Tom Smothers, known for his comedic talent and social activism, passed away at the age of 86. He was part of the iconic duo, the Smothers Brothers, and was remembered by his brother Dick as a loving and creative partner. Despite portraying a dimwitted character on stage, Tom was a gifted writer and a deep thinker who cared about social justice and the creative process. His impact on comedy and television during the 60s was significant, challenging the status quo. Tributes poured in from various personalities, including Roger Daltrey of The Who and the Smothers Brothers' longtime manager, Ken Fritz.
“Mom always liked you best.” Tom Smothers, the comic half of the Smothers Brothers, has died at 86. https://t.co/Ll6MECCtW0
Though Tom Smothers played a naïve buffoon onstage, he was the driving force behind the folk-singing duo’s groundbreaking TV show. https://t.co/0f0kth8Vwt
RIP Tom Smothers - here he is performing "Talk To The Trees" and "Dance, Boatman, Dance" with his brother, Dick Smothers https://t.co/RDKinnmLbB
Longtime Smothers Brothers Manager Ken Fritz Remembers His Funny, Feisty, Kind And Intelligent Friend Tom Smothers - Guest Column https://t.co/l01u17xMpP
UPDATE: @TheWho's Roger Daltrey remembers the band’s famous performance on ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour’ and honors Tom Smothers as “the ultimate professional,” in a new tribute shared with Rolling Stone. More: https://t.co/F8GzNjQzxC https://t.co/nnJ4yT0ShP
Appreciation: What made Tom Smothers a childhood hero of mine — and so many others https://t.co/ne8nqHvSZT
Tom Smothers, of the comic folk duo the Smothers Brothers, died on Tuesday. He was 86. “Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” his brother Dick said. https://t.co/Jkyeh54RzK
Tom Smothers, who died this week, came across as lighthearted and simple onstage. "In real life, Tom thought and felt deeply," the veteran comedy writer Nell Scovell reflects in an appraisal. "He cared about social justice and the creative process." https://t.co/74Pes3RoE5 https://t.co/qdKeA1YgJu
Tom Smothers told me "You know, it takes a pretty smart guy to play a dummy." He earned an Emmy for comedy writing as half of the brother act that all my Vietnam-era college buddies and I greatly admired. Tom and Dick Smothers made people laugh... and think... a lot. RIP.
Tom Smothers... a gifted writer with an uncanny sense of comedic timing... a far cry from the dimwitted brother he portrayed alongside brother Dick, who mom "always liked best". I so looked up to them for challenging the "because we said so" attitude of government in the 60s.