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Jackie Mason Domestic Spat Reveals Seedier Side of Legendary Comedian’s Life

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Jackie Mason acknowledges well-wishers in 2006.He’s been making people laugh for decades – but Jackie Mason’s recent domestic spat with his girlfriend was no laughing matter, and it has revealed a somewhat seedier side of the famous comedian’s life.

On March 30, the police were called to Mason’s apartment on New York’s Upper West Side to deal with a reported domestic dispute that had turned violent. While Kaoro Suzuki-McMullen, 48 – apparently a girlfriend of Mason, who is still married to Jyll Rosenfeld – claimed that the 75-year-old comedian had assaulted her, the officers looked at Mason’s obvious bruises and determined that Suzuki-McMullen was the assailant. Following her arrest and release on her own recognizance, a judge ordered the paramour to keep her distance from the star.

A source revealed to the Daily News that the fight began when Mason asked his girlfriend, who works as a dental assistant, to leave his apartment. “He called down to the doorman on his cell phone,” the source said. “She took the phone from him, scratching and bruising his left wrist.” Suzuki-McMullen later explained that Mason flew into a jealous rage when she told him that she had a date with another man. She said that after he threatened to throw her out, he switched moods and begged her to stay. “I’ve never seen him like that before,” she said. “He told me I was the love of his life. We never fought before.”

This latest incident is a reminder of the unusual and interesting life that Jackie Mason has led. Born Yaakov Moshe Maza in Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side and seemed to be following in the footsteps of his forebears and brothers, who all became rabbis. Ordained as a rabbi at age 25, Mason gradually discovered that he was not cut out for the theological life, and quit the field after three years to become a professional comedian.
As his new career began to accelerate with stand-up comedy appearances at hotels and other public venues, Mason began doing his “shtick” – fast-talking and personalized riffs on various aspects of modern society, with a particular focus on the sociological differences between Jews and Gentiles – on television, most notably as a guest performer on The Ed Sullivan Show. Mason made headlines in 1964 when, while performing live on the top-rated variety program, he made a gesture toward Sullivan that the host perceived as obscene, though Mason insisted it was not. Enraged, Sullivan banned the comedian from his show – but two years later, Mason was welcomed back, and the host publicly apologized to him.

Mason’s career waned somewhat during the 1970’s, but in the 1980’s he made a spectacular comeback as a Broadway star, headlining the highly successful one-man show The World According To Me. Playing to sellout crowds for two years, The World also did phenomenally well as a touring show in both the United States and Europe. The show earned Mason a special Tony Award for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement in 1989, as well as his first Outer Critics Circle Award, Ace Award, Emmy Award and Grammy nomination for the soundtrack album. Mason continued to score big in subsequent years with such well-received theatrical productions as Jackie Mason: Brand New, Politically Incorrect, Love Thy Neighbor, Much Ado About Everything, Prune Danish, Freshly Squeezed, and The Ultimate Jew. In addition to his incisive and humorous comments about the foibles of everyday people and society in general, Mason’s stage shows have been peppered with extensive barbs directed toward political figures and issues making the news at the time.

Mason’s success extended to film and television as well. In addition to noted appearances in such movies as The Jerk and Caddyshack II, he made an Emmy-winning voiceover appearance on The Simpsons in 1992 as the rabbi father of the character Krusty The Clown. Mason also appeared on the popular animated series a number of other times afterwards.

Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of Mason’s career has been his ability to speak in a heavily Jewish accent and style, yet appeal to a broad audience of both Jews and non-Jews. The following sampling of his more memorable one-liners makes it easy to understand the broad basis of his enduring appeal:

“I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.”

“My grandfather always said, “Don’t watch your money; watch your health.” So one day while I was watching my health, someone stole my money. It was my grandfather.”

“Politics doesn’t make strange bedfellows. Marriage does.”

“I’ve got a friend who is half-Jewish and half-Italian.

 If he can’t buy it wholesale, he steals it!”

“I’ve got another friend who is half-Polish and half-Jewish.

 He’s a janitor, but he owns the building!”

“It is easy to tell the difference between Jews and Gentiles. After the show, all the Gentiles are saying ‘Have a drink? Want a drink? Let’s have a drink!’ While all the Jews are saying ‘Have you eaten yet? Want a piece of cake? Let’s have some cake!’”

I was so self-conscious, every time football players went into a huddle, I thought they were talking about me.

“Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.”

Although Mason is primarily known for his sharp-witted humor – in 2005, he was voted by his fellow comedians to be one of the fifty greatest comedy acts of all time – he has also made a name for himself over the years as an outspoken supporter of Israel and the Jewish people, often penning passionate op-ed articles in this realm together with noted attorney Raoul Felder. On one occasion, Mason counseled Israeli leaders to consider the total expulsion of Palestinians from Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Mason and Felder wrote, “We have paralyzed ourselves by our sickening fear of World Opinion, which is why we find it impossible to face one simple fact: We will never win this war unless we immediately threaten to drive every Arab out of Israel if the killing doesn’t stop.”

Mason has also prominently stated, “I’m crazy about the fact that the Jewish people should survive because they have so much to contribute and so many values to contribute to the world. It would be a much better world, a much more peaceful and non-violent world if we lived by Jewish values.” In 2001, the comedian co-founded the organization One Jerusalem in response to the Oslo peace agreement. Its stated cause is “Maintaining a united Jerusalem as the un-divided capital of Israel.”  In this regard, Mason declared, “Everybody knows we’re entitled to one Jerusalem. History reveals very simply that this is our land from the days of the Bible.”

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