Totie Fields | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sophie Feldman (1930-05-07)May 7, 1930 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 1978(1978-08-02) (aged 48) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles |
| Other names | Totie Fields Johnston |
| Occupation | Comedian |
| Years active | 1954–1978 |
| Spouse(s) | George William Johnston, Jr. (1950–1978; her death; 2 children) |
Totie Fields (bornSophie Feldman; May 7, 1930 – August 2, 1978) was an Americancomedian.[1][2]
Fields was born Sophie Feldman inHartford,Connecticut. She started singing inBoston clubs while still in high school, taking the stage name of Totie Fields.[3] She was Jewish.[4]
Fields gained fame during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.[5] After years of Fields' successful appearances in nightclubs,[6][7]Ed Sullivan gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at theCopacabana inNew York in March 1964.[8] She made multiple appearances onThe Ed Sullivan Show,The Mike Douglas Show,The Merv Griffin Show, andThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[9][10] She also appeared in a 1971 episode ofThe Carol Burnett Show (Season 4, Episode 21) and a 1972 episode ofHere's Lucy (Season 5, Episode 7) starringLucille Ball.[11][12]
It was on Mike Douglas in 1974 that Totie met the bandKiss, who were making their first national TV appearance.[13] Fields joked that it would be funny if bassistGene Simmons, under the makeup, turned out to be "just a nice Jewish boy." Simmons (who is not only Jewish but was born inIsrael) responded "You should only know", to which Fields said, "I do! You can’t hidethe hook!" (Simmons and Fields became friends and corresponded until her death.)[14]
Fields also appeared on various television game shows in the late 1960s and 1970s, including multiple episodes of bothHollywood Squares andTattletales with her husband George Johnston.
In 1972, Fields wrote a humorous diet book titledI Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8½ Oz. Mashed Potato Diet.[15]
Fields was plagued with health problems in the last years of her life. She suffered fromdiabetes and in March 1976 she had surgery to remove ablood clot, but it failed and she developedphlebitis. In April 1976, Fields' left leg wasamputated above the knee.[16] This caused her to use a scooter for mobility and file a $2 million lawsuit against the hospital and doctors who had initially treated her.[17] While still recovering from the amputation, Fields suffered twoheart attacks.[18]
Fields' last television appearance before her surgery was in a rare straight dramatic guest-starring role on the CBS-TV drama seriesMedical Center, which aired on February 23, 1976. In that episode, "Life, Death, and Mrs. Armbruster", Fields played Phoebe Armbruster, a hospital janitor plagued by heart problems.[19]
In June 1977, a much-thinner Fields starred in theHome Box Office special seriesStanding Room Only, beginning her show seated in awheelchair.[20] As the audience welcomed her, she stood up, causing the cheering audience to stand with her. Said Fields: "I've waited all my life to say this ... I weigh less thanElizabeth Taylor!" At the time, Taylor had gained over 50 pounds during her marriage to Senator John Warner.[21] Rather than avoid the subject of her amputation, Totie used it as material in her touring comedy act at theaters around the country.[22]
In October 1977, Fields was diagnosed withbreast cancer and had amastectomy to remove her right breast and also had an eye operation.[17] However, Fields continued to perform, incorporating her health problems into her act.[23] As a result, this changed the tone of her humor. ActorVan Johnson, who was a friend of Fields, was said to have remarked, "When Totie lost weight, she wasn't funny anymore."
Nevertheless, in 1978, during the last year of her life, Fields was voted "Entertainer of the Year" and "Female Comedy Star of the Year" by theAmerican Guild of Variety Artists.[2]
On August 2, 1978, Fields was scheduled to begin a two-week engagement at Las Vegas’Sahara Hotel when, on the eve of the opening, she was stricken at home by a blood clot, suffering a fatalpulmonary embolism. She was rushed to nearbySunrise Hospital & Medical Center, but was pronounced dead soon after.[2] Her ashes were interred in Las Vegas; however, after her husband George Johnston's death in January 1995, her remains were moved to theMount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery inLos Angeles to be interred with his.
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