Born Name:  Moritz Amsterdam

Born Date:  December 14, 1908

Born Place:  Chicago, Illinois

Died Date:  October 28, 1996

Died Place:  Los Angeles, California

Occupations:  Actor, comedian, writer, producer

Brief Biography:  Morey Amsterdam was a pioneering American comedian, actor, and songwriter who became a household name as the wisecracking Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966). Known as "The Human Joke Machine," he was legendary for his ability to produce a joke on any subject instantly, a skill he developed over a career that spanned vaudeville, radio, and the earliest days of television.

Early Life and Vaudeville Roots:
Born Moritz Amsterdam in Chicago to Jewish immigrant parents from Austria-Hungary, he was the youngest of three sons. His father was a professional musician, and Morey himself became an accomplished cellist, often incorporating the instrument into his comedy routines throughout his life. He began his career in vaudeville at age 14 and, by the mid-1920s, found himself working in a speakeasy operated by Al Capone. After being caught in a gunfight there, he moved to California to pursue comedy writing.

Radio and Early Television:
Amsterdam was a prolific writer and performer across multiple media:
Radio: He was a regular on The Al Pearce Show in the 1930s and by 1947 was performing on three daily radio programs.
Late-Night Pioneer: In 1950, he hosted Broadway Open House, a precursor to The Tonight Show and the first late-night variety show on NBC.
The Morey Amsterdam Show: He hosted his own variety show from 1948 to 1950, which helped establish his persona as a fast-talking wit.

The Dick Van Dyke Show and Beyond:
His career-defining role as Buddy Sorrell was suggested by his longtime friend and co-star Rose Marie. The character was based on Mel Brooks, a real-life writer for Carl Reiner’s Your Show of Shows. Amsterdam also famously wrote lyrics to the show's theme song, though they were never used on air. Later in his career, he became a frequent panelist on game shows like Match Game and The Hollywood Squares. He remained active until his death, making his final TV appearance in a 1996 episode of Caroline in the City alongside Rose Marie.

Songwriting and "Rum and Coca-Cola":
Amsterdam was a successful songwriter, but he was also the subject of a major copyright lawsuit over the hit "Rum and Coca-Cola". Although he was credited as the lyricist for the version made famous by The Andrews Sisters, a court eventually ruled that the original song belonged to Trinidadian calypso singer Lord Invader.