Tom Dreesen, a Pioneering Comic and Frank Sinatra's Longtime Opening Act, Dies at 86
His family said he died after fighting cancer, ending a career that included more than 500 TV appearances and 13 years opening for Frank Sinatra.
- Legendary stand-up comedian Tom Dreesen died Wednesday at age 86, ending a prolific career marked by sharp delivery and amiability across television and film.
- Growing up in Harvey, Illinois, Dreesen co-founded the interracial comedy team Tim and Tom with actor Tim Reid in 1969, breaking racial barriers in stand-up comedy.
- Dreesen achieved national prominence with more than 500 television appearances, including 61 on The Tonight Show, and served as Frank Sinatra's opening act for 13 years.
- Actor Gary Sinise paid tribute on social media, writing "This morning America lost one of our great comedians and patriots, and I lost a dear friend." Dreesen's family emphasized his legacy through laughter created and barriers broken.
- Beyond comedy, Dreesen served as a Gary Sinise Foundation ambassador for 14 years and made his final television appearance last week on Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen.
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Tom Dreesen, comedian who led the Comedy Store strike and toured with Frank Sinatra, dies at 86
Tom Dreesen, the comedian who led the Comedy Store strike, combated civil rights-era racial tension with comedy in the duo Tim & Tom, and toured with Frank Sinatra, has died at 86.
Beloved comedian and longtime opener for Frank Sinatra dies at 86
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tom Dreesen, who along with partner Tim Reid formed one of America’s first interracial stand-up comedy duos and later spent years as Frank Sinatra’s opening act, died Wednesday. He was 86.
Tom Dreesen died at the age of 86.
Tim Reid shares his final conversation with comedy partner Tom Dreesen: 'We laughed and we cried'
RICHMOND, Va. When actor and comedian Tim Reid picked up the phone last week, he knew it might be the last time he spoke to his longtime friend and former comedy partner, Tom Dreesen."I called him last week, and very difficult conversation to say the least, but he and I talked for about a half an hour, slow, of course, very difficult," Reid told Catie Beck on the WTVR CBS 6 podcast Untold. "But we managed to speak, and we laughed, and we cried."…
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