Tom Dreesen, Pioneer of Interracial Comedy and Long-time Frank Sinatra Opening Act, Dies at 86

When the lights dimmed on a stage in Los Angeles, the world lost one of comedy’s most groundbreaking figures.

Tom Dreesen, the American comedian who broke racial barriers in stand‑up and opened for Frank Sinatra for 14 years, passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. The 86‑year‑old’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Lori De Waal, though no cause was released.

Born September 11, 1939, in Chicago, Dreesen grew up in the suburb of Harvey as one of eight children. He joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and was discharged in 1960. After leaving the service, he tried his hand at a handful of jobs—including selling insurance—before turning to comedy.

In 1969, Dreesen met fellow comedian Tim Reid in Chicago, and the two formed the duo “Tim and Tom.” They quickly became the first interracial comedy act in the United States, using humor to tackle social issues and bridge audiences of different backgrounds. The pair performed together until the mid‑1970s. Reid later found solo success as the character DJ Venus Flytrap on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, with Dreesen making a guest appearance.

After the duo split, Dreesen forged a solo career that included more than 500 national television appearances. He was a familiar face on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson—appearing over 60 times—and a frequent guest and occasional guest host on The Late Show with David Letterman. His final TV outing was on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, the replacement for Stephen Colbert’s canceled CBS late‑night show.

For 14 years, Dreesen opened for Frank Sinatra on tour and grew close to the singer. In a 2014 interview with The Desert Sun, Dreesen recalled, “If he loved you, he worshipped the ground you walked on… In a lot of ways, he was like a father to me.” He also toured with other Rat Pack members, including Sammy Davis Jr., and performed alongside Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and Tony Orlando.

Beyond stand‑up, Dreesen co‑wrote Tim and Tom: An American Comedy Act in Black and White in 2008 and published his memoir in 2020. His acting credits span television series such as Columbo, Murder, She Wrote and Touched by an Angel, and films including Spaceballs, Man on the Moon and Trouble With the Curve. He also appeared in HBO movies The Rat Pack and Lansky.

Outside the spotlight, Dreesen was a motivational speaker, championed veterans’ causes and served as an ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation.

He is survived by his daughters Amy and Jennifer, seven grandchildren and his son Tommy, who predeceased him. Dreesen’s legacy lives on through his pioneering comedy partnership, his enduring friendship with Sinatra, and his contributions to television, film and community service.

The comedy world has lost a trailblazer whose career spanned more than five decades and whose work helped shape the landscape of American stand‑up.