Actor, Author. Born William Szathmary, to Jewish parents Joseph Szathmary and Dena (Litchman) Szathmary, he created and starred as the character at the center of the "My Name … Jose Jimenez" routine that made him one of America's most beloved comic performers of the 1960s. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning a Bronze Star as a combat infantryman. After the war, he began his career as an NBC page and performed in New York City nightclubs along with partner Gene Wood during the evenings. In the 1950s, he performed on 'The Imogene Coca Show', 'The Danny Thomas Show', and 'The Martha Raye Show', and also wrote for and produced 'The Spike Jones Show'. Dana's career began to be noticed after he wrote comedy routines for the stand-up comedian Don Adams. Among them was the "Would you believe?" routine that Adams later used on his sitcom 'Get Smart.' Dana was hired to write for 'The Steve Allen Show,' the program for which he originated the Jimenez character for Allen's "Man in the Street" interviews. Dana also played Jiménez on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' which led to NBC's 'The Bill Dana Show,' which aired from 1963 to 1965. Dana received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Comedy in 1964. He appeared in several other television shows, including 'Batman,' 'Get Smart,' 'Love. American Style,' 'Police Woman,' 'The Practice,' 'Vega$,' 'St. Elsewhere,' 'The Golden Girls,' and 'Empty Nest.' Dana, co-wrote the 1982 book, "The Laughter Prescription." He died of natural causes.
Actor, Author. Born William Szathmary, to Jewish parents Joseph Szathmary and Dena (Litchman) Szathmary, he created and starred as the character at the center of the "My Name … Jose Jimenez" routine that made him one of America's most beloved comic performers of the 1960s. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning a Bronze Star as a combat infantryman. After the war, he began his career as an NBC page and performed in New York City nightclubs along with partner Gene Wood during the evenings. In the 1950s, he performed on 'The Imogene Coca Show', 'The Danny Thomas Show', and 'The Martha Raye Show', and also wrote for and produced 'The Spike Jones Show'. Dana's career began to be noticed after he wrote comedy routines for the stand-up comedian Don Adams. Among them was the "Would you believe?" routine that Adams later used on his sitcom 'Get Smart.' Dana was hired to write for 'The Steve Allen Show,' the program for which he originated the Jimenez character for Allen's "Man in the Street" interviews. Dana also played Jiménez on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' which led to NBC's 'The Bill Dana Show,' which aired from 1963 to 1965. Dana received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Comedy in 1964. He appeared in several other television shows, including 'Batman,' 'Get Smart,' 'Love. American Style,' 'Police Woman,' 'The Practice,' 'Vega$,' 'St. Elsewhere,' 'The Golden Girls,' and 'Empty Nest.' Dana, co-wrote the 1982 book, "The Laughter Prescription." He died of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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