Foster Brooks

 Foster Brooks (May 11, 1912 – December 20, 2001)

In 1952, Brooks appeared on local television in a short-lived spoof of Gene Autry and his "Singing Cowboys". He later worked in local broadcasting as a radio and TV personality in Buffalo and Rochester, New York before moving to the West Coast to launch a career as a standup comic and character actor. On the syndicated Steve Allen Show of the 1960s, Allen introduced Brooks as an important movie producer. Brooks stumbled on stage doing his drunk act, fooling some of the other guests. Brooks claimed to be the executive in charge of editing movies for television. His biggest success, he said, was the famous movie The Three Commandments. His character also claimed to have invented the concept of removing clips from the movies and inserting commercials. Singer Perry Como discovered Brooks at a golf tournament in North Carolina in 1969, giving the comedian his major break. Como chose Brooks to open for him, and when a manager balked at the newcomer, Como refused to perform. The manager acquiesced, and Brooks was an instant hit. Brooks regularly appeared on The Dean Martin Show television program in the 1970s (for which he garnered an Emmy Award nomination in 1974) as well as many situation comedies, talk shows, and a few films. Although he had only one basic signature character, he exhibited such extraordinary timing and subtlety that he was instantly recognized as one of the great comic performers of the time. His signature routine was the basis of a hit comedy album titled Foster Brooks, The Lovable Lush, released in the early 1970s. As his "Lovable Lush" character, Brooks usually portrayed a conventioneer who had had a few too many drinks — not falling-down drunk, but inebriated enough that he would mix up his words and burp to comedic delight. Brooks is most affectionately remembered for his appearances on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast shows.

Brooks drew upon his own battles with alcohol for his act. However, during his period of greatest fame, Brooks rarely drank. Of giving up drinking to win a bet in 1964, Brooks said, "A fellow made me a $10 bet I couldn't quit, and I haven't had a drink since. At the time I needed the $10." Foster Brooks is remembered as the original "Fake" drunk, and is seen today as a legend in comedy. Brooks died on December 20, 2001, at his home from heart failure at age 89.