Joey Bishop, who deadpanned his way from South Philadelphia to comic stardom and a place in Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, died Wednesday at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 89.
With his blank expression and dry delivery, Bishop could convey in his signature phrase, “Sonuvagun,” a bemused wonderment that tickled audiences. His low-key demeanor and understated wit made him the perfect foil to the Rat Pack – Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr.
Bishop began his show-business career as a stand-up comic and branched out into film and television. He starred in a sitcom and a talk show during the 1960s, both titled “The Joey Bishop Show.” Bishop also had roles in films, including “The Naked and the Dead” and “Ocean’s Eleven.”
“He was just the nicest, nicest, funniest guy,” said Philadelphia man- about-town Harry Jay Katz, a friend of Bishop’s since the 1960s.
“He patterned his style after Jack Benny,” said Philadelphia deejay Jerry Blavat, another friend. “Jack Benny used one-liners with double takes. Joey Bishop would do the same thing: throw a line, wait for a laugh, give a look and throw another line.”
