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Dick Martin (comedian)

Thomas Richard Martin (January 30, 1922[1] – May 24, 2008), known professionally as Dick Martin, was an American comedian and director. He was known for his role as the co-host of the sketch comedy program Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.

Dick Martin
Martin on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1968
Birth nameThomas Richard Martin
Born(1922-01-30)January 30, 1922
Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMay 24, 2008(2008-05-24) (aged 86)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
MediumTelevision, film, radio
Years active1951–2002
SpousePeggy Connelly (m. 1957–1963; divorced); 2 sons
Dolly Read (m. 1971–75, 1978–2008, his death)
Children2, including Richard Martin

Early life and career

 
Martin as Harry, Lucy's airline pilot neighbor, on The Lucy Show, 1962

Martin was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, to William, a salesman, and Ethel Martin, a homemaker. In the early 1930s, the family moved to Detroit, where his teenage years included a bout with tuberculosis, which kept him out of the military.[1]

Early in his career, Martin was a staff writer for Duffy's Tavern, a radio situation comedy. He and Dan Rowan formed the comedy team Rowan and Martin in 1952 and played in nightclubs throughout the United States and overseas. Martin played a drunk heckling a Shakespearean performer, a mainstay of their act for years. They could frequently be seen as host-performers on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, alternating with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and other more established names. In 1958, they starred in Hal Kanter's comedy Western Once Upon a Horse..., which was a box office failure. In 1960, they asked NBC to cancel their contract four years early and the network agreed.

In 1962, Martin worked solo, playing the next-door neighbor to Lucille Ball during the first season of her comeback comedy The Lucy Show. He and Rowan returned to the nightclub circuit until 1966, when they were asked to host the summer replacement series for The Dean Martin Show. He co-starred in the 1966 Doris Day movie The Glass Bottom Boat.

Laugh-In

The exposure led to an opportunity for Rowan and Martin to team up with producers Ed Friendly and George Schlatter and create Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968–1973) on NBC. The comedy show was an immediate hit, becoming the number one American television program within two months of its debut. It was the top-rated show in its second and third seasons. Laugh-In had a uniquely fast-paced stream-of-consciousness style of blackout gags, double entendre, topical satire, and catchphrases, much of it delivered by a cast of then-unknowns such as Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Arte Johnson, and Ruth Buzzi.

At the center of the maelstrom stood the veterans Rowan and Martin, who bemusedly made no effort to slow down the program. Martin later said, "We designed it so that we are two relatively normal guys wandering through a sea of madness," and described his comic persona as "a kind of inept lech" who could be laughed at as well as laughed with. In real life, Martin spent the 1960s enjoying his high-flying lifestyle of women and parties. At the height of the show's popularity, Rowan and Martin starred in the 1969 film The Maltese Bippy, which was a notorious failure.[2] After Rowan retired from show business, Martin was a frequent panelist on game shows such as Match Game, Password Plus, and Tattletales, and he also hosted a parody game show called The Cheap Show in 1978, and the game show Mindreaders in 1979.

Later career

Martin also established himself as a comedy director. Starting on The Bob Newhart Show, he directed episodes of more than twenty different TV comedy series.[citation needed] Martin later became the chief director of the 1980s sitcom Newhart. He continued his relationship with Bob Newhart on the latter's short-lived series Bob on CBS (1992–93), where he portrayed Buzz Loudermilk and directed several of the series' episodes.

In 1991, Martin guest-starred in a two episode role on Coach as Peter Plunkett, a childhood friend of Luther VanDam. In a 1998 episode of The Nanny, Martin guest-starred as a homeless man Fran Fine meets in a park who turns out to be Preston Collier, one of the wealthiest men in New York City.

In 1992, he played a small role in the Canadian film North of Pittsburgh, which was directed by his son Richard. In 1996, Martin guest starred as sociology professor Dr. Ben Littmeyer on 3rd Rock from the Sun.[3]

In 1997, he guest-starred in an episode of Baywatch. He played an old World War II sailor named Ed who was trying to give a buddy a proper burial.

Personal life

Martin married singer Peggy Connelly in 1957.[4] They divorced prior to 1968 and he married Playboy Playmate and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls star Dolly Read in 1971.[5] Martin and Read divorced in June 1974, but remarried in 1978 and remained married until his death.[6][7] His son Richard Martin is a television director, film director and film editor.[citation needed]

Death

Martin died on May 24, 2008, of breathing complications in Santa Monica, California. He had lost the use of a lung due to tuberculosis as a teenager and suffered respiratory problems late in life.[1]

 
Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as caricatured for NBC by Sam Berman

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1951 Father's Little Dividend Baby Stanley's Holder at Christening Uncredited
1958 Once Upon a Horse... Doc Logan
1966 The Glass Bottom Boat Zack Molloy
1969 The Maltese Bippy Ernest Grey
1978 Zero to Sixty Arthur Dunking
1981 Carbon Copy Victor Bard
1992 North of Pittsburgh Irving Kent III
1998 Air Bud: Golden Receiver Phil Phil
2001 Bartleby The Mayor (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c Genzlinger, Neil (May 26, 2008). "Dick Martin, 'Laugh-In' Host, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  2. ^ "The Maltese Bippy". All Movie Guide. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  3. ^ "Dick Jokes". 3rd Rock from the Sun. Season 2. Episode 11. 1996-06-12. NBC.
  4. ^ Lentz III, Harris M. (2009). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2008: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. pp. 282–83. ISBN 978-0-7864-5384-9.
  5. ^ Darr, Burt (June 30, 1968). "Bert Darr's TV and Radio Question Box". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. p. 40 TV Aloha. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "Dick Martin Divorced from Dolly Read". Kansas City Star. Associated Press. June 14, 1974. p. 21. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "TV Notes". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Newspaper Enterprise Association. October 16, 1978. p. 25. Retrieved April 22, 2022.

