Tom Smothers, half of the famed Smothers Brothers comedy and music duo that fought racism, the Vietnam War and television censors, died on Tuesday, his family said.
The 86-year-old’s passing was announced Wednesday by the family and National Comedy Center.
“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” brother Dick Smothers said in a 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.”
Tom and Dick Smothers were never shy about using their platform to needle authority, in any way possible in staid, confrontation-adverse 1960s media.
CBS famously pulled the plug on the “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” in April 1969 due to their content consistently poking fun of the powerful and boosting Vietnam War critics and civil rights proponents.
At a 2019 event to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the firing, the pair still had a humorous take on their momentous roles in pop culture history.
“It’s really an honor to be honored in this way,” Tom Smothers told The Associated Press in 2019. “At least we’re both alive and not having someone speak for us. We can mumble our own way through.”
Looking back at the 1969 CBS termination, brother Dick said they believed their comedy was rather “benign” despite the backlash.
“Don’t tell a comedian not to say a certain word. For sure they’ll do it,” he said. “The funny thing is, I look back at those things. They’re so benign, but at the time they were volatile.”
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