Morey Amsterdam was a legendary comedian, actor, writer and producer who entertained millions of people with his witty jokes and hilarious performances. He was best known for playing Buddy Sorrell, a joke writer on the classic sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. But how did he die and what was his cause of death?
Early Life and Career
Morey Amsterdam was born on December 14, 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, as Moritz Amsterdam. He was the youngest of three sons of Jewish immigrants from Austria-Hungary. He started working in vaudeville at the age of 14 as a comedian and a cellist, a skill he used throughout his career. He also worked in a speakeasy run by Al Capone in the 1920s, where he witnessed a gunfight that made him move to California
He became one of the most prolific comedy writers in the country, providing jokes for stars like Will Rogers and Fanny Brice. He also performed in nightclubs and radio shows, earning the nickname The Human Joke Machine for his ability to come up with a joke on any subject. He had three different daily radio shows in the late 1940s, and comedian Fred Allen once said, “The only thing I can turn on without getting Amsterdam is the faucet.”
He made his TV debut in 1948 on the show Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One. He also hosted his own variety show, The Morey Amsterdam Show, from 1948 to 1950. He then hosted Broadway Open House, the first late-night entertainment show on TV and the precursor to The Tonight Show. He appeared on several quiz shows until he landed his most famous role in 1961
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Morey Amsterdam played Maurice “Buddy” Sorrell, one of the writers on the fictional Alan Brady Show, along with Dick Van Dyke’s Rob Petrie and Rose Marie’s Sally Rogers. He was known for his sarcastic remarks, his jokes about his baldness and his nagging wife Pickles, played by Joan Shawlee. He also had a friendly rivalry with Richard Deacon’s Mel Cooley, the producer of the show and Alan Brady’s brother-in-law
The Dick Van Dyke Show was created by Carl Reiner and ran from 1961 to 1966 on CBS. It was one of the most popular and acclaimed sitcoms of its time, winning 15 Emmy Awards and ranking among the greatest TV shows of all time by various critics and surveys. Morey Amsterdam received three Emmy nominations for his performance as Buddy Sorrell
He also wrote several episodes of the show, including one where he sang a song called “Pumpernickel” that he composed himself. He also wrote jokes for other characters on the show, such as Mary Tyler Moore’s Laura Petrie and Carl Reiner’s Alan Brady. He was close friends with his co-stars and remained in touch with them after the show ended
Later Years and Death
After The Dick Van Dyke Show, Morey Amsterdam continued to work in TV and movies, appearing on shows like The Hollywood Squares, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Caroline in the City and Coach. He also starred in films like Don’t Worry, We’ll Think of a Title (1966), Beach Party (1963) and Muscle Beach Party (1964). He also wrote books, such as The War Between Men and Women (1972) and Morey Amsterdam’s Benny Cooker Crock Book (1975)
He married Kay Patrick in 1949 and had two children with her, Gregory and Cathy. He was an avid chess player and a licensed ham radio operator. He also supported several charitable causes, such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the American Cancer Society
He died on October 28, 1996 at the age of 87 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His cause of death was a heart attack. He was entombed at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. His wife Kay died in 2017 at the age of 97
Morey Amsterdam was a beloved entertainer who made generations of people laugh with his jokes and his charm. He left behind a legacy of humor and happiness that will never be forgotten.
