Tom Dreesen

Tom Dreesen was born on September 11, 1939, in Harvey, Illinois. His career in entertainment began in 1968 when he formed “Tim and Tom” with Tim Reid, becoming the first biracial stand-up comedy duo in the United States. While their material was cutting-edge for its time, they eventually separated in the mid-1970s. Dreesen then found individual success, making appearances on television shows such as “Match Game” and becoming a regular on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” with over 60 appearances. He also toured for 13 years as the opening act for Frank Sinatra, performing in prominent showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Atlantic City.

Beyond his stand-up career, Dreesen has an acting resume that includes roles in television series like “Murder, She Wrote” (1985–1987), “Columbo: Murder in Malibu” (1990), “Touched by an Angel” (1998), and “WKRP in Cincinnati.” His film credits include “Spaceballs” (1987), “Man on the Moon” (1999), and “Trouble with the Curve” (2012). In 2013, he began performing his one-man show, “An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra,” sharing stories from his life and time with Frank Sinatra. Dreesen has also hosted the “Late Show with David Letterman” in Letterman’s absence and a number of episodes of “The Late, Late Show.”

Active in philanthropic efforts, Dreesen founded “Day for Darlene” to support Multiple Sclerosis research, named after his late sister. He performs for troops on military bases globally and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award in 2005 for his humanitarian services. In 2008, he co-authored “Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White” and released his memoir, “Still Standing…My Journey from Streets and Saloons to the Stage, and Sinatra,” in 2020. A Golden Palm Star was dedicated to him on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars in 1999, recognizing his contributions to entertainment.