Tom Smothers, half of the comedic duo the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86

Tom and Dick Smothers skewered authority and the Vietnam War with their biting ‘60s variety show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."

Tom Smothers, the comedian who rose to fame as half of the musical duo the Smothers Brothers, died Dec. 26. He was 86.

A spokesperson for the National Comedy Center shared a statement from Smothers’ younger brother and longtime collaborator Dick Smothers, who said his brother died at home with family after a “recent battle with cancer.”

“Tom was not only the loving older brother that everyone would want in their life, he was a one-of-a-kind creative partner,” Dick Smothers said. “I am forever grateful to have spent a lifetime together with him, on and off stage, for over 60 years. Our relationship was like a good marriage — the longer we were together, the more we loved and respected one another. We were truly blessed.”

The Smothers Brothers built their careers in the 1960s, winning over fans with their irreverent comedy and biting political satire, usually set to folky original songs. With Tom on guitar and Dick on double bass, the two began as traditional folk singers before pivoting to sharper political parody, often playing up their sibling rivalry for laughs. (Tom’s popular catchphrase became “Mom liked you best!”)

The two found additional fame with the launch of their variety show The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which ran on CBS between 1967 and 1969. The show was popular with young viewers, attracting high-profile musical guests like George Harrison, Joan Baez, Cass Elliot, Harry Belafonte, The Who, Janis Ian, and Pete Seeger. The show’s writers’ room also included starry names like Steve Martin, Rob Reiner, and Elaine May.

But the brothers often clashed with CBS censors, especially over their anti-authoritarian comedy, pro-civil rights stances, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Despite the show’s popularity, CBS famously canceled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in April 1969, replacing it with Hee Haw. The brothers responded by filing a breach of contract lawsuit, which the network ultimately lost.

After the cancellation of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, the pair continued touring, and they later returned with other variety shows, none of which ever found the same popularity as the original. Tom Smothers also worked as an actor, appearing in films like Serial, The Silver Bears, and The Informant. He also remained politically active and an outspoken advocate for free speech, and he famously played acoustic guitar on John Lennon’s recording of his song “Give Peace a Chance.”

In a 2022 CBS News interview, Tom and Dick Smothers reflected on the legacy of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, with Tom explaining that when he and his brother first began their careers, they thought of themselves not as stand-up comedians but as “folk singers.” But they soon discovered that they loved making people laugh — especially if they could do it with family at their side.

"People laughing is holy," Tom Smothers said in 2022. "And if you can be part of that, and control it, and create it, it's the best thing ever."

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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.