Comedian. He was part of an American comedian group. He and his brothers Al and Jimmy were known professionally as The Ritz Brothers. Born the youngest son of Austrian-born Jewish haberdasher Max Joachim, he and his brothers grew up in New Jersey and Brooklyn. His mother was Russian-born. After the three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act. The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act reportedly after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck. With a fourth brother George as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked nightclubs and vaudeville. The act consisted of the trio indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and songs, and slapstick. In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy "Hotel Anchovy", which led to them being signed by 20th Century-Fox as a specialty act. "Sing Baby Sing" in 1936 was the first feature film to costar the Ritzes, and, their first starring role followed a year later in "Life Begins in College". Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Ritz Brothers continued a wildly popular supper club and resort circuit and made their first appearances as television guest stars. The Ritzes were appearing at New Orleans' Roosevelt Hotel in December of 1965 when Al suddenly died of a heart attack. He and Jimmy kept the act going as best they could, though by the end of the 1960s they settled into semi-retirement, only making occasional talk show and game show appearances. In the mid-1970s, He and Jimmy briefly returned to the limelight with the popularity of Mel Brooks and his professed idolatry of the brothers. He made a handful of solo television and movie appearances. He and Jimmy retired permanently in the 1980s, proud of the fact that despite all tribulation, the Ritz Brothers weathered seven decades as one of show business' most professionally harmonious comedy teams. They have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the west side of Palm Canyon Drive between Tahquitz and Amado. He married four times and had seven children. The last surviving of the brothers, he died at home.
Comedian. He was part of an American comedian group. He and his brothers Al and Jimmy were known professionally as The Ritz Brothers. Born the youngest son of Austrian-born Jewish haberdasher Max Joachim, he and his brothers grew up in New Jersey and Brooklyn. His mother was Russian-born. After the three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act. The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act reportedly after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck. With a fourth brother George as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked nightclubs and vaudeville. The act consisted of the trio indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and songs, and slapstick. In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy "Hotel Anchovy", which led to them being signed by 20th Century-Fox as a specialty act. "Sing Baby Sing" in 1936 was the first feature film to costar the Ritzes, and, their first starring role followed a year later in "Life Begins in College". Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Ritz Brothers continued a wildly popular supper club and resort circuit and made their first appearances as television guest stars. The Ritzes were appearing at New Orleans' Roosevelt Hotel in December of 1965 when Al suddenly died of a heart attack. He and Jimmy kept the act going as best they could, though by the end of the 1960s they settled into semi-retirement, only making occasional talk show and game show appearances. In the mid-1970s, He and Jimmy briefly returned to the limelight with the popularity of Mel Brooks and his professed idolatry of the brothers. He made a handful of solo television and movie appearances. He and Jimmy retired permanently in the 1980s, proud of the fact that despite all tribulation, the Ritz Brothers weathered seven decades as one of show business' most professionally harmonious comedy teams. They have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the west side of Palm Canyon Drive between Tahquitz and Amado. He married four times and had seven children. The last surviving of the brothers, he died at home.
Bio by: Iola
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