Jimmy Ritz (born Samuel Joachim; October 4, 1904 – November 17, 1985), was an American comedian and actor. He was also the second Ritz Brother.

Early life

Ritz was born Samuel Joachim to parents Max (December 1871 – January 4, 1939) and Pauline Joachim (May 1874 – November 26, 1935) on October 4, 1904. His father was a

haberdasher In British English, a haberdasher is a business or person who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking and knitting, such as buttons, ribbons, and zippers; in the United States, the term refers instead to a retailer who sells men's clothing, ...

from Austria-Hungary and his mother was Russian. Ritz had three brothers, George, Al, and Harry, and a sister, Gertrude Soll.

Career

The Ritz Brothers began as a dancing act in 1925, and by 1929 they had become vaudeville headliners. When vaudeville faded, they took their act, which combined complicated dance routines, sound-alike singing voices and a distinctively zany, juvenile humor (their theme song was titled ''Collegiate''), to film, full theatrical presentations, and eventually television. They were appearing on the

Sunset Strip The Sunset Strip is the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through the city of West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western border with Beverly H ...

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

when movie producer Darryl F. Zanuck spotted them. Their first film, '' Sing, Baby, Sing'', in 1936, was followed by ''

On the Avenue ''On the Avenue'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Dick Powell, Madeleine Carroll, Alice Faye, George Barbier, and The Ritz Brothers. Many of the songs were composed by Irving Berlin. Many of the plot deta ...

'', '' You Can't Have Everything'', '' Life Begins in College'', '' Hi'ya, Chum'', '' One in a Million'', '' The Gorilla'', '' The Three Musketeers'', '' The Goldwyn Follies'', ''

Straight, Place and Show ''Straight, Place and Show'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by David Butler and starring the Ritz Brothers, Richard Arlen, and Ethel Merman, and released by 20th Century Fox. It based on the unproduced play ''Saratoga Chips'' by Damon ...

'', '' Pack Up Your Troubles'', '' Argentine Nights,'' ''Behind the Eight Ball,'' ''

Blazing Stewardesses ''Blazing Stewardesses'' is a 1975 American sex comedy film directed by Al Adamson. Its title derives from the 1975 film ''The Naughty Stewardesses'' and the 1974 film '' Blazing Saddles''. Producer Sam Sherman intended the film to be a fond thr ...

'' and '' Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'', the last two with Harry only. Al died in 1965.

Death

Ritz died on November 17, 1985, in Los Angeles, California due to

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...

at the age of 81. He is buried with his brothers at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ritz, Jimmy 1904 births 1985 deaths American male comedians 20th-century American comedians American male film actors Jewish American comedians Jewish American male actors Male actors from Newark, New Jersey American male comedy actors 20th-century American male actors Vaudeville performers Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Jewish American male comedians 20th-century American Jews