Joey Bishop (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.
Bishop was portrayed by Bobby Slayton in the 1998 HBO film The Rat Pack.
Personal life
Bishop, youngest of five children, was born as Joseph Abraham Gottlieb in the Bronx, New York, the son of Anna (née Siegel) and Jacob Gottlieb, Jewish Central European immigrants.[1][2][3] His father was a bicycle repairman.[4] Bishop was raised in South Philadelphia.[4] In 1941, Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga, who died in 1999 from lung cancer. They had one son, Larry Bishop, a film director and actor.
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, having also frequently appeared on Steve Allen's and Jack Paar's previous versions of the show.
He hosted his own television show, The Joey Bishop Show (1967-1969), a 90-minute late-night talk show five nights a week on ABC that was launched as competition to Carson's popular nightly program. His sidekick for this show was then-newcomer Regis Philbin.
A situation comedy, also titled The Joey Bishop Show, 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.
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 Joey Bishop's real last name.
Death
Bishop died on October 17, 2007 at his home in Newport Beach, California. Bishop was the last living male member of The Rat Pack (although some of the women who have been called considered "honorary" members are still alive). He lived the longest number of years among the principal five.
Filmography
Television work
References
External links
|
Rat Pack |
|
| Members |
|
|
| "Mascots" |
|
|
| Associates |
|
|
| Movies |
|
|
