Williams Joins Bruce Pardon Campaign

Hollywood star Robin Williams has joined a campaign to try and grant controversial comedian Lenny Bruce a posthumous pardon for obscenity charges.

The foul-mouthed funnyman, who died of a drugs overdose in 1966, aged 39, was convicted after a six month trial on obscenity charges in 1964 after undercover police witnessed a performance at CAFE AU GO GO in New York's Greenwich Village containing over 100 'obscene' words.

However, Bruce's fans are now lobbying New York state Governor GEORGE PATAKI to issue a legal pardon over the conviction.

Bruce supporters, including 25 First Amendment lawyers, Williams and magicians Penn And Teller, have signed a letter to Pataki stating, "A pardon now is too late to save Lenny Bruce. But a posthumous pardon would set the record straight and thereby demonstrate New York's commitment to freedom - free speech, free press, free thinking."

Bruce's daughter Kitty adds, "I truly believe my father's soul can rest in peace with this."