The irascible Mason was known for his sharp wit and piercing social commentary, often about being Jewish, men and women and his own inadequacies. His typical style was amused outrage. Mason started in show business as a social director at a resort in the Catskills. In 1961, the pint-sized comic got a big break, an appearance on Steve Allen’s weekly television variety show. His success brought him to The Ed Sullivan Show. On TV, Mason became a reliable presence, usually with a cameo on such shows as 30 Rock or The Simpsons or as a reliable guest on latenight chat shows.
