The original "Oceans Eleven" crew
Posted on 10/18/2007 8:17:37 PM PDT by STARWISE
Stone-faced comedian was last surviving member of the Rat Pack.
LOS ANGELES - Joey Bishop, the stone-faced comedian who found success in nightclubs, television and movies but became most famous as a member of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, has died at 89.
He was the group’s last surviving member. Peter Lawford died in 1984, Sammy Davis Jr. in 1990, Dean Martin in 1995, and Sinatra in 1998.
Bishop died Wednesday night of multiple causes at his home in Newport Beach, publicist and longtime friend Warren Cowan said Thursday.
The Rat Pack became a show business sensation in the early 1960s, appearing at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in shows that combined music and comedy in a seemingly chaotic manner.
Reviewers often claimed that Bishop played a minor role, but Sinatra knew otherwise. He termed the comedian “the Hub of the Big Wheel,” with Bishop coming up with some of the best one-liners and beginning many jokes with his favorite phrase, “Son of a gun!”
“He was the perfect match for the Rat Pack. He fit right in like an old shoe,” Hollywood’s honorary mayor, Johnny Grant, said Thursday.
The quintet lived it up whenever members were free of their own commitments. They appeared together in such films as “Ocean’s Eleven” and “Sergeants 3” and proudly gave honorary membership to a certain fun-loving politician from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, at whose inauguration gala Bishop served as master of ceremonies.
The Rat Pack faded after Kennedy’s assassination,
*snip*
The movie “Ocean’s Eleven” was even remade in 2003 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the lead roles.
*snip*
That was only a gag. And do you believe these guys had to chase broads? They had to chase ’em away.”
~~~ Much more detail at link
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
The original "Oceans Eleven" crew
I remember as a kid Joey Bishop was a common geust host for the Johnny Carson Show.
They sure don’t make ‘em like that any more.
[ last surviving member of the Rat Pack.]
Ahh, I’m sorry to hear this! I liked Bishop.
Met and talked to Sammy Davis in Vegas one time.
Again? He died once this morning (+50 thread.)
Nope. Different times.
Thanks for the pics!
‘Bishop’? Must have been Catholic.
RIP Mr Bishop! You made my entire family laugh lot in our fledgling days!
God speed.
Now I know who Putin reminds me of.
My pleasure.
Did Frank say he could die?
Another good one gone today.
Joey Bishop and Sammie Davis Jr. (believe it or not, that’s Regis in the middle .. and check out the Nehru jackets .. ohlord.)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WUen0YDjHMQ
Classic Rat Pack, part I and II, with Johnny Carson ... Johnny’s a kid .. I feel so old! (No Joey here)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-Ao5gcwVGs&mode=related&search=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gWhhPjUx784
Dean’s bit
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wlERyOWjwJI
What great memories .. hours of laughter and joy. RIP to them all.
BUMP!
Joey Bishop was always my favorite of the Rat Pack guys.
Good thing they were in seperate studios, because I'm sure that 80 year old woulda taken metrosexual Williams apart.
RIP Joey Bishop.
Great links STARWISE & thank you for sharing these!
His greatest role, IMO, wa the voice in the Aardvark cartoon.
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