Comedian Tom Dreesen, Frank Sinatra's Longtime Opener, Dies at 86
Veteran comedian Tom Dreesen, who spent 14 years as Frank Sinatra's opening act, has passed away at his Los Angeles home at the age of 86.
Publicist Lori De Waal confirmed his death, though a cause was not immediately provided.
Dreesen's career spanned decades, marked by his groundbreaking work in comedy and his close association with some of entertainment's biggest names.
Dreesen first rose to prominence as half of "Tim and Tom," one of America's first interracial stand-up comedy duos, formed in Chicago in 1969 with partner Tim Reid.
Their act used humor to address social issues during a period of racial tension, aiming to foster understanding among diverse audiences.
The duo worked together until the mid-1970s, after which Reid found solo success on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," where Dreesen later made a guest appearance.
Following the split, Dreesen cultivated a successful solo career, becoming a familiar face on national television.
He appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" over 60 times and was a frequent guest and occasional guest host on "The Late Show with David Letterman." His friendship with Letterman dated back to the early 1970s when both worked at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood.
His role as Frank Sinatra's opening act for 14 years solidified his place in entertainment history.
Dreesen often spoke of his deep bond with Sinatra, telling The Desert Sun newspaper in 2014, "In a lot of ways, he was like a father to me." Beyond Sinatra, Dreesen also toured with other legendary performers, including Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, and Tony Orlando.
In addition to his stand-up career, Dreesen authored books, including the 2008 co-written "Tim and Tom: An American Comedy Act in Black and White" and his 2020 memoir.
He also appeared in various TV shows like "Columbo" and "Murder, She Wrote," and films such as "Spaceballs" and "Man on the Moon." Dreesen was also known for his charitable work and advocacy for veterans, serving as an ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Born on September 11, 1939, in Chicago, Dreesen was raised in suburban Harvey.
He served in the U.S.
Navy before embarking on his comedy career.
He is survived by his daughters Amy and Jennifer and seven grandchildren.
His son, Tommy, preceded him in death.
Key points
- Tom Dreesen, a comedian known for being Frank Sinatra's longtime opening act, died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 86.
- Dreesen formed one of America’s first interracial stand-up comedy duos, "Tim and Tom," with partner Tim Reid in 1969.
- He made over 500 national TV appearances, including 60 visits to "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and was a frequent guest on "The Late Show with David Letterman."