Show Of Shows at age 19; also wrote gags for Bob Hope, Buddy Hackett and Art Carney.
Worked as a scriptwriter under Jack Paar and was an occasional guest and substitute host for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
Frequently published articles in The New Yorker magazine and has authored several books, including Getting Even (1971), Without Feathers (1975), Side Effects (1980), and Mere Anarchy (2007).