External links

dick, martin, comedian, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, dick, martin, comedian, news, newspapers, bo. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dick Martin comedian news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Thomas Richard Martin January 30 1922 1 May 24 2008 known professionally as Dick Martin was an American comedian and director He was known for his role as the co host of the sketch comedy program Rowan amp Martin s Laugh In from 1968 to 1973 Dick MartinMartin on Rowan amp Martin s Laugh In 1968Birth nameThomas Richard MartinBorn 1922 01 30 January 30 1922Battle Creek Michigan U S DiedMay 24 2008 2008 05 24 aged 86 Santa Monica California U S MediumTelevision film radioYears active1951 2002SpousePeggy Connelly m 1957 1963 divorced 2 sonsDolly Read m 1971 75 1978 2008 his death Children2 including Richard Martin Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Laugh In 3 Later career 4 Personal life 5 Death 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and career Edit Martin as Harry Lucy s airline pilot neighbor on The Lucy Show 1962 Martin was born in Battle Creek Michigan to William a salesman and Ethel Martin a homemaker In the early 1930s the family moved to Detroit where his teenage years included a bout with tuberculosis which kept him out of the military 1 Early in his career Martin was a staff writer for Duffy s Tavern a radio situation comedy He and Dan Rowan formed the comedy team Rowan and Martin in 1952 and played in nightclubs throughout the United States and overseas Martin played a drunk heckling a Shakespearean performer a mainstay of their act for years They could frequently be seen as host performers on NBC s Colgate Comedy Hour alternating with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and other more established names In 1958 they starred in Hal Kanter s comedy Western Once Upon a Horse which was a box office failure In 1960 they asked NBC to cancel their contract four years early and the network agreed In 1962 Martin worked solo playing the next door neighbor to Lucille Ball during the first season of her comeback comedy The Lucy Show He and Rowan returned to the nightclub circuit until 1966 when they were asked to host the summer replacement series for The Dean Martin Show He co starred in the 1966 Doris Day movie The Glass Bottom Boat Laugh In EditThe exposure led to an opportunity for Rowan and Martin to team up with producers Ed Friendly and George Schlatter and create Rowan amp Martin s Laugh In 1968 1973 on NBC The comedy show was an immediate hit becoming the number one American television program within two months of its debut It was the top rated show in its second and third seasons Laugh In had a uniquely fast paced stream of consciousness style of blackout gags double entendre topical satire and catchphrases much of it delivered by a cast of then unknowns such as Goldie Hawn Lily Tomlin Arte Johnson and Ruth Buzzi At the center of the maelstrom stood the veterans Rowan and Martin who bemusedly made no effort to slow down the program Martin later said We designed it so that we are two relatively normal guys wandering through a sea of madness and described his comic persona as a kind of inept lech who could be laughed at as well as laughed with In real life Martin spent the 1960s enjoying his high flying lifestyle of women and parties At the height of the show s popularity Rowan and Martin starred in the 1969 film The Maltese Bippy which was a notorious failure 2 After Rowan retired from show business Martin was a frequent panelist on game shows such as Match Game Password Plus and Tattletales and he also hosted a parody game show called The Cheap Show in 1978 and the game show Mindreaders in 1979 Later career EditMartin also established himself as a comedy director Starting on The Bob Newhart Show he directed episodes of more than twenty different TV comedy series citation needed Martin later became the chief director of the 1980s sitcom Newhart He continued his relationship with Bob Newhart on the latter s short lived series Bob on CBS 1992 93 where he portrayed Buzz Loudermilk and directed several of the series episodes In 1991 Martin guest starred in a two episode role on Coach as Peter Plunkett a childhood friend of Luther VanDam In a 1998 episode of The Nanny Martin guest starred as a homeless man Fran Fine meets in a park who turns out to be Preston Collier one of the wealthiest men in New York City In 1992 he played a small role in the Canadian film North of Pittsburgh which was directed by his son Richard In 1996 Martin guest starred as sociology professor Dr Ben Littmeyer on 3rd Rock from the Sun 3 In 1997 he guest starred in an episode of Baywatch He played an old World War II sailor named Ed who was trying to give a buddy a proper burial Personal life EditMartin married singer Peggy Connelly in 1957 4 They divorced prior to 1968 and he married Playboy Playmate and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls star Dolly Read in 1971 5 Martin and Read divorced in June 1974 but remarried in 1978 and remained married until his death 6 7 His son Richard Martin is a television director film director and film editor citation needed Death EditMartin died on May 24 2008 of breathing complications in Santa Monica California He had lost the use of a lung due to tuberculosis as a teenager and suffered respiratory problems late in life 1 Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as caricatured for NBC by Sam BermanFilmography EditYear Title Role Notes1951 Father s Little Dividend Baby Stanley s Holder at Christening Uncredited1958 Once Upon a Horse Doc Logan1966 The Glass Bottom Boat Zack Molloy1969 The Maltese Bippy Ernest Grey1978 Zero to Sixty Arthur Dunking1981 Carbon Copy Victor Bard1992 North of Pittsburgh Irving Kent III1998 Air Bud Golden Receiver Phil Phil2001 Bartleby The Mayor final film role References Edit a b c Genzlinger Neil May 26 2008 Dick Martin Laugh In Host Dies at 86 The New York Times Retrieved May 21 2015 The Maltese Bippy All Movie Guide Retrieved November 1 2021 Dick Jokes 3rd Rock from the Sun Season 2 Episode 11 1996 06 12 NBC Lentz III Harris M 2009 Obituaries in the Performing Arts 2008 Film Television Radio Theatre Dance Music Cartoons and Pop Culture McFarland pp 282 83 ISBN 978 0 7864 5384 9 Darr Burt June 30 1968 Bert Darr s TV and Radio Question Box Honolulu Star Bulletin p 40 TV Aloha Retrieved April 22 2022 Dick Martin Divorced from Dolly Read Kansas City Star Associated Press June 14 1974 p 21 Retrieved April 22 2022 TV Notes Corvallis Gazette Times Newspaper Enterprise Association October 16 1978 p 25 Retrieved April 22 2022 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dick Martin Biography portalDick Martin at IMDb Dick Martin at Find a Grave Dick Martin at The Interviews An Oral History of Television Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dick Martin comedian amp oldid 1131833000, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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