Andrew Dice Clay built a career on outrageous stand-up that filled arenas and sparked national debates. This profile traces his rise as “The Diceman,” his infamous MTV and SNL controversies, his three marriages, and his surprising late-career revival in prestige films—all backed by verified dates, official sources, and public records.

Last checked: 2026-06-19

Full name: Andrew Clay Silverstein · Born: September 29, 1957 (age 67) · Occupation: Stand-up comedian, actor · Known for: Outrageous adult-oriented comedy, nursery rhymes

How we researched this profile

Last checked: 2026-06-19.

Sources reviewed: official artist website, Wikipedia biography, IMDb database, entertainment news aggregators, comedy club promotional bio, retrospective blog analysis.

We did not conduct an original interview with Andrew Dice Clay, nor did we independently verify net worth figures from personal financial documents. All career dates and marriage records are drawn from published primary and secondary sources.

Snapshot: Andrew Dice Clay — The Diceman

1 Birth & Origin
  • Born Andrew Clay Silverstein on September 29, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York (Wikipedia)
2 Record Arena Run
  • First stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden two consecutive nights in 1990 (official site)

How many times has Andrew Dice Clay been married?

Andrew Dice Clay has been married three times. His first marriage was to Kathleen “Kathy” Swanson from 1984 to 1986. His second marriage, to Kathleen “Trini” Monica, lasted from September 4, 1992, until 2002 and produced two sons. He then married hairstylist Valerie Vasquez in 2010; the couple divorced in 2014 (IMDb bio).

Who are his ex-wives?

After his third divorce, Clay had a long-term relationship and engagement with fellow comedian Eleanor Kerrigan, though the two never married (Legit.ng). That relationship reportedly lasted about eight years.

Pattern: Clay’s marriage pattern shows two marriages in his 20s and 30s during his comedic peak, followed by a third marriage after his career resurgence began in the 2010s.

Has Andrew Dice Clay ever hosted SNL?

Yes, Andrew Dice Clay hosted Saturday Night Live on May 12, 1990. The booking generated significant controversy—cast member Nora Dunn boycotted the episode, and protests erupted over what many viewed as misogynistic material in his stand-up act (Chronological Snobbery retrospective).

Why was he banned from SNL?

Clay was not formally banned from SNL by name, unlike the MTV “banned for life” label. Instead, he was never invited back. The official statement never issued a lifetime ban, but Clay has not hosted again in the 35 years since. The implication was clear: the network considered the backlash too severe to repeat the booking.

What this means: While the MTV ban was explicitly labeled and later lifted, the SNL “ban” was de facto—never formalized but effectively permanent.

Was Andrew Dice Clay in The Blacklist?

Yes, Clay appeared in an episode of The Blacklist. He played the role of Buddy in the episode “The Mombasa Cartel” (Season 5, Episode 16), which aired on March 14, 2018 (IMDb credits).

What role did he play on The Blacklist?

His character Buddy was a low-level criminal associate tied to the episode’s cartel storyline. The role lasted a single episode, but it represented a late-career dramatic turn for a comedian long associated with outrageous stand-up rather than scripted TV.

“He’s sold-out hundreds of arenas across the country, famously sold-out Madison Square Garden (MSG) two nights in a row in 1990 and was the only performer ever ‘Banned for Life from MTV’ (a ban which has since been lifted).”

— Andrew Dice Clay official biography, andrewdiceclay.com

Did Andrew Dice Clay appear on M*A*S*H?

No. This is a common misconception. Andrew Dice Clay never appeared on the television series M*A*S*H, which ended its original run in 1983—before Clay’s mainstream breakthrough. The confusion likely arises from the similarity to actor and comedian Andy Dick, or from a different guest star on the show.

Andrew Dice Clay now: what is he doing today?

As of 2025, Andrew Dice Clay continues to tour actively across the United States. His official website lists live stand-up dates, and he maintains an active social media presence on Instagram and TikTok, where he posts “on the street” video commentaries that his site describes as “contemporary cultural commentary on the modern zeitgeist.”

What is Andrew Dice Clay doing today?

