Joey Bishop - Welcome to the Joey Bishop page of the Rat Pack Memories website.  This page will be filled with pictures, info, movies, and stories in the life of Joey Bishop.

 

 

Comedian, actor, born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb, on February 3, 1918, in the Bronx, New York. Bishop grew up in South Philadelphia. After high school, he enjoyed a modest career as a stand-up comic prior to serving in the Army in World War II. In 1941 Bishop married Sylvia Ruzga. Although Bishop'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. By 1959 Joe was the emcee for The Rat Pack and was starring in the Summit shows in Vegas at the Sands Hotel. In 1960 Frank got him a part in Oceans 11 and Joey continued to open for The Rat Pack. Yet he shunned the party scene the others loved and thrived upon.