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Dick Smothers

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Dick Smothers
Smothers in 1966
Born
Richard Remick Smothers

(1938-11-20) November 20, 1938 (age 85)
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationSan Jose State University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • composer
  • musician
Years active1959–2010, 2019
Spouses
Linda Miller
​
​
(m. 1959; div. 1969)​
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1984)​
Lorraine Martin
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 1997)​
Denby Franklin
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2006)​
Marie Navaroli Kropp
​
​
(m. 2022)​
Children6
RelativesTom Smothers (brother)
Musical career
GenresFolk
InstrumentsVocals, bass
Formerly of

Richard Remick Smothers (born November 20, 1938) is an American actor, comedian, composer, and musician. He was half of the musical comedy team the Smothers Brothers, with his older brother Tom.

Early life

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Smothers was born in New York City in 1938,[1] the son of Ruth (née Remick), a homemaker, and Thomas B. Smothers, an Army officer who died as a prisoner of war of the Japanese in April 1945.[2] His middle name, Remick, originates from his mother's maiden name.

After moving to Southern California, Dick attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California, and graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, and later attended San Jose State University, then called San Jose State College. At SJSC, Smothers participated as a distance runner for the track team, coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter.[3]

Career

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The Smothers Brothers

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The Smothers Brothers formed in the late 1950s and appeared on numerous television shows, including two shows of their own: The Smothers Brothers Show, a sitcom from 1965 to 1966; and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a variety show in 1967. The show was cancelled by CBS on April 4, 1969. After filing a lawsuit, the Smothers were given $776,300.[4] Though he often aided Tom with various subjects which were deemed controversial, Dick was in reality "more conservative politically" than his older brother was, with Tom stating in 2006, "We still disagree about everything."[5]

Dick (left) and Tom Smothers in August 1988

In December 2009, Dick and Tom both guest-starred in a 21st-season episode of The Simpsons that also featured Cooper, Peyton, and Eli Manning.[6]

The Smothers Brothers both announced their retirement from touring in May 2010. On the December 11, 2022, episode of CBS News Sunday Morning, the brothers announced that they would be going on tour in 2023.[7] However, the tour was cancelled and Tom Smothers announced in July 2023 that he was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer.[8] He died on December 26, 2023, at the age of 86.[9][10]

Other works

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In 1977, he appeared twice as a panelist on the daytime TV game show Match Game. In 1993, he played one of the characters on cartoon Christmas movie Precious Moments: Timmy's Special Delivery. Without Tom, he also appeared in the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed film Casino in an uncharacteristically serious role as a dishonest Nevada State Senator. His character and the dialogue in one scene were partly based on the career of former United States Senator Harry Reid, who once chaired the Nevada Gaming Commission.[11]

Smothers has been active in amateur auto racing,[12] both road racing[13] and drag racing.[14] He started the Smothers Brothers racing team, which competed in three championship seasons between 1968 and 1971. He specialized in endurance racing and drove cars at the famous Sebring and Le Mans events.[15]

Personal life

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In 2004, Smothers was taken to court in a domestic violence incident by his then-wife Denby after she accused him of intentionally pushing her into her car and poked her finger into her chest and allegedly said "You have no rights to our house" and that "Our marriage is over" Denby and Dick Smothers filed for divorce in late 2005 and it was finalized in 2006. Their Condo in Bird Key Florida was later foreclosed on and sold for just under $90,000.[16] In a 2006 interview with the Vancouver-based Comedy Couch, Tom Smothers stated that he and his brother actually "disagree about everything" and that while he was "a little bit looser," Dick was "more conservative politically and also is a pragmatist. He's very pragmatic and wants everything to line up and put in a box."[5]

In February 2010, Smothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[17] In May, he and his brother announced their retirement from touring.[18] In October 2010, he announced he had been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.[19][20]

He is the father of six children — Dick Jr., Andrew, Steven, Sarah, Susan, and Remick.[21] As of 2022 he resides in upstate New York. In September 2022, Smothers married Marie Navarolli Kropp.[22]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 Alice Through the Looking Glass Tweedledee
1989 Speed Zone Nelson van Sloan
1995 Casino Senator Harrison Roberts
1997 The Debtors
2009 The Informant! Judge Harold Baker

Racing results

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24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Driver(s) Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1972 United States John Greenwood Racing United States John Greenwood Chevrolet Corvette C3 GTS +5.0 53 DNF DNF

References

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  1. ^ (0:42) on YouTube
  2. ^ "Dick Smothers Biography (1939–)". Film Reference. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Speed City era". Archived from the original on March 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b July 22, 2006 interview with Tommy Smothersfrom Vancouver's comedycouch.com Archived February 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Walker, Dave (August 7, 2009). "Add Cooper to Manning brothers' voices on 'The Simpsons'". The Times-Picayune. NOLA.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  7. ^ Cowan, Lee; Morgan, David (December 11, 2022). "The Smothers Brothers are back, taking their show on the road". CBS News. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Cowan, Lee; Morgan, David (July 9, 2023). "Catching up with the Smothers Brothers". CBS News. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  9. ^ France, Lisa (December 27, 2023). "Tom Smothers, one half of famed comedy duo, dies at 86". CNN. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Grimes, William (December 27, 2023). "Tom Smothers, Comic Half of the Smothers Brothers, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Chris Suellentrop, Slate magazine, Harry Reid Is Not Boring, December 22, 2004
  12. ^ Echlin Manufacturing Company. "Dick Smothers Racing Bio" (PDF) (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Reflections on Sebring: Dick Smothers Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", Richard Sloop/Carol Lynn Fogle, Motorsport.com, 2002-03-07
  14. ^ "Smothers Brothers Racing Photos"
  15. ^ "Smothers Brothers Racing Team • Team History & Info | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database - Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "Smothers brother files for bankruptcy". Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Axelrod, Laura (February 25, 2010). "Dick Smothers files for bankruptcy, Tom considers quitting The Smothers Brothers". blog.al.com. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  18. ^ Corbin, April (May 17, 2010). "End of an era: Smothers Brothers announce retirement". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  19. ^ Maher, Irene (October 7, 2010). "Beating the Burn". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "Dick Smothers: Acid Reflux and Barrett's Esophagus". Florida Digestive Health Specialists. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "The smothers brothers biography".
  22. ^ DeLuca, Michele (September 10, 2022). "Niagara native and Smothers brother to marry". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
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