Rick Newman, founder of Catch a Rising Star, has passed away
February 21, 2023 Andrew Buss Features, In Memoriam, News
A day after we reported on the news that Richard Belzer – whom among many things was once the famed emcee of New York’s Catch a Rising Star – had passed, last night we learned some more sad news. Rick Newman, founder of the comedy club staple of the 70’s and 80’s, has passed away.
Newman opened up the club in December 1972. Over the years, some of the biggest names in comedy passed through the club, including Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Elayne Boosler, David Brenner, Larry David, Gilbert Gottfried, Eddie Murphy, Richard Lewis, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Louis C.K., Ray Romano, and countless others. Additionally, the club also featured singers, and was responsible for Pat Benatar’s big break. Newman even wound up representing her.
Catch, which competed with other New York clubs like the Improv, The Comic Strip, and Dangerfield’s, made a substantial impact on both the comedy community and all the comics that passed through its doors. The club – which started out on 1st Avenue before reopening on W 28th street in the 90’s – spawned off additional locations in Reno, NV, Providence, RI, Princeton, NJ, and Monticello, NY.
The passing of Newman is also significant, as he was the last of the main staple comedy club owners of the 70’s to pass away. This follows Mitzi Shore of The Comedy Store in 2018, Richie Tienken of The Comic Strip in 2021, and Bud Friedman of The Improv in 2022.
It’s the end of an era for important time in comedy, as the comedy boom of the 80’s and 90’s plays a major role in the overall history of stand-up. Thankfully, we still have the stories of all the comics who walked through the doors of Catch to help bring us back to that place.
Comedians took to social media today to share their memories of Newman.
#RickNewman owner of #CatchaRisingStar the comedy club has died. He gave me and so many our starts as stand ups. Devastating the day after #RichardBelzer the host at Catch,first to intro me as a comic in ‘74 & a great friend also passed. 2 pillars of my career gone.
Sad times.— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) February 21, 2023
Thank you Rick Newman. Thank you for everything, safe passage. https://t.co/CowfghINuf
— Rick Overton (@rickoverton) February 21, 2023
RIP Rick Newman. I will always be grateful to him- he booked me on a show that changed the course of my career. https://t.co/6PTUb5aQeK
— Laurie Kilmartin- Albany NY Feb 24/25 (@anylaurie16) February 21, 2023
