I like to pride myself on keeping up to date on the news. After all, I am constantly online. But somehow, I missed this story until today! Joey Bishop, the last official member of the Rat Pack, died Wednesday at the age of 89. With the last Rat Packer dead, it is truly the end of one cool era.
The Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Joey Bishop (with unofficial female member Shirley Maclaine) – ruled Las Vegas during the 60s. They also ruled the big screen, appearing together in films such as Oceans’ Eleven and Sergeants 3. But it was the Rat Pack’s stage act that drew everyone in. So cool were these five cats that it seemed the everyone wanted to be part of the party, which is what you felt like you were at when you saw their show.
Some people didn’t understand how Joey fit into the group. Dean was the drinker, Sammy was the entertainer, Peter was the brother-in-law of the President, and Frank, well, Frank was Frank. But Joey always was able to hold his own on stage, despite being a bit lower key than the rest of the Pack.
In 1998, Joey defended the cavalier reputations of his fellow Rat Packers. He said he never saw any of the guys drunk during their performances, despite them usually being seen with a drink in their hands, especially Dean. The whole thing, he said, was a gag.
Bishop also starred on the small screen in two shows – both called The Joey Bishop Show. The first, a sitcom, ran from 1961 to 1965 and the second, a talk show, aired in 1967 and ran for two and a half years. But having Joey as a host was so desirable that he filled in for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show 205 times. He also starred in other films without the Rat Pack including Valley of the Dolls and The Delta Force.
Joey is survived by his son Larry Bishop (who is an actor), and grandchildren Scott and Kirk Bishop.