Totie Fields
Encyclopedia
Totie Fields was an American
comedienne
.
, Connecticut
. She started singing in Boston
clubs while still in high school, taking the stage name of Totie Fields. The name "Totie" was a childhood nickname, a corruption of her first name.
gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana
in New York. She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show
, The Mike Douglas Show
, and The Merv Griffin Show
as well as a fifth season episode of Here's Lucy
starring Lucille Ball
.
In 1972, Fields wrote a humorous diet book entitled I Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8½ oz. Mashed Potato Diet (i.e., 8.5 ounces (241 g)).
In April 1976, her left leg was amputated
above the knee when surgery to remove a blood clot failed. This caused her to use an Amigo
POV/Scooter for mobility.
In June 1977 Fields starred in the Home Box Office
special series Standing Room Only
, beginning her show seated in a wheelchair
. 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 than Elizabeth Taylor
!"
While still recovering from the amputation, Fields suffered two heart attack
s.
In October 1977, Fields was diagnosed with breast cancer
and her right breast was removed. Nevertheless, Fields continued to perform, incorporating her health problems into her act.
In 1978, during the last year of her life, Fields was voted "Entertainer of the Year" and "Female Comedy Star of the Year" by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
. She was rushed to nearby Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
, but was pronounced dead soon after. Her ashes were interred in Las Vegas; however, after her husband George Johnston's death in January 1995, Totie was moved to the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
in Los Angeles, to be interred together.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedienne
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
Life and career
Fields was born Sophie Feldman in HartfordHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. She started singing in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
clubs while still in high school, taking the stage name of Totie Fields. The name "Totie" was a childhood nickname, a corruption of her first name.
Rise to fame
Fields gained fame during the 1960s and 1970s. Ed SullivanEd Sullivan
Edward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana
Copacabana (nightclub)
The Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
in New York. She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
, and The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, September 20, 1965 to September 26, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in...
as well as a fifth season episode of Here's Lucy
Here's Lucy
Here's Lucy is Lucille Ball's third network television sitcom. It ran on CBS from 1968 to 1974.-Background:Though The Lucy Show was still hugely popular during the previous season, finishing in the top five of the Nielsen Ratings , Ball opted to end that series at the end of that season and create...
starring Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
.
In 1972, Fields wrote a humorous diet book entitled I Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8½ oz. Mashed Potato Diet (i.e., 8.5 ounces (241 g)).
Health problems
Fields was plagued with health problems the last two years of her life.In April 1976, her left leg was amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
above the knee when surgery to remove a blood clot failed. This caused her to use an Amigo
Amigo Mobility International Inc
Amigo Mobility International Inc, founded by Allan R. Thieme in 1968, changed the mobility industry by inventing the first power operated vehicle/scooter . Located in Bridgeport, Mich., the company manufactures multiple lines of products for healthcare, commercial, transportation services and...
POV/Scooter for mobility.
In June 1977 Fields starred in the Home Box Office
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
special series Standing Room Only
Standing Room Only (TV series)
Standing Room Only was an entertainment series on Home Box Office that premiered in 1976. Shows featured concerts, burlesque shows, ventriloquism programs, magic shows and more....
, beginning her show seated in a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
. 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 than Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
!"
While still recovering from the amputation, Fields suffered two heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
s.
In October 1977, Fields was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
and her right breast was removed. Nevertheless, Fields continued to perform, incorporating her health problems into her act.
In 1978, during the last year of her life, Fields was voted "Entertainer of the Year" and "Female Comedy Star of the Year" by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
Death
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 fatal pulmonary embolismPulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
. She was rushed to nearby Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
The Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center is a for-profit hospital operated by Sunrise Healthcare System and owned by the Hospital Corporation of America. This 730 bed hospital is located in Winchester, Nevada.-History:...
, but was pronounced dead soon after. Her ashes were interred in Las Vegas; however, after her husband George Johnston's death in January 1995, Totie was moved to the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery
Mount Sinai Memorial Parks and Mortuaries refers to two Jewish cemeteries in the Los Angeles, California metropolitan area. The original cemetery is located at 5950 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. The cemetery was originally established in 1953 by the neighboring Forest...
in Los Angeles, to be interred together.
External links
- Lessons in Laughter - Totie Fields in Comedy CollegeComedy CollegeComedy College is a radio programme produced by Minnesota Public Radio and distributed by American Public Media.Each show is dedicated to a specific comedian or team of comedians. Garrison Keillor is executive producer, Tiffany Hanssen producer. The hosts of the show are Steve Martin, Rita Rudner,...