Life and career

Smothers was born in New York City in 1938, the son of Ruth (née Remick), a homemaker; and Thomas B. Smothers, an army officer who died a POW in April 1945. After moving to Southern California, Dick attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California, and graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, and later attended San José State University then called San José State College. At SJSC, Smothers participated as a distance runner for the track team (coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter).

The Smothers Brothers have appeared on numerous television shows over the past three decades, including two shows of their own: The Smothers Brothers Show, a sit-com from 1965 to 1966; and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a variety show in 1967. In 1993, he played one of the characters on cartoon Christmas movie Precious Moments: Timmy's Special Delivery. Without Tom, he also appeared in the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed film Casino in an uncharacteristically serious role as a dishonest Nevada State Senator. His character and the dialogue in one scene was partly based on the career of current United States Senator Harry Reid, who once chaired the Nevada Gaming Commission.

In February 2010, Dick Smothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In May, the brothers announced their retirement from touring.

Smothers has also been very active in amateur automobile racing, both road racing and drag racing.

Dick Smothers is the father of six children: Dick Jr., Andrew, Steven, Sarah, Susan, and Remick. He currently resides in Sarasota, Florida.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]