Tom Dressen bio

Dreesen grew up in Harvey, Illinois. His family was one of the few white families in a big African American community. While being an insurance salesman in 1968, he met Tim Reid and the two teamed up to form the first biracial stand-up comedy duet in the United States. Though their show is now considered cutting-edge for its time, the pair struggled to make a living together, and went apart up in the mid-1970s. However, each found individual success: Reid had a role on WKRP in Cincinnati, Dreesen became a regular on The Tonight Show and toured with Frank Sinatra as the crooner's opening act.
Dreesen continues to perform these days. He is also involved in philanthropic endeavors and hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament called the Tom Dreesen Celebrity Classic.