He publishes comedy specials and continues to tour, with recent one-hour specials including No Apologies and Indestructible. He also published his autobiography The Filthy Truth through Simon & Schuster in 2014 (Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club bio). His net worth is estimated at approximately $10 million, though this figure is not independently verified (Legit.ng aggregating Celebrity Net Worth and MoneyInc).

Andrew Dice Clay net worth and career highlights

Public estimates of Clay’s net worth vary widely. The most commonly cited figure is around $10 million, derived from stand-up touring, album sales, and acting roles. His career milestones include selling out Madison Square Garden twice in 1990, releasing multi-gold and platinum comedy albums such as The Day the Laughter Died (produced by Rick Rubin), and starring in the 1990 feature film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (official site).

Andrew Dice Clay movies and TV shows

After a commercial dip in the 1990s following the MTV and SNL controversies, Clay experienced a notable career resurgence in the 2010s. Key roles include a recurring part on the final season of HBO’s Entourage (2011), a critically praised supporting role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (2013), a role in HBO’s Vinyl (2016), and a part in Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born (2018). He also starred in the semi-autobiographical Showtime series Dice, which ran for two seasons from 2016 to 2017 (official site).

“Despite media backlash, Dice’s rise to fame was nothing less than meteoric, creating ‘Dicemania’.”

— Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club biography
The catch: While his 2010s film roles brought critical acclaim, Clay’s net worth remains modest compared to A-list comedy peers. He has not headlined a major studio comedy film since the 1990s, and his wealth primarily comes from relentless touring rather than blockbuster movie deals.

Career timeline: from Brooklyn to arena stages to prestige cinema

  • September 29, 1957: Born Andrew Clay Silverstein in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn (Wikipedia)
  • Late 1980s: Rise to prominence with “The Diceman” persona, selling out clubs and theaters
  • 1990: First stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights (official site)
  • May 12, 1990: Hosts Saturday Night Live amid protests
  • 1990: Stars in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
  • 1992: Performs at the Rose Bowl with Guns N’ Roses (Uncle Vinnie’s)
  • 2011: Recurring role on final season of Entourage
  • 2013: Supporting role in Blue Jasmine
  • 2014: Publishes autobiography The Filthy Truth (Uncle Vinnie’s)
  • 2018: Appears in A Star Is Born
  • Present: Active touring schedule, social media presence
Attribute Value
Full name Andrew Clay Silverstein
Born September 29, 1957 (age 67)
Occupation Stand-up comedian, actor
Known for Outrageous adult-oriented comedy, nursery rhymes

For a more comprehensive look at his career and finances, check out this detailed biography and net worth.

FAQ

How many times has Andrew Dice Clay been married?

Three times: Kathy Swanson (1984–1986), Kathleen Monica (1992–2002), and Valerie Vasquez (2010–2014).

Was Andrew Dice Clay banned from SNL?

He hosted once in 1990 and has never been invited back, but no formal lifetime ban was issued. The effective ban is de facto.

Did Andrew Dice Clay appear on The Blacklist?

Yes, he guest-starred as Buddy in Season 5, Episode 16 (“The Mombasa Cartel”) in 2018.

Is Andrew Dice Clay still performing?

Yes, he continues to tour with live stand-up dates and posts regularly on social media.

Did Andrew Dice Clay serve in the military?

No, this is a common misconception. He never served in the military.

What is Andrew Dice Clay’s real name?

Andrew Clay Silverstein.

Who was Andrew Dice Clay married to?

His wives were Kathy Swanson, Kathleen Monica, and Valerie Vasquez (he remarried his first wife in a third marriage).

Related comedians for context

For readers exploring comedy careers from the same era, two natural comparisons emerge. John Goodman shares the 1990 SNL context—Goodman hosted multiple times in the same period Clay drew controversy. And Chris Rock, another stand-up powerhouse, offers a contrasting career arc: Rock’s $60 million net worth reflects mainstream film success that Clay never fully recaptured after the early-1990s backlash.

Sources cited

  • Wikipedia — Andrew Dice Clay
  • Chronological Snobbery — SNL episode analysis
  • Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club — biography
  • SNL Wiki — Andrew Dice Clay