Thomas Richard Martin (January 30, 1922 â€" May 24, 2008), known
professionally as Dick Martin, was an American comedian and director.
He was known for his role as the co-host of the sketch comedy program
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.Martin was born in Battle
Creek, Michigan to William, a salesman and Ethel Martin, a homemaker.
In the early 1930s, the family moved to Detroit, where his teenage
years included a bout with tuberculosis, which kept him out of the
military. He graduated from Michigan State University.Early in his
career, Martin was a staff writer for Duffy's Tavern, a radio
situation comedy. He and Dan Rowan formed the comedy team Rowan and
Martin in 1952 and played in nightclubs throughout the United States
and overseas. Martin played a drunk heckling a Shakespearean
performer, a mainstay of their act for years. They could frequently be
seen as host-performers on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, alternating with
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and other more established names. In 1958,
they starred in Hal Kanter's comedy Western Once Upon a Horse which
failed to catch on with moviegoers. In 1960, their contract with NBC
was cancelled four years early by mutual consent.In 1962, Martin
worked solo, playing next-door neighbor to Lucille Ball during the
first season of her comeback comedy The Lucy Show. He and Rowan
returned to the nightclub circuit until 1966, when they were asked to
host the summer replacement series for The Dean Martin Show. He
co-starred in the 1966 Doris Day movie The Glass Bottom Boat.
professionally as Dick Martin, was an American comedian and director.
He was known for his role as the co-host of the sketch comedy program
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.Martin was born in Battle
Creek, Michigan to William, a salesman and Ethel Martin, a homemaker.
In the early 1930s, the family moved to Detroit, where his teenage
years included a bout with tuberculosis, which kept him out of the
military. He graduated from Michigan State University.Early in his
career, Martin was a staff writer for Duffy's Tavern, a radio
situation comedy. He and Dan Rowan formed the comedy team Rowan and
Martin in 1952 and played in nightclubs throughout the United States
and overseas. Martin played a drunk heckling a Shakespearean
performer, a mainstay of their act for years. They could frequently be
seen as host-performers on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour, alternating with
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and other more established names. In 1958,
they starred in Hal Kanter's comedy Western Once Upon a Horse which
failed to catch on with moviegoers. In 1960, their contract with NBC
was cancelled four years early by mutual consent.In 1962, Martin
worked solo, playing next-door neighbor to Lucille Ball during the
first season of her comeback comedy The Lucy Show. He and Rowan
returned to the nightclub circuit until 1966, when they were asked to
host the summer replacement series for The Dean Martin Show. He
co-starred in the 1966 Doris Day movie The Glass Bottom Boat.
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