Phil Ford (comedian)

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Phil Ford
Publicity photo of Hines and Ford.
Born(1919-06-21)June 21, 1919
DiedJune 15, 2005(2005-06-15) (aged 85)
Occupation(s)Comedian, musician, vaudeville
Spouse
(m. 1954; div. 1972)

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

Life and career[edit]

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]

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

In 1958, they appeared on Jack Paar's Tonight Show, 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 on June 15, 2005, in Las Vegas.[1]

References[edit]

  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.
  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.