Tom Dreesen, comedian who led the Comedy Store strike and toured with Frank Sinatra, dies at 86
Key takeaways
- Tom Dreesen, the veteran stand-up comedian who toured with Frank Sinatra, combated civil rights-era racial tension with comedy, and championed pay for fellow Comedy Store acts, has died.
- “It is with deep sadness that the family and representatives of legendary comedian, actor, author, and speaker Tom Dreesen announce his passing,” a statement from the family reads.
- Dreesen died at his home in Los Angeles.
Tom Dreesen, the veteran comedian who led the Comedy Store strike and toured with Frank Sinatra, has died at 86. (Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images) By Emily St. Martin Staff Writer Follow June 18, 2026 2:41 PM PT 10 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Tom Dreesen, the veteran stand-up comedian who toured with Frank Sinatra, combated civil rights-era racial tension with comedy, and championed pay for fellow Comedy Store acts, has died. He was 86.
“It is with deep sadness that the family and representatives of legendary comedian, actor, author, and speaker Tom Dreesen announce his passing,” a statement from the family reads. “For more than five decades, Tom Dreesen brought laughter, heart, and humanity to audiences across America.”