Joey Bishop, member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, dead at 89

October 18, 2007

Los Angeles - Joey Bishop, perhaps best remembered as being a member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack, has died at 89.

Bishop died Wednesday night of multiple causes at his home in Newport Beach, publicist and longtime friend Warren Cowen said to the AP.

Bishop, the youngest of five children, was born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb in the Bronx, New York, to Jewish parents Anna and Jacob Gottlieb.

He began his career as part of a standup comedy act with his brother Maury.

Bishop guest-hosted on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson more times than anyone else, and he frequently appeared on Steve Allen and Jack Paar's version of the show, as well as having his own television talk show.

His co-host for this show was then newcomer Regis Philbin.

Bishop also starred in a TV situation comedy The Joey Bishop Show (1961-1965 on NBC and CBS) where he played a talk show host and Abby Dalton portrayed his wife.

He hosted another show also called The Joey Bishop Show (1967-1969), this latter one being a 90-minute late-night talk show on ABC.