Joey Bishop

Joey Bishop (born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb; February 3, 1918 – October 17, 2007) was an American entertainer who was perhaps best known for being a member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. Bishop appeared on television as early as 1948 and eventually starred in his own weekly comedy series as well as hosting a talk show.

Personal life

Bishop, youngest of five children, was born in the Bronx, New York, the son of Anna (née Siegel) and Jacob Gottlieb, Jewish Central European immigrants. His father was a bicycle repairman. Bishop was raised in South Philadelphia. In 1941, Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga, who died in 1999 from lung cancer. They had one son, Larry Bishop, a film director and actor. Drafted into the US Army in World War II, he rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Special Services serving at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.

Career

Bishop began his career as part of a standup comedy act with his elder brother, Maury. He guest-hosted on television's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson more times than anyone else,[citation needed] having also frequently appeared on Steve Allen's and Jack Paar's previous versions of The Tonight Show. He starred in a situation comedy titled The Joey Bishop Show, which premiered on 20 September 1961 and ran for four seasons, first on NBC and later CBS. Bishop played a talk show host named Joey Barnes. His wife was portrayed by Abby Dalton, who joined the cast in 1962. He later hosted a real 90-minute late-night talk show, also titled The Joey Bishop Show, that was launched by ABC in 1967 as competition to Carson's Tonight Show and ran for two years. His sidekick was then-newcomer Regis Philbin. Bishop was among the stars of the original Ocean's Eleven film about military veterans who reunite in a plot to rob five Las Vegas casinos on New Year's Eve. He co-starred with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peter Lawford of the so-called Rat Pack, although the five of them did not publicly acknowledge that name. During filming, the five entertainers performed together on stage in Vegas at the Sands Hotel. Bishop did only a little singing and dancing, but did tell jokes and write some of the act's material. He later appeared with Sinatra, Martin and Davis in the military adventure Sergeants 3, a loose remake of Gunga Din, and with Martin in the western comedy Texas Across the River, in which he portrayed an Indian. Bishop was the only member of the Rat Pack to work with members of a younger group of actors dubbed the Brat Pack, appearing (as a ghost) in the film Betsy's Wedding with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. His final appearance in a film was a non-speaking role in Mad Dog Time, written and directed by Larry, his son. His character was named Gottlieb, which was Bishop's real last name. Bishop was portrayed by Bobby Slayton in the 1998 HBO film The Rat Pack.

Death

Bishop died on October 17, 2007 at his home in Newport Beach, California from heart failure. He was the last living member of the Rat Pack, and was also the longest-lived member.

Filmography

• The Deep Six (1958)
• The Naked and the Dead (1958)
• Onionhead (1958)
• Ocean's Eleven (1960)
• Pepe (1960) (Cameo)
• Sergeants 3 (1962)
• Johnny Cool (1963)
• Texas Across the River (1966)
• A Guide for the Married Man (1967)
• Who's Minding the Mint? (1967)
• Valley of the Dolls (1967)
• The Delta Force (1986)
• Betsy's Wedding (1990)
• Mad Dog Time (1996)

Television work

• What's My Line? (1950–1967) (frequent panelist)
• The Polly Bergen Show (May 3, 1958) (guest star)
• The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis
• The Joey Bishop Show (1961–1965) situation comedy co-starring Abby Dalton on NBC, then CBS
• Password (1961–1967) (frequent guest)
• Get Smart (1967) (cameo guest)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992) (frequent guest & substitute host)
• The Hollywood Squares (1966–1981) (frequent panelist)
• The Joey Bishop Show (1967–1969) late-night 90-minute talk show on ABC
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968 and 1971)
• The Jacksons Variety Show, special guest star
• Celebrity Sweepstakes (1974–1977) (frequent panelist)
• Match Game (1976) (panelist)
• Liar's Club (1976–1978) (frequent panelist)
• Break the Bank (1976–1977) (frequent panelist)
• Glory Years (1987)