Tom Smothers - # 316

Tom Smothers, half of the comedic duo the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86

 He was number 316 on the list.

Tom and Dick Smothers skewered authority and the Vietnam War with their biting ‘60s variety show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."

Tom Smothers, the comedian who rose to fame as one-half of the musical duo the Smothers Brothers, died Dec. 26. He was 86.

A spokesperson for the National Comedy Center shared a statement from Smothers’ younger brother and longtime collaborator Dick Smothers, who said his brother died at home with family after a “recent battle with cancer.”

“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” Dick Smothers said. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”

The Smothers Brothers built their careers in the 1960s, winning over fans with their irreverent comedy and biting political satire, usually set to folky original songs. With Tom on guitar and Dick on double bass, the two began as traditional folk singers before pivoting to sharper political parody, often playing up their sibling rivalry for laughs. (Tom’s popular catchphrase became “Mom liked you best!”) Early on the duo appeared on the Jack Benny show.

The two found additional fame with the launch of their variety show The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which ran on CBS between 1967 and 1969. The show was popular with young viewers, attracting high-profile musical guests like George Harrison, Joan Baez, Cass Elliot, Harry Belafonte, The Who, Janis Ian, and Pete Seeger. The show’s writers’ room also included starry names like Steve Martin, Rob Reiner, and Elaine May.

But the brothers often clashed with CBS censors, especially over their anti-authoritarian comedy, pro-civil rights stances, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Despite the show’s popularity, CBS famously canceled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in April 1969, replacing it with Hee Haw. The brothers responded by filing a breach of contract lawsuit, which the network ultimately lost.

After the cancellation of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the pair continued touring, and they later returned with other variety shows, none of which ever found the same popularity as the original. Tom Smothers also worked as an actor, appearing in films like Serial, The Silver Bears, and The Informant. He also remained politically active and an outspoken advocate for free speech, and he famously played acoustic guitar on John Lennon’s recording of his song “Give Peace a Chance.”

In a 2022 CBS News interview, Tom and Dick Smothers reflected on the legacy of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, with Tom explaining that when he and his brother first began their careers, they thought of themselves not as stand-up comedians but as “folk singers.” But they soon discovered that they loved making people laugh — especially if they could do it with family at their side.

"People laughing is holy," Tom Smothers said in 2022. "And if you can be part of that, and control it, and create it, it's the best thing ever."

 

Actor

Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)

The Simpsons

8.7

TV Series

Tom Smothers (voice)

2009

1 episode

 

The Informant! (2009)

The Informant!

6.5

Dwayne Andreas

2009

 

The Wonderful World of Disney (1997)

The Wonderful World of Disney

7.4

TV Series

King Sextimus

2005

1 episode

 

Once Upon a Mattress (2005)

Once Upon a Mattress

6.7

TV Movie

King Sextimus

2005

 

Mr. Bill Does Vegas

Short

2002

 

Artie Lange, Norm MacDonald, Nikki Cox, Ian Gomez, and Laurie Metcalf in Norm (1999)

Norm

7.8

TV Series

Dad (as Tommy Smothers)

2001

2 episodes

 

Maggie (1998)

Maggie

8.0

TV Series

Folkie (as Tommy Smothers)

1998

1 episode

 

Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, Nestor Carbonell, Kathy Griffin, Barbara Barrie, Currie Graham, and Sherri Shepherd in Suddenly Susan (1996)

Suddenly Susan

5.8

TV Series

Attica (as Tommy Smothers)

1997–1998

3 episodes

 

Jonathan Katz in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

7.6

TV Series

Tom (voice)

1997

1 episode

 

Timmy's Special Delivery: A Precious Moments Christmas (1993)

Timmy's Special Delivery: A Precious Moments Christmas

7.8

Video

Dudley (voice)

1993

 

Dream On (1990)

Dream On

7.6

TV Series

Spunky the Rabbit (as Tommy Smothers)

1993

1 episode

 

Speed Zone (1989)

Speed Zone

4.4

Randolph van Sloan

1989

 

What's Alan Watching? (1989)

What's Alan Watching?

