If you're old enough to remember Laugh-In......you're as old as me.
Posted on 05/24/2008 9:02:59 PM PDT by lunarbicep
Dick Martin, the zany half of the comedy team whose "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" took television by storm in the 1960s, making stars of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and creating such national catch-phrases as "Sock it to me!" has died. He was 86.
Martin, who went on to become one of television's busiest directors after splitting with Rowan in the late 1970s, died Saturday night of respiratory complications at a hospital in Santa Monica, family spokesman Barry Greenberg said.
"He had had some pretty severe respiratory problems for many years, and he had pretty much stopped breathing a week ago," Greenberg said.
Martin was surrounded by family and friends when he died just after 6 p.m., Greenberg said.
"Laugh-in," which debuted in January 1968, was unlike any comedy-variety show before it. Rather than relying on a series of tightly scripted song-and-dance segments, it offered up a steady, almost stream-of-consciousness run of non-sequitur jokes, political satire and madhouse antics from a cast of talented young actors and comedians that also included Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley and announcer Gary Owens.
Presiding over it all were Rowan and Martin, the veteran nightclub comics whose standup banter put their own distinct spin on the show.
Like all straight men, Rowan provided the voice of reason, striving to correct his partner's absurdities. Martin, meanwhile, was full of bogus, often risque theories about life, which he appeared to hold with unwavering certainty.
If you're old enough to remember Laugh-In......you're as old as me.
good night Dick
He’ll have em rolling in the isles.
“Say goodnight, Dick”
Was Dick Martin the one that earned the ire of mobster Sam Giancana over Phyllis McGuire?
Had It Socked To Him 05/24/2008
R.I.P.
“Say Goodnite Dick”........... RIP
which one is he? (i used to watch the show in re-runs)
Thanks dick, for some vheeeeeeeedy innnnnterestink memories.
The one who acted goofy, without a mustache.
Dan Rowan was the straight man.
RIP Dick. You were a funny, entertaining man.
i mean on the left or right? i think he’s the one on the left if i remember correctly.
oops! nevermind
Dick is the one on the right ...
Aye-yup.
Say, is that a cigarette in Dan Rowan's hand? You can't do that on TV...
Dick was married to a Playboy Playmate/Bunny (Dolly Martin) twice. That's living...
Rowan and Martin
If you’re referring to the photo in post # 2, he’s on the right (the guy without the mustache.)
I was a teenager, but it was my favorite show.
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