Phil Ford (comedian)

This article is about the comedian named Phil Ford. For other people with a similar name, see Philip Ford.
Phil Ford
Publicity photo of Hines and Ford.
Born(1919-06-21)June 21, 1919
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 2005(2005-06-15) (aged 85)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation(s)Comedian, musician, vaudeville
Spouse
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(m. 1954; div. 1972)​

Phil Ford (June 21, 1919 – June 15, 2005) was an American vaudeville performer, musician, and comedian, whose career spanned over seven decades.

Life and career

Ford was born in San Francisco, California, on June 21, 1919.[1] He started in show business at the age of 12 and joined the Army during World War II.[2]

Ford met his future wife, Canadian-born singer and dancer Mimi Hines, in 1952 and they married two years later.[1]

In 1958, they appeared on Tonight Starring Jack Paar, which helped launch their careers.[2] They also appeared as guests on the shows of Johnny Carson,[3] Ed Sullivan,[4] Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin.[5] They appeared in one film together, Saturday Night in Apple Valley, in 1965.[2]

When Hines replaced Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice in the hit musical Funny Girl in 1965,[2] Ford was given the part of Eddie.[5]

Hines and Ford divorced in 1972, but worked together professionally several times after their divorce.[2]

Ford died of natural causes in Las Vegas, on June 15, 2005, at the age of 85.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c III, Harris M. Lentz (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 124. ISBN 9780786452101.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Phil Ford, 85; Entertainer, Half of Popular Show-Biz Couple With Mimi Hines". Los Angeles Times. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (1966). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ Nachman, Gerald (2009). Right Here on Our Stage Tonight!: Ed Sullivan's America. Univ of California Press. p. 222. ISBN 9780520268012.
  5. ^ a b "Mimi Hines & Phil Ford". National Comedy Hall of Fame®. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.