Born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb on February 3, 1918 in The Bronx, New York, to Jacob and Anna Gottlieb. He was the youngest of five children, at birth he weighed 2lbs and 14oz. At the time was the smallest baby every born at Fordham Hospital in New York City. He grew up in South Philadelphia. He dropped out of high school after only two years, and served in the Army during World War II, and then he went into comedy business. He began in vaudeville, working various day jobs and by night emceeing/doing stand-up at clubs in New York City, South Philadelphia, Cleveland, and even in Miami at a club affectionately named "El Dumpo." He eventually changed his last name to the stage name "Bishop" upon joining up with Morris Spector and a guy named Sammy Reisman to form the comedy troupe "The Bishop Trio" (aptly named since their driver only agreed to chauffeur if they adopted his surname as their stage monikers). In 1941 he married Sylvia Ruzga and they have one son Larry Bishop. In the 1950's he began a friendship with Frank Sinatra , which got him in the "Rat Pack." He was always painfully down-to-earth, his laughable cynicism and deadpan delivery earned him accolades, and an integral position as the "Master of Ceremonies" for the "The Rat Pack," which consisted of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, and Peter Lawford. Although Joey’s celebrity profile is far lower than that of Sinatra, Davis or Martin, Sinatra called Bishop “the Hub of the Big Wheel,” citing him as the originator of most of the group’s comic material and the one who anchored their stage presence. He and Dean Martin were also said to be the only members who could tell jokes at Sinatra’s expense. Joey performed with the Rat Pack in Las Vegas and co-starred with them in the films Oceans Eleven and Sergeants Three. Joey gained public exposure by appearing regularly on Jack Parr's "Tonight Show" from 1958-62. In 1961 he starred in his own television show "The Joey Bishop Show" until it went off the air in 1965. Then again in 1967 got his own show also called "The Joey Bishop Show". After appearing in numerous films and TV programs, Joey retired from the business. Joey received a citation from Pope John XXIII for his help with the Boys Towns throughout Italy. On September 22, 1999 Joey's wife of 58 years died after an 18-month battle with lung cancer. Today Joey lives at his beachfront cottage near Santa Monica, California, and never goes anywhere without his beloved cat, Misty. Joey Bishop is 5' 7" in height.

Filmography

1. Mad Dog Time (1996) .... Mr. Gottlieb
2. Betsy's Wedding (1990) .... Eddie's Father
3. Delta Force, The (1986) .... Harry Goldman
4. "Liar's Club" (1976) TV Series .... Panelist
5. "Match Game PM" (1975) TV Series .... Panelist
6. "Celebrity Sweepstakes" (1974) TV Series .... Regular Panelist
7. Valley of the Dolls (1967) .... MC at Telethon
8. Who's Minding the Mint? (1967) .... Ralph Randazzo
9. Guide for the Married Man, A (1967) .... Technical Adviser
10. "Joey Bishop Show, The" (1967) TV Series .... Host
11. Texas Across the River (1966) .... Kronk
12. Johnny Cool (1963) .... Used Car Salesman
13. Sergeants 3 (1962) .... Roger Boswell
14. "Joey Bishop Show, The" (1961) TV Series .... Joey Barnes
15. Pepe (1960) .... Cameo appearance
16. Ocean's Eleven (1960) .... Mushy O'Connors
17. Naked and the Dead, The (1958) .... Roth
18. Onionhead (1958) .... Gutsell
19. "Keep Talking" (1958) TV Series
20. "Jack Paar Show, The" (1957) TV Series .... (1958-1962)
21. "Tonight Show, The" (1954) TV Series .... Regular (1958-1962)
22. Deep Six, The (1957) .... Ski Krokowski

TV Guest Appearances

1. "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Buster Bailey" in episode: "Murder at the Oasis" (episode # 1.20) 4/7/1985
2. "Chico and the Man" (1974) playing "Charlie" in episode: "Too Many Crooks" (episode # 2.21) 2/25/1976
3. "Get Smart" (1965) playing "Guard"(uncredited) in episode: "Viva Smart" (episode # 3.1) 9/16/1967
4. "Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) 4/12/1965
5. "Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) 5/12/1964
6. "Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) 10/15/1963
7. "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957) in episode: "No Laughing Matter" (episode # 3.24) 11/9/1959