Dick Smothers Biography

Fast Facts

• In 1989, he and Tom Smothers were honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to television
• Along with his brother, won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Boston Comedy Festival for their contributions to America's cultural identity
• Attended San José State College, which eventually became San José State University
• Was a distance runner for his college's track team
• Quote: "Steve Allen and George Burns and Milton Berle were some of our early reference points, although we never intended to have careers as performers․ We were just brothers who argued and sang on stage, and people laughed, so we kept going․"
• Quote: "We didn't think we did anything controversial․ We were just doing what comedians do--making fun․ In retrospect, the firing probably cemented our reputation․ People don't like having anything taken away from them before its time․"
• Best known for playing the straight man to his older brother Dick Smothers in The Smothers Brothers musical comedy team
• Tackled political issues and challenged censorship with his comedy
• Played the bass on stage while his brother played the guitar
• Has participated in amateur automobile racing, both road racing and drag racing