Tom Dreesen, comedian who led the Comedy Store strike and toured with Frank Sinatra, dies at 86

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Tom Dreesen, the veteran stand-up comedian who toured with Frank Sinatra, combated civil rights-era racial tension with comedy, and championed pay for fellow Comedy Store acts, has died.He was 86.“It is with deep sadness that the family and representatives of legendary comedian, actor, author, and speaker Tom Dreesen announce his passing,” a statement from the family reads.

“For more than five decades, Tom Dreesen brought laughter, heart, and humanity to audiences across America.”Dreesen died at his home in Los Angeles.“Tom was the first comedian I met at Comedy Store in 1975,” David Letterman wrote on social media on Tuesday.

“We became friends immediately.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.”Dreesen, a regular on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and “The Late Show with David Letterman,” made more than 500 national television appearances throughout his career.He opened for musical greats Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Sammy Davis Jr., and most notably, Sinatra, with whom he linked up in 1983 for a few gigs that lasted 14 years.

Dreesen and Sinatra traveled 45 to 50 cities a year together, and the comedian said the crooner became like a father to him.He told the Desert Sun in 2014 that he landed the spot while in Vegas, rushing to Harrah’s to catch Ol’ Blue Eyes’ show.“I’m running through the lobby and the vice president of Harrah’s, Holmes Hendrickson, was talking to a heavyset guy with a cigar.

Holmes said to me, ‘Tommy, come here.’ So, reluctantly, I went over, and he said, ‘This is Mickey Rudin.’ I recognized the name as Frank’s lawyer, and he said, ‘Mickey, this is Tom Dreesen.I think Tom would make a great opening act for Fran...