Tommy Smothers, one half of the boundary-pushing comedy folk duo the Smothers Brothers, has died at age 86.
His younger brother Dick Smothers, with whom he delivered eyebrow-raising political satire on network TV in the 60s, shared a statement on his brother’s Tuesday (Dec. 26) passing with The Hollywood Reporter and the National Comedy Center.
According to the statement, Tommy Smothers died “peacefully… at home with his family” following 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 in the statement. “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.”
With Tommy on acoustic guitar and Dick on double bass, the duo performed satiric and farcical folk music with a socio-political bent beginning in the late 50s. By the early 60s, they were making regular appearances on various variety programs, from The Judy Garland Show to The Jack Paar Show.
