Goodbye, Dick Martin

The Flaming Nose is saddened to learn of the death last night of television comedy favorite Dick Martin who was one-half of the hilarious duo who fronted Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in on NBC in the late 1960s. Along with long-time comedy partner Dan Rowan (who died in 1987), Dick Martin set the tone for the completely contemporary and game-changing series which took the nation by storm and created catchphrases which resonate to this day.

If you missed Jane's Nose-talgia post on Laugh-in from only last month, please take a look at it now, in honor of Mr. Martin and his lasting achievements.

AP has a nice article and biography on Dick Martin which is recommended reading, and I always find the pieces from the Museum of Broadcast Communications have a solid historical bent and they have a good piece on Laugh-in. In addition to their Laugh-in fame, Rowan and Martin had a red-hot career in traditional stand-up venues, of course, and as a second career Martin became a highly-skilled TV director. He was also a likeable actor who appeared on his own in movies like The Glass Bottom Boat (with Doris Day), and many TV series including a recurring role on The Lucy Show and guest shots on popular shows like The Love Boat, The Nanny, Diagnosis Murder and many others.

Dick Martin was a talented man whose many other achievements were no doubt somewhat overshadowed by the success and exceedingly long tail of his Laugh-in fame, but he was a true television and pop culture icon, and we salute him.


Sock it to 'em, Dick.