The man responsible for making phrases such as “Sock it to me” and “You bet your sweet bippy” famous has died.
Dick Martin, who made millions smile on “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” died Saturday night of respiratory complications at a hospital in Santa Monica, California, according to news reports. He was 86.
Given his health issues it really is amazing he lived as long as he did. Martin lost the use of one of his lungs when he was 17 and in the last several years he needed supplemental oxygen to stay alive. According to a family spokesperson, the legendary funnyman had “pretty much stopped breathing a week ago.”
Martin will be best remembered for his contributions to “Laugh-in,” which debuted in January 1968. Back then it was unlike any comedy-variety show on air and Martin liked it that way. Rather than relying on a series of tightly scripted song-and-dance segments, Martin along with his comic partner Dan Rowan offered a show chock full of political satire and crazy antics from a cast of talented young actors and comedians, including Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, and Jo Anne Worley. Rowan and Martin presided over the madcap adventures and added their own distinct spin on the show.
Martin was a struggling actor when he met Rowan in 1952 and it wasn’t long before they partnered up to create one of the most famous comic teams in history. Prior to landing their TV gig the pair worked at top nightclubs in New York, Miami and Las Vegas.
After “Laugh-In” went off the air in 1973, Rowan and Martin made a series of high-paid engagements around the country. Four years later they parted ways and Martin tried his hand at game show hosting. But his new career didn’t last long. According to Martin, the job lacked “challenges” and he decided to take up directing instead.
That gig proved to be a success and Martin soon became one of TV’s busiest directors, working on numerous episodes of “Newhart” as well as such shows as “In the Heat of the Night,””Archie Bunker’s Place” and “Family Ties.”
Later in his life Martin married Dolly Read, a former bunny at the Playboy Club in London. The couple had two sons, actor Richard Martin and Cary Martin.
A family spokesperson says at Martin’s request there will be no funeral.