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Dick Smothers

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Dick Smothers
Tom (left) and Dick (right), 1965
Born
Richard Remick Smothers

(1939-11-20) November 20, 1939 (age 84)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, musician
Years active1959–2010, 2019
Spouse(s)Linda Miller (m. 1959; div. 1969)
Lorraine Martin (m. 1986; div. 1997)
Denby Franklin (m. 1997; div. 2006)

Richard Remick Smothers (born November 20, 1939) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician. He was half of the musical comedy team the Smothers Brothers, with his older brother Tom.

Life and career

Smothers was born in New York City in 1939,[1] the son of Ruth (née Remick), a homemaker; and Thomas B. Smothers, an Army officer who died as a prisoner of war in April 1945.[2] After moving to Southern California, Dick attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California, and graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, and later attended San José State University then called San José State College. At SJSC, Smothers participated as a distance runner for the track team (coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter).[3]

The Smothers Brothers have appeared on numerous television shows over the past three decades, including two shows of their own: The Smothers Brothers Show, a sit-com from 1965 to 1966; and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a variety show in 1967. In 1977, he appeared twice as a panelist on the daytime TV game show Match Game. In 1993, he played one of the characters on cartoon Christmas movie Precious Moments: Timmy's Special Delivery. Without Tom, he also appeared in the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed film Casino in an uncharacteristically serious role as a dishonest Nevada State Senator. His character and the dialogue in one scene was partly based on the career of former United States Senator Harry Reid, who once chaired the Nevada Gaming Commission.[4]

In December 2009, Dick and Tom both guest starred in a 21st-season episode of The Simpsons that also featured Cooper, Peyton and Eli Manning.[5]

In February 2010, Smothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[6] In May, he and his brother announced their retirement from touring.[7]

Smothers has been active in amateur automobile racing,[8] both road racing[9] and drag racing.[10] He is the father of six children: Dick Jr., Andrew, Steven, Sarah, Susan, and Remick.[11] He currently resides in Sarasota, Florida.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Speed Zone Nelson van Sloan
1995 Casino Senator Harrison Roberts
1997 The Debtors
2009 The Informant! Judge Harold Baker (final film role)

References

  1. ^ (0:42) on YouTube
  2. ^ "Dick Smothers Biography (1939–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Speed City era". Archived from the original on March 9, 2012.
  4. ^ Chris Suellentrop, Slate magazine, Harry Reid Is Not Boring, December 22, 2004
  5. ^ Walker, Dave (August 7, 2009). "Add Cooper to Manning brothers' voices on 'The Simpsons'". The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  6. ^ Axelrod, Laura (February 25, 2010). "Dick Smothers files for bankruptcy, Tom considers quitting The Smothers Brothers". blog.al.com. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ Corbin, April (May 17, 2010). "End of an era: Smothers Brothers announce retirement". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "Dick Smothers Racing Bio", Echlin Manufacturing Company
  9. ^ "Reflections on Sebring: Dick Smothers Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", Richard Sloop/Carol Lynn Fogle, Motorports.com, 2002-03-07
  10. ^ "Smothers Brothers Racing Photos"
  11. ^ "The smothers brothers biography".
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