Joey Bishop born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb, was an American entertainer who appeared on
television as early as 1948 and eventually starred in his own weekly comedy series playing
a talk show host, then later hosted a late night talk show.
He later became a member of the "Rat Pack" with Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis,
Jr., and Dean Martin.
Personal life Bishop, youngest of five children, was born
in The Bronx, a borough of New York City, the son of Anna and Jacob Gottlieb, Jewish
Polish immigrants.
His father was a bicycle repairman.
Bishop was raised in South Philadelphia.
In 1941, Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga, who died in 1999 from lung cancer.
They had one son, Larry Bishop, a film director and actor.
Drafted into the US Army in World War II, he rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Special
Services serving at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Career
Bishop began his career as part of a standup comedy act with his elder brother, Maury.
He guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson at least 175 times from 1971-76,
more than anyone else until that time.
He also frequently appeared on Steve Allen's and Jack Paar's previous versions of The Tonight
Show.
He starred in a situation comedy titled The Joey Bishop Show, which 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.
He later hosted a 90-minute late-night talk show, also titled The Joey Bishop Show, that
was launched by ABC in 1967 as competition to Carson's Tonight Show and ran for two years.
His sidekick was then-newcomer Regis Philbin.
Bishop was among the stars of the original Ocean's 11 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 he told jokes and wrote 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 in the 1990 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 his son Larry.
His character was named Gottlieb, which was Bishop's real surname.
Bishop was portrayed by Bobby Slayton in the 1998 HBO film The Rat Pack.
Death Bishop died on October 17, 2007, at his home
in Newport Beach, California, from heart failure.
He was the longest-lived and the last surviving member of the Rat Pack.
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia posthumously inducted Bishop into their Hall of Fame in
2009.
Filmography The Deep Six
The Naked and the Dead Onionhead
Ocean's 11 Pepe
Sergeants 3 Johnny Cool
Texas Across the River A Guide for the Married Man
Who's Minding the Mint?
Valley of the Dolls The Delta Force
Betsy's Wedding Mad Dog Time
Television work What's My Line?
The Polly Bergen Show Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Joey
Kirk in "No Laughing Matter" The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home
Elvis The Joey Bishop Show situation comedy co-starring
Abby Dalton, originally on NBC, then CBS Password
Get Smart The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Hollywood Squares The Joey Bishop Show late-night 90-minute
talk show on ABC Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Jacksons Variety Show, special guest star Celebrity Sweepstakes
Match Game Liar's Club
Break the Bank Glory Years
References
External links Joey Bishop at the Internet Movie Database
Joey Bishop, 89; comedian was last surviving member of Rat Pack
Joey Bishop at Find a Grave Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia website