Dick Martin, who made comedy history as half of the Rowan and Martin team, has died from respiratory problems at age 86. Martin had teamed with fellow comic Dan Rowan in 1952 but it wasn't until 1966 when their comedy variety show was a summer replacement for Dean Martin's popular weekly program, that they enjoyed widespread success. They reached the zenith of their careers with the January 1968 debut of their TV series Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In on NBC. The show's rapid fire, hip one-liners and off color sight gags made the series a hit with the counter culture, even if Rowan and Martin were unlikely role models for the flower power generation. (They inevitably wore tuxedos throughout the series). The show spawned many top comedy talents including Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Arte Johnson and many others.The show became so popular that it attracted an eclectic number of top talents who appeared in cameos ranging from John Wayne to Leo G. Carroll (who jokingly begged NBC to bring back his series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. which Laugh-In had replaced.). The show also made history with a 1968 cameo appearance by Richard M. Nixon, then running for president in the 1968 election. Nixon, who was not known for his rollicking sense of humor, delivered one of the show's signature lines - "Sock it to me???" - and immediately enjoyed positive press. When the series ended in 1973, Rowan and Martin continued their partnership until 1977 when they amicably split up. The pair had also appeared in the big screen spoof The Maltese Bippy.
Martin went on to become one of the most in-demand directors in television, working on such series as The Bob Newhart Show, In the Heat of the Night and Archie Bunker's Place. His film roles included co-starring in the 1966 Doris Day spy spoof The Glass Bottom Boat.
(Note: contrary to information reported by CNN, Dick Martin was the zany member of Rowan and Martin and Dan Rowan (who died in 1987) was the straight man. CNN information has confused the two).
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