{{Short description|American actor and comedian (1927–2019)}} {{For|those of the same or a similar name|Sam Shore (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox person | name = Sammy Shore | image = Publicity_Photo_Of_Sammy_Shore.jpg | caption = Publicity Photo Of Sammy Shore | birth_date = February 7, 1927 | birth_place = Schenectady, New York, U.S. | death_date = May 18, 2019 (aged 92) | death_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Mitzi Shore|1950|1974|reason=divorced}} * {{marriage|Suzanne Dennie|1990|}} }} | children = 4, including Pauly Shore }}
'''Sammy Shore''' (February 7, 1927 – May 18, 2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kraftsussman.com/tribute/details/1850/Sammy-Shore/obituary.html |title=In Memory of Sammy Shore 1927 - 2019 | website = kraftsussman.com |accessdate=May 21, 2019|archive-url= https://archive.today/20190521100040/https://kraftsussman.com/tribute/details/1850/Sammy-Shore/obituary.html |archive-date= 2019-05-21 |url-status=live}}</ref> was an American actor, stand-up comedian and co-founder of The Comedy Store.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/05/19/actor-comedian-sammy-shore-father-pauly-dies-92/3732413002/|title=Comedian Sammy Shore, father of Pauly and co-founder of the Comedy Store, dies at 92|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Sammy Shore was born in 1927<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kraftsussman.com/tribute/details/1850/Sammy-Shore/obituary.html |title=In Memory of Sammy Shore 1927 - 2019 | website = kraftsussman.com |accessdate=May 21, 2019|archive-url= https://archive.today/20190521100040/https://kraftsussman.com/tribute/details/1850/Sammy-Shore/obituary.html |archive-date= 2019-05-21 |url-status=live}}</ref> in New York City at the start of the Great Depression in the United States. He grew up in a traditional household to Jewish parents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://standupworld.com/lets-never-forget-sammy-shore/|title=LET'S NEVER FORGET; SAMMY SHORE |date=9 August 2022 |publisher=standupworld.com}}</ref>
== Career ==
Shore began his career doing stand-up comedy with Shecky Greene in the Catskill Mountains.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/sammy-shore-co-founder-comedy-store-dies-92-n1007421|title=Sammy Shore, co-founder of The Comedy Store, dies at 92|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref> He was chosen, in 1969, to open for Elvis Presley’s comeback performance at the International Hotel, Las Vegas. He then opened for Elvis’ road shows until 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/sammy-shore-dead-dies-comedy-store-co-founder-1203219787/|title=Sammy Shore, Co-Founder of The Comedy Store, Dies at 92|last=Nyren|first=Erin|date=2019-05-18|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref> Shore continued to perform comedy, opening for Tony Orlando, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr. and others.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Raphelson |first1=Samantha |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/19/724777616/legendary-comic-sammy-shore-co-founder-of-the-comedy-store-dies-at-92|title=Legendary Comic Sammy Shore, Co-Founder Of The Comedy Store, Dies At 92|website=NPR.org|date=19 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref> Shore served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lvrj/name/sammy-shore-obituary?id=9955036 SAMMY SHORE Obituary] Legacy. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://kraftsussman.com/tribute/details/1850/Sammy-Shore/obituary.html Obituary of Sammy Shore] Kraftsussman.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref>
On April 7, 1972, he founded the Comedy Store with his writing partner Rudy De Luca.<ref name=":0" /> In 1974, his ex-wife, Mitzi, became the owner of the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sammy-shore-dead-comedy-store-founder-was-92-1211992|title=Sammy Shore, Comedy Store Co-Founder and Stand-Up Comedian, Dies at 92|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=18 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref> The club launched the careers of many comedians including Rodney Dangerfield, David Letterman, Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, and Joe Rogan, also including his own son, Pauly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/sammy-shore-comedian-and-comedy-store-co-founder-dead-at-92/ar-AABypn3|title=Sammy Shore, Comedian and Comedy Store Co-Founder, Dead at 92|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref>
Shore appeared in many films including ''The Bellboy'' with Jerry Lewis and both ''Life Stinks'' and ''History of the World Part 1'' from Mel Brooks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/05/18/actor-comedian-sammy-shore-father-of-pauly-dies-at-92/|title=Actor-comedian Sammy Shore, father of Pauly, dies at 92|website=www.citynews1130.com|date=18 May 2019 |access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref> He appeared on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and was on ''Sanford and Son.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/actor-comedian-comedy-store-co-founder-sammy-shore-dies/|title=Actor-comedian Sammy Shore, father of Pauly, dies at 92|date=2019-05-18|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-20}}</ref>
Shore was voted Best Comedy Act in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors named a day after him on July 24, 1990. He appeared at Harrah's Casinos and hotels more than any other entertainer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Verhoeven|first=Beatrice|date=2019-05-18|title=Sammy Shore, Stand-Up Comic and Comedy Store Co-Founder, Dies at 92|url=https://www.thewrap.com/sammy-shore-legendary-stand-up-comedian-dies-at-92/|access-date=2019-05-20|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Shore was married to Mitzi for 24 years, and was the father of four, including actor and comedian Pauly Shore.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-19|title=Actor-comedian Sammy Shore, father of Pauly, dead at 92|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/actor-comedian-sammy-shore-dead-pauly-shore|access-date=2019-05-20|website=Associated Press|language=en-US}}</ref> Shore married Suzanne Dennie in 1990. She was Miss Alabama in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|author=John Katsilometes|title=Sammy Shore, Elvis' opening act in Las Vegas, dies at 92|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/sammy-shore-elvis-opening-act-in-las-vegas-dies-at-92-1667494|website=Las Vegas Review Journal |date=18 May 2019 }}</ref> They remained together until his death in Las Vegas, Nevada of natural causes at the age of 92.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Matt Rehbein|title=Comedian Sammy Shore, father of Pauly, dies at 92|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/entertainment/sammy-shore-obit/index.html|access-date=2019-05-20|website=CNN |date=18 May 2019 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|}}
[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794957/ IMDB]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shore, Sammy}} Category:1927 births Category:2019 deaths Category:20th-century American comedians Category:American male comedians Category:American stand-up comedians Category:Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery Category:Comedians from New York (state) Category:Jewish American military personnel Category:Military personnel from New York (state) Category:People from Schenectady, New York Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II