The scandalous and tragic life of Hollywood’s greatest imposter Lenny Bruce

Bruce's brand of comedy could be described as a sort of social satire that promoted discourse over topics such as race, rights, drug use, sexuality, politics, religion, and any of the other topics that would make '50s suburban families lose their heads. His "sick humor," as the style was often referred to at the time, and multiple arrests for the use of coarse language turned Bruce into more than just a comedian. Through the ways in which he broke down bigotry and social taboos onstage to the discomfort of "polite society," Bruce would transform over the years into an icon within the intellectual community for the struggle over First Amendment rights. All the while, he was faced with the consequences of legal persecution. Whereas Bruce's recent portrayal onscreen has romanticized his character, his life wasn't all spotlights and laugh tracks. The comic struggled with drug addiction, legal woes, and other tribulations that made his time on Earth hectic, to say the least.