Overview
- Dreesen died Wednesday, June 17, at 5:50 a.m. at his Los Angeles home, his family posted on his official Facebook page and a family spokesperson confirmed.
- His five‑decade career included more than 500 national TV appearances, over 60 visits to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, frequent stints on David Letterman’s shows and a final televised appearance on June 9 on Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen.
- He began as half of Tim and Tom, one of the first interracial stand‑up duos in the U.S., and later led efforts at The Comedy Store to secure pay for performers while mentoring younger comics.
- Dreesen spent roughly 13–14 years as Frank Sinatra’s opening act, toured with other major artists, served as a pallbearer and speaker at Sinatra’s funeral, and hosted Sinatra‑related events for years.
- The family has not disclosed a cause of death and has asked for privacy; peers including David Letterman, Gary Sinise and Michael Bublé have paid public tribute and he is survived by two daughters and seven grandchildren.