Morey Amsterdam

Moritz "Morey" Amsterdam was born on December 14 and was an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer known for his contributions to television and film. He hosted his own sitcom, The Morey Amsterdam Show, from 1948 to 1950 and was well recognized for his role as Buddy Sorrell on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show from 1961 to 1966. Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish immigrants Max and Jennie Amsterdam from Austria-Hungary, he was the youngest of three sons. His career in entertainment began in vaudeville in 1922, where he initially served as the straight man to his older brother’s jokes.

A skilled cellist, Amsterdam demonstrated his musical talent throughout his career, including a stint at a speakeasy owned by Al Capone in 1924. Following an incident during a gunfight, he relocated to California to work as a joke writer. By the late 1940s, he was hosting a program on CBS and a daily show on WMGM in New York. His CBS program concluded in early 1949, and in 1950 he hosted Broadway Open House, a pioneering late-night comedy-variety show on NBC, which laid the groundwork for future late-night programming like The Tonight Show.

In February 1952, Amsterdam made his dramatic television debut in an episode of the DuMont series Not for Publication and later hosted Breakfast With Music on WNBT-TV. He appeared in the syndicated sitcom How to Marry a Millionaire in 1957 and played a saloon manager in a 1958 episode of the CBS western Have Gun, Will Travel. He also made guest appearances on various sitcoms, including CBS's Pete and Gladys.

Amsterdam's most notable role was that of comedy writer Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show, where his character was known for quick wit and running gags, particularly with producer Mel Cooley. The character's Jewish background was significant for its time, featuring a storyline about Buddy deciding to have a Bar Mitzvah. Amsterdam wrote lyrics for the show’s theme song, although they were never aired but later performed by Dick Van Dyke in concert.

Later in his career, in the 1970s, Amsterdam appeared in a Partridge Family episode and an episode of The Littlest Hobo, where he played a con man. He occasionally participated as a panelist on game shows like Match Game and Can You Top This? and had roles on soap operas like The Young and the Restless in the 1990s. His final television appearances were alongside Rose Marie in The Hollywood Squares and NBC's Caroline in the City, both in 1996.

Amsterdam's film career included roles in low-budget movies like Machine-Gun Kelly (1958) and the film Murder, Inc. (1960), where he portrayed a nightclub owner. He also featured in two Beach Party films during the 1960s as the owner of a local nightclub. In addition to his acting work, he co-wrote and produced the film Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title in 1966, which included appearances from other notable stars.

Amsterdam's personal life included two marriages; he wed actress Mabel Todd in 1933, but they divorced in 1945. His second marriage, to Kay Patrick, began in 1949 and lasted until his death. He passed away at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles from a heart attack on October 28, 1996, at the age of 87.