Dick Smothers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dick Smothers
Smothers in 1966
Born	Richard Remick Smothers (1938-11-20) November 20, 1938 (age 86) New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	San Jose State University
Occupation	Actor comedian composer musician
Years active	1959–2010, 2019
Spouse(s)	Linda Miller ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1969)​ ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1984)​ Lorraine Martin ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1997)​ Denby Franklin ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2006)​ Marie Navaroli Kropp ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	6
Relatives	Tom Smothers (brother)
Musical career
Genres	Folk
Instruments	Vocals, bass

Richard "Dick" Smothers (born November 20, 1938) is an American actor, comedian, composer, and musician. He is best known for being half of the famous musical comedy duo, the Smothers Brothers. He performed alongside his older brother, Tom.

Early Life and Education

Dick Smothers was born in New York City in 1938. His mother, Ruth, was a homemaker. His father, Thomas B. Smothers, was an Army officer who passed away during the war in 1945. Dick's middle name, Remick, comes from his mother's family name.

After his family moved to Southern California, Dick went to Verdugo Hills High School. He later graduated from Redondo Union High School. He then attended San Jose State University, which was called San Jose State College back then. While at college, Smothers was a distance runner on the track team.

Comedy and Music Career

The Smothers Brothers' Rise to Fame

The Smothers Brothers started their comedy and music act in the late 1950s. They became very popular and appeared on many television shows. They even had two of their own shows. The first was The Smothers Brothers Show, a sitcom that ran from 1965 to 1966. Their most famous show was The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a variety show that began in 1967.

The Comedy Hour was known for its funny sketches and musical performances. It also sometimes discussed important topics of the time. The show was very popular but ended in 1969. Even though they were brothers, Dick and Tom often had different ideas. Tom once said in 2006, "We still disagree about everything."

Dick (left) and Tom Smothers in August 1988

In 2009, Dick and Tom appeared as guest stars on an episode of The Simpsons. In 2010, the Smothers Brothers announced they were retiring from touring. However, they later planned a new tour for 2023. Sadly, the tour was cancelled. Tom Smothers passed away in December 2023 at the age of 86.

Other Acting Roles

Besides his work with his brother, Dick Smothers also took on other roles. In 1977, he was a panelist on the TV game show Match Game. He also lent his voice to the cartoon Christmas movie Precious Moments: Timmy's Special Delivery in 1993.

In 1995, Dick appeared in the film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese. In this movie, he played a serious role as a state senator.

Racing Adventures

Dick Smothers has a passion for amateur auto racing. He has competed in both road racing and drag racing. He even started his own racing team, called Smothers Brothers racing. His team won three championships between 1968 and 1971. He was especially good at endurance racing. He drove cars in famous races like Sebring and Le Mans.

Personal Life

Dick Smothers is a father to six children: Dick Jr., Andrew, Steven, Sarah, Susan, and Remick. As of 2022, he lives in upstate New York. In September 2022, Dick Smothers married Marie Navarolli Kropp.

In 2010, Dick Smothers shared that he had been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.

Filmography

Racing Results

24 Hours of Le Mans Results

Year	Team	Co-Driver(s)	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1972	John Greenwood Racing	John Greenwood	Chevrolet Corvette C3	GTS +5.0	53	DNF	DNF