American stand-up comedian, actor, Navy veteran, and golfer Tom Dreesen died at his Los Angeles home on June 17, according to his publicist Lori De Waal’s confirmation to The Border Mail. He was 86.
While some publications have reported cancer as the cause of death and that he spent his final days at a local hospital, his family didn’t reveal it in the official announcement on his Instagram account:
“From the family of Tom Dreesen – We regret to inform you that Tom has passed away this morning at 5:50 am. He wanted you all to know how much joy you brought him through the years. He said to tell you that he loved you all. May he rest in peace.”
Tom Dreesen married Maryellen Subock in 1958 and divorced her in 1984. They shared three children: daughters Amy and Jennifer and son (middle child) Tommy.
His two daughters and seven grandchildren survive him. Dreesen was preceded in death by his only son, according to The Border Mail.
More about Tom Dreesen’s family
Tom Dreesen was born in Harvey, Illinois, in September 1939 to Glenore, a waitress, and Walter, who worked in a steel factory and played trumpet in a band. He was third among eight siblings and grew up in poverty as his working-class parents were both alcoholics.
While his mom eventually stopped drinking, his dad never did. Both of them later died before their time.
Tom Dreesen dropped out of high school in his sophomore year and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving overseas for over four years. During this time, he met a woman in Brazil who taught him the “art of love-making,” according to his old interview with The Chicago Tribune. At the same time, he also fell in love with books, which helped him cultivate the “powers of the mind,” including positive thinking and self-determination.
“I read everything I could get my hands on but in all the reading I did, there were two words that made no sense to me: ‘unconditional love.’ I would roll that around in my head: ‘love without conditions.’ But the moment I saw my first child born, then I knew.”
Tom Dreesen was talking about his elder daughter, Amy, who was born when he was still in the Navy. In the same interview, he shared meeting his wife in his hometown when he was visiting on leave.
“We met at Tony’s Pizzeria, where a lot of us used to hang out. It was one of those boy meets girl, girl gets pregnant,” Tom quipped.
Soon, the couple tied the knot and welcomed three children. Meanwhile, Dreesen retired from the Navy and worked two jobs to support his family, including construction and bartending.
“I went from job to job to try support the family. I poured concrete for sidewalks and basements, 12-14 hours a day, coming home sopping wet, falling asleep at the dinner table. But sometimes, a lot of times, I went out, trying, I guess, to catch the childhood I missed…” he explained.
Before becoming a comedian-actor, Tom Dreesen’s life changed when he joined the Jaycees and created a drug-education program for grade schoolers.
Apart from his wife and kids, Tom Dressen was close to an older sister, Darlene, who died from multiple sclerosis in 1989. Seven years before her passing, the Family Ties actor created “Day for Darlene,” a 26-mile marathon in South Chicago to raise awareness and money for those fighting the same disease as his sister.
The siblings were 18 months apart and spent their childhood together, from walking to school to selling newspapers together to make ends meet. He recalled:
“She never complained. My parents would be out drinking and she’d be the one watching over our brothers and sisters. She never had a childhood. None of us ever did.”
Tom Dreesen noted how he thought about Darlene every day and described her as the “sweetest person.” He also recalled how his sister got sick once she began living, got married, and had a child. Despite being diagnosed with MS and going from a cane to a walker and ultimately a wheelchair, Darlene never complained. Instead, she still gave away “free love.”
Tom also spoke about his older brother and how he helped him find jobs, including in life insurance sales. He later moved his family to California to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
For over 13 years, Tom Dreesen did opening acts for Frank Sinatra and later became his close personal friend, often referred to as “Sinatra’s gang.” He told The Desert Sun in a 2014 interview:
“If he loved you, he worshipped the ground you walked on. In a lot of ways, he was like a father to me. I didn’t have a father who really cared that much where I was and what I did. But Frank would give me advice and counsel, and then he was a buddy in a lot of ways. I thought the world of him.”
In fact, to pay tribute to his old friend, Dreesen traveled across the United States in 2013 to perform a one-man show titled “An Evening of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra.”
Now, in the wake of Tom Dreesen’s demise, a family spokesperson told the Daily Mail:
“For more than five decades, Tom Dreesen brought laughter, heart, and humanity to audiences across America. A proud native of Harvey, Illinois, Tom built a remarkable career through perseverance and talent. He was a devoted father, brother, grandfather, friend, mentor, storyteller, and motivator.”
The statement continued:
“He gave generously of his time, supported countless charitable causes, and inspired others through his motivational speaking, his writing, and his personal example.”
His close friend and actor-philanthropist, Gary Sinise, paid a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.
Tom Dreesen last appeared on CBS’ Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on June 9. The billionaire also paid tribute.
Edited by Pallavi K