Perpetually glum Bronx-born standup comedian Joey Bishop was born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb on February 3, 1918. He was raised, however, in Philadelphia and started out in the humor business in vaudeville as part of a comedy act with his brother. Billed as "Joey Gottlieb" at the time, he later joined a comedy group that called themselves "The Bishop Trio" and kept the last name for himself after the team broke up. He served in WWII in the army and appeared on television as early as 1948, but it took a while before he caught on and became a major TV personality. A nitery specialist and opening act for a number of stars in the mid-'50s, he soon became a steadfast cog in the talk show, sitcom and game show circuits. A frequent and amusing guest panelist on What's My Line?, the jug-eared jokester went on to guest-host on the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson a record 177 times. He frequently appeared as a guest for Steve Allen and Jack Paar when they were hosts in earlier late-nite versions.

Bishop entered the sitcom venue in the early 1960s. On his first show, The Joey Bishop Show, he played Joey Barnes, the host of a TV talk show in New York. Abby Dalton came on board in the second season as wife Ellie. Among his co-stars were up-and-coming stars Bill Bixby and Marlo Thomas and such veterans as Joe Besser, of The Three Stooges fame, and Mary Treen were along for strong support. This popular show lasted four seasons. Life imitated art several years later when Bishop went on to compete against Carson for the late-night viewing audience with The Joey Bishop Show as an actual talk show host on ABC. The show quickly dwindled in ratings, however, and faded out after only two years. His co-host/sidekick/foil was none other than Regis Philbin. Dick Cavett eventually replaced him to fill the late-nite ABC void.

Relatively overlooked for his work on film, Bishop appeared in occasional straight roles outside his comedic persona--The Deep Six, The Naked and the Dead and Onionhead among them. He would also generate public interest as the less-than-slick member of Hollywood's "The Rat Pack", which was comprised of ultra-hip pals Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford, who hogged most of the attention. Bishop had previously met Sinatra when he served as the star's opening act. Writing material and serving as the emcee for many of the clan's Las Vegas shows in the 1960s, Bishop appeared in the "Rat Pack"-oriented movies Ocean's Eleven and Sergeants 3, but the straight-laced comedian later butted heads with the party-hearty Sinatra and split while the next film Robin and the 7 Hoods was in preparation. Elsewhere, he appeared as either a straight foil or sidekick, or in funny cameo bits in such films as Johnny Cool, Texas Across the River with Dean Martin, Who's Minding the Mint? and even Valley of the Dolls.

Bishop withdrew more and more from the show-biz limelight in the 1970s, appearing in only three films--The Delta Force, Betsy's Wedding and Mad Dog Time--and showing up on a rare occasion as a TV guest. Married to Sylvia Ruzga since 1941, their son Larry Bishop is an actor-turned-director. Long retired, his wife of 58 years died in 1999.


Member of the "Rat Pack" - himself, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford. All appear in Ocean's Eleven (1960). Received a citation from Pope John XXIII for his help with the Boys Towns throughout Italy. While he performed as the "straight man" during the famous "Rat Pack" performances in Las Vegas, he wrote much of the material that was performed on stage. Was a regular on the 'Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.' His professional surname, Bishop, was taken from the last name of a chauffeur friend of his in his early days in show business. Is portrayed by Bobby Slayton in The Rat Pack (1998) (TV) One of his biggest passions was simply playing golf with his comic cronies Buddy Hackett, Phil Foster and Dick Shawn. During his "Rat Pack" peak, he was asked by Sinatra to be the master of ceremonies for President Kennedy's inaugural gala.