Beloved comedian Tom Dreesen, who spent years warming up crowds for Frank Sinatra and became one of the most respected storytellers in show business, has died at 86.
The veteran comic passed away Wednesday, just days after making what would become his final TV appearance on Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen.
His family announced the heartbreaking news in a post on his official Facebook page.
“He wanted you all to know how much joy you brought him through the years,” the statement read. “He said to tell you that he loved you all. May he rest in peace.”
No cause of death was immediately revealed.
Dreesen, a Chicago native, built a remarkable career that stretched across decades and placed him alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment.
He first broke into comedy in the late 1960s with actor and comedian Tim Reid. Together, they formed Tim and Tom, widely known as the first biracial stand-up comedy duo in the United States.
After going solo in the mid-1970s, Dreesen became a familiar face on stages across the country. He opened for major stars including Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and Sammy Davis Jr.
But his most famous partnership came in 1983, when he began working with Frank Sinatra.
Dreesen spent the next 14 years touring with the legendary singer as his opening act, becoming a trusted friend and fixture in Sinatra’s inner circle. He was also there for Sinatra’s final concert in 1995.
Over the years, Dreesen often spoke warmly about the bond he shared with Ol’ Blue Eyes.
“In a lot of ways, he was like a father to me,” Dreesen once told The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t have a father that really cared that much where I was and what I did. But Frank would give me advice and counsel and then he was a buddy in a lot of ways. I thought the world of him.”
Dreesen’s career went far beyond the stage. He made more than 500 appearances on national television, including spots on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and guest-hosting The Late Show for his longtime friend David Letterman.
Letterman paid an emotional tribute to Dreesen after his death, remembering him as one of the first comics he met when he arrived at the Comedy Store in 1975.
“We became friends immediately,” Letterman wrote on Instagram. “He had wisdom and endless stories. Everyone admired him, looked up to him and wondered if he ever stopped talking. He never did, he never will. We love him for that. We’ll miss the stories. God bless you, Tom.”
Comics Unleashed also honored Dreesen in a touching message after his passing.
“Tom will forever and for always be a cherished part of the Comics Unleashed family,” the show’s official Instagram account wrote. “Despite his health struggles, he brought so much joy, life, and vitality to our set.”
The show also noted that fans would still get to see Dreesen’s last appearance.
“Stay tuned for Tom’s last appearance on our show,” the post added.
While complete details about his surviving family members were not immediately available, Dreesen’s loved ones remembered him as far more than a comedian.
The family statement described him as “a devoted father, brother, grandfather, friend, mentor, storyteller, and motivator.”
They also praised his generosity, noting that he supported countless charitable causes and inspired others through his motivational speaking, writing and personal example.
For generations of comics and fans, Dreesen was more than an opening act. He was a link to the golden age of entertainment, a master storyteller and a beloved figure who never seemed to run out of tales to tell.