Bill Dana
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Born Name:
William Szathmary
Born Date: October 5, 1924
Born Place: Quincy, Massachusetts
Died Date: June 15, 2017
Died Place: Nashville, Tennessee
Occupations: Comedian, actor, screenwriter
Brief Biography: Bill Dana rose to fame during the Golden Age of television. He is most widely recognized for creating and performing the character José Jiménez, a mild-mannered man with a heavy accent who famously introduced himself with the catchphrase, "My name... José Jiménez".
Early Life and Military Service:
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, he was the youngest of six children in a Hungarian-Jewish family. He adopted "Dana" as his stage name—a variation of his mother's name, Dena—because he felt his surname was too difficult for audiences to pronounce. During World War II, Dana served in the U.S. Army as a mortarman and machine gunner, earning a Bronze Star Medal for his service. After the war, he attended Emerson College on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950.
The José Jiménez Phenomenon:
Dana’s career defining character, José Jiménez, debuted on The Steve Allen Show in 1959. The character was portrayed in various absurd occupations, most notably as an astronaut, which led to Dana being named an honorary astronaut by the original Mercury 7 team. His success led to:
The Bill Dana Show (1963–1965): An NBC sitcom where Jiménez worked as a hotel bellhop.
Discography: Several hit comedy albums, including "The Astronaut," which reached the Billboard Top 40.
Retirement of the Character: In 1970, Dana officially "retired" the character in response to growing concerns about ethnic stereotyping, even reading a mock obituary for Jiménez at a public event.
Screenwriting and Later Roles:
While known for his performing, Dana was a prolific comedy writer who helped shape several classic series:
Get Smart: He wrote "Would you believe?" jokes for Don Adams and co-wrote the 1980 film The Nude Bomb.
All in the Family: Dana penned the iconic 1972 episode "Sammy's Visit," which featured Sammy Davis Jr. kissing Archie Bunker.
The Golden Girls: In the 1980s and 90s, he had a recurring role as Uncle Angelo, the brother of Sophia Petrillo.
Preserving Comedy History:
In his later years, Dana co-founded the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, conducting interviews with over 60 comedy legends to preserve the history of the craft. He spent his final years in Nashville, Tennessee.
Born Date: October 5, 1924
Born Place: Quincy, Massachusetts
Died Date: June 15, 2017
Died Place: Nashville, Tennessee
Occupations: Comedian, actor, screenwriter
Brief Biography: Bill Dana rose to fame during the Golden Age of television. He is most widely recognized for creating and performing the character José Jiménez, a mild-mannered man with a heavy accent who famously introduced himself with the catchphrase, "My name... José Jiménez".
Early Life and Military Service:
Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, he was the youngest of six children in a Hungarian-Jewish family. He adopted "Dana" as his stage name—a variation of his mother's name, Dena—because he felt his surname was too difficult for audiences to pronounce. During World War II, Dana served in the U.S. Army as a mortarman and machine gunner, earning a Bronze Star Medal for his service. After the war, he attended Emerson College on the GI Bill, graduating in 1950.
The José Jiménez Phenomenon:
Dana’s career defining character, José Jiménez, debuted on The Steve Allen Show in 1959. The character was portrayed in various absurd occupations, most notably as an astronaut, which led to Dana being named an honorary astronaut by the original Mercury 7 team. His success led to:
The Bill Dana Show (1963–1965): An NBC sitcom where Jiménez worked as a hotel bellhop.
Discography: Several hit comedy albums, including "The Astronaut," which reached the Billboard Top 40.
Retirement of the Character: In 1970, Dana officially "retired" the character in response to growing concerns about ethnic stereotyping, even reading a mock obituary for Jiménez at a public event.
Screenwriting and Later Roles:
While known for his performing, Dana was a prolific comedy writer who helped shape several classic series:
Get Smart: He wrote "Would you believe?" jokes for Don Adams and co-wrote the 1980 film The Nude Bomb.
All in the Family: Dana penned the iconic 1972 episode "Sammy's Visit," which featured Sammy Davis Jr. kissing Archie Bunker.
The Golden Girls: In the 1980s and 90s, he had a recurring role as Uncle Angelo, the brother of Sophia Petrillo.
Preserving Comedy History:
In his later years, Dana co-founded the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, conducting interviews with over 60 comedy legends to preserve the history of the craft. He spent his final years in Nashville, Tennessee.