Dick Martin (comedian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dick Martin
Martin on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1968
Birth name	Thomas Richard Martin
Born	(1922-01-30)January 30, 1922 Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Died	May 24, 2008(2008-05-24) (aged 86) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Medium	Television, film, radio
Years active	1951–2002
Spouse	Peggy Connelly (m. 1957–1963; divorced); 2 sons Dolly Read (m. 1971–75, 1978–2008, his death)
Children	2, including Richard Martin

Thomas Richard Martin (born January 30, 1922 – died May 24, 2008), known as Dick Martin, was a famous American comedian and director. He was best known for being the co-host of the funny TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.

Becoming a Comedian: Dick Martin's Early Life and Career

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

Dick Martin was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. His father, William, was a salesman, and his mother, Ethel, was a homemaker. When he was a teenager, he had a serious illness that kept him from joining the military.

Early in his career, Martin worked as a writer for a radio comedy show called Duffy's Tavern. In 1952, he teamed up with Dan Rowan to form a comedy duo called Rowan and Martin. They performed their funny acts in nightclubs all over the United States and even overseas.

They often appeared as hosts on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, sharing the stage with other big names like Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. In 1958, they starred in a comedy Western movie called Once Upon a Horse.... However, this movie did not do well at the box office. By 1960, they decided to end their TV contract with NBC early.

In 1962, Martin worked on his own for a bit. He played the next-door neighbor to the famous actress Lucille Ball in her TV comedy show, The Lucy Show. After this, he and Rowan went back to performing in nightclubs. In 1966, they were asked to host a summer TV series that filled in for The Dean Martin Show. Martin also appeared in the 1966 movie The Glass Bottom Boat with Doris Day.

Laugh-In: A TV Hit!

Their appearances on TV led to a big chance for Rowan and Martin. They worked with producers Ed Friendly and George Schlatter to create Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. This new comedy show started in 1968 on NBC.

Laugh-In quickly became a huge success! Within just two months of its first show, it was the number one TV program in America. It stayed at the top for its second and third seasons too. The show was known for its super-fast pace. It had lots of quick, funny scenes, clever jokes, and popular catchphrases. Many of the actors on the show, like Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Arte Johnson, and Ruth Buzzi, became famous because of Laugh-In.

Dick Martin and Dan Rowan were at the center of all the fun. They acted like two normal guys trying to make sense of the crazy things happening around them. Martin once said, "We designed it so that we are two relatively normal guys wandering through a sea of madness."

While Laugh-In was very popular, Rowan and Martin also starred in a movie called The Maltese Bippy in 1969. This movie was not successful. After Laugh-In ended, Dick Martin often appeared on popular game shows like Match Game, Password Plus, and Tattletales. He also hosted a funny game show called The Cheap Show in 1978 and Mindreaders in 1979.

Dick Martin's Later Career as a Director and Actor

Dick Martin also became a talented comedy director. He started directing episodes of The Bob Newhart Show. After that, he directed more than twenty different TV comedy series. He became the main director for the popular 1980s sitcom Newhart.

He continued working with Bob Newhart on another show called Bob in the early 1990s. On this show, Martin also played a character named Buzz Loudermilk.

In 1991, Martin was a guest star on the TV show Coach. He played Peter Plunkett, an old friend. In 1998, he appeared in an episode of The Nanny. He played a homeless man who turned out to be a very rich person.

In 1992, he had a small role in a Canadian movie called North of Pittsburgh. This movie was directed by his son, Richard Martin. In 1996, Dick Martin guest-starred on 3rd Rock from the Sun as a sociology professor.

In 1997, he was a guest star on an episode of Baywatch. He played an old World War II sailor trying to give his friend a proper burial.

Dick Martin's Family Life

Dick Martin married singer Peggy Connelly in 1957. They had two sons. He later married Dolly Read. They divorced in 1974 but remarried in 1978. They stayed married until Dick Martin passed away. His son, Richard Martin, followed in his footsteps and became a television and film director.

Dick Martin's Passing

Dick Martin passed away on May 24, 2008, in Santa Monica, California. He had breathing problems. As a teenager, he had an illness that caused him to lose the use of one lung, which led to breathing difficulties later in his life.

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

Movies Dick Martin Was In