After limited success as a stage actor, Buck Henry established himself as a sketch writer and performer in 1960s TV. He wrote comedy material for Garry Moore and Steve Allen before landing a regular post in 1961 as a writer-performer on the final season of "The Steve Allen Show" on NBC. Henry further honed his skills writing and acting on "That Was the Week That Was" (NBC, 1964-65), a pioneering live NYC-based political satire series derived from the acclaimed British original. He made what may well be his most lasting contribution to pop culture as the co-creator (with Mel Brooks) and Emmy
Broadway acting debut at age 16 in a minor role in "Life with Father"
1948
Acted in the touring company of "Life with Father"
1952
Served in the US Army; during the Korean conflict toured Germany with the Seventh Army Repertory Company in a musical comedy that he wrote, directed and starred in
1954
Returned to civilian life
With a friend, posed as co-founder of The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals (SINA), a fictional organization that linked animal nudity to the moral decay of Western civilization; appeared on various talkshows to discuss the matter; admitted to the hoax when the organization began gaining in popularity
