Bishop, Joey

Joey Bishop (1918–2007) was an American comedian, actor, television host, and member of the legendary Rat Pack alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford. Known for his dry wit and understated delivery, Bishop rose from nightclub comedy to become one of the most recognizable entertainers of the mid-twentieth century. His career included successful work in stand-up comedy, film, television, and hosting, most notably on The Joey Bishop Show.

Although his career took him to Hollywood and the nation's most famous stages, Bishop maintained strong ties to Englewood, New Jersey, during some of his most successful years. Newspaper accounts from the late 1950s and early 1960s frequently referred to him as an "Englewood comic" or "Englewood's Joey Bishop." Even after achieving national fame, Bishop continued to keep his family home in Englewood. In 1961, as his television career expanded and he spent increasing amounts of time in California, Bishop told reporters that he still maintained his Englewood residence and planned to keep his son enrolled in school there.

Englewood offered Bishop the suburban family life that many entertainers sought while remaining within easy reach of New York City's television studios, theaters, and nightclubs. His decision to maintain roots in the community reflected a broader pattern among performers who chose Bergen County as a home base during the early television era.

Bishop was also closely connected to the Englewood Golf Club, one of the area's most prominent social institutions. An avid golfer, he was frequently seen at the club with fellow comedian Phil Foster, and contemporary accounts described the two friends playing there regardless of weather conditions. During the 1950s, Bishop joined Foster, Buddy Hackett, and Dick Shawn in acquiring an ownership interest in the historic club. The Englewood Golf Club became a gathering place for entertainers who lived in Bergen County, helping to create a unique social network that connected comedy, television, and suburban life.

Through his friendships with Foster, Hackett, Shawn, and other performers, Bishop became part of a remarkable community of entertainers who called Englewood home. Their presence helped establish the city as an important residential center for nationally known comedians and television personalities during the postwar period.

Today, Joey Bishop is remembered as one of America's most influential comedians and as a key member of the Rat Pack. His years in Englewood illustrate the important role the city played in the lives of entertainers who shaped American popular culture in the mid-twentieth century.

James Bacon, "Englewood's Joey Bishop Ready To Move To Hollywood," The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 15, 1961, discussing Bishop's decision to maintain his Englewood home and family ties to the community.

Daily News (New York), April 30, 1955, noting that Joey Bishop and Phil Foster regularly played golf at the Englewood Golf Club.

Contemporary accounts of the Englewood Golf Club ownership group, including Joey Bishop, Phil Foster, Buddy Hackett, and Dick Shawn.

Biographical records documenting Joey Bishop's career and membership in the Rat Pack.

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March 3, 1967 Publicity photo

Public Domain