Lenny Bruce on 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel': What's Fact and What's Fiction?

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Luke Kirby's Emmy-winning portrayal of Lenny Bruce on has introduced a whole new generation of viewers to the legendary comedian.As a friend, champion and, as of season 4's finale, paramour of Rachel Brosnahan's titular character — a housewife who divorces her husband and pursues a career in standup comedy in the late 1950s -- Kirby's Bruce has served as a historical barometer of sorts for the show, offering context to the political and comedic landscape of the time.However,  has been careful about keeping Lenny to the sidelines of Midge's story, so much so that Kirby's 2019 Emmy win was for Outstanding Guest Actor on a Comedy Series, not for a supporting role.«I think the thing with the character of Lenny that [series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino] and them had to be really careful when they presented him from season to season, it's certainly an exercise in less being more and leave people wanting more,» Kirby shared with ET of his portrayal. «I'd be happy to, you know, bludgeon people over the head with it — but this is a good lesson in nuance and keeping it classy.»So, what exactly of  Lenny is fact and what's fiction?

Read on to learn about the real-life truths that inspired the compelling performance.While Lenny and Midge’s mutual admiration finally crossed the line into a romantic night together in season 4 finale, there is obviously no real-life Midge Maisel that Bruce knew or had any kind of relationship with.In real life, the comedian married stripper and showgirl Honey Harlow in 1951.

The pair had a tumultuous relationship plagued by drug use and domestic incidents, and were on and off again throughout the rest of Bruce's life.The couple's daughter, Kitty Bruce — Lenny's only child — was born in 1955, and Kirby.