6.4

TV Special

Tom Smothers

1989

 

Tom Smothers in Yo-Yo man (1988)

Yo-Yo man

9.3

Video

Yo-Yo man

1988

 

Cinemax Comedy Experiment (1985)

Cinemax Comedy Experiment

TV Series

1985

 

Missy Gold, Robert Guillaume, Caroline McWilliams, James Noble, Lewis J. Stadlen, and Inga Swenson in Benson (1979)

Benson

7.1

TV Series

Elevator Musician

1985

1 episode

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Marvin Castlemore

William

1984

2 episodes

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Sam

1984

1 episode

 

The Great Bear Scare (1983)

The Great Bear Scare

6.2

TV Movie

Ted E. Bear (voice)

1983

 

Diana Muldaur, Dick Smothers, and Tom Smothers in Terror at Alcatraz (1982)

Terror at Alcatraz

6.7

TV Movie

Bones Howard

1982

 

Pandemonium (1982)

Pandemonium

5.2

Cooper

1982

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Wilfred Davis

Martin Fallow

1980–1982

2 episodes

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

6.6

TV Series

Ralph Rodgers

1982

1 episode

 

Fitz and Bones (1981)

Fitz and Bones

3.9

TV Series

Bones Howard

1981

4 episodes

 

Victoria Dorazi in Betty Boop for President (1980)

Betty Boop for President

5.5

Video

Pudgy (voice)

1980

 

There Goes the Bride (1980)

There Goes the Bride

3.3

Timothy Westerby

1980

 

Serial (1980)

Serial

6.5

Rev. Spike

1980

 

A Pleasure Doing Business (1979)

A Pleasure Doing Business

7.1

Alfredo

1979

 

Silver Bears (1977)

Silver Bears

6.0

Donald Luckman

1977

 

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (1973)

The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas

6.7

TV Movie

Ted Edward Bear (voice)

1973

 

Get to Know Your Rabbit (1972)

Get to Know Your Rabbit

5.2

Donald Beeman

1972

 

Premium

Short

1971

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

The Kidnapper (segment "Love and the Kidnapper")

1971

1 episode

 

John Wayne in Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970)

Swing Out, Sweet Land

7.5

TV Movie

Newspaper Printer's Assistant

1970

 

Hot Dog (1970)

Hot Dog

5.9

TV Series

1970

 

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

8.0

TV Series

Guest Performer (uncredited)

1969–1970

3 episodes

 

Plastic Ono Band: Give Peace a Chance (1969)

Plastic Ono Band: Give Peace a Chance

5.5

Music Video

Tom Smothers (uncredited)

1969

 

Judi Rolin in Alice Through the Looking Glass (1966)

Alice Through the Looking Glass

5.9

TV Movie

Tweedledum

1966

 

My Brother the Angel (1965)

My Brother the Angel

7.3

TV Series

Tom Smothers

1965–1966

32 episodes

 

Gene Barry in Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.4

TV Series

Ghys Rafer

1964

1 episode

 

Angela Cartwright, Rusty Hamer, Sherry Jackson, Marjorie Lord, and Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Show (1953)

The Danny Thomas Show

7.1

TV Series

Tom Smothers (as The Smothers Brothers)

1962

1 episode

 

Producer

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1988)

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

7.5

TV Series

executive producer

1989

1 episode

 

The Tom and Dick Smothers Brothers Special I

TV Special

executive producer

1980

 

Another Nice Mess (1972)

Another Nice Mess

5.8

producer

1972

 

The Return of the Smothers Brothers

TV Movie

executive producer

1970

 

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969)

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

1969

1 episode

 

Pat Paulsen for President

8.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1968

 

The Summer Brothers Smothers Show

7.7

TV Series

executive producer

1968

1 episode

 

Writer

Jonathan Katz in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

7.6

TV Series

additional material (as the Smothers Brothers)

1997

1 episode

 

The Return of the Smothers Brothers

TV Movie

Writer

1970