Comedian Bill Dana is available to perform at your next event!

"My name is Jose Jiminez" - with those five words actor Bill Dana introduced a character that would become an international sensation during the early 1960s. For Baby Boomers and The GI Generation, Bill Dana is one of the best-loved funnymen in America. He wrote himself into show business history in 1959 with the immortal line, "My name: Jose Jimenez," and his fans haven't stopped laughing since.

My name is Jose Jiminez In a variety of roles from comedy team, Dana and Wood, to his head-writership and membership in "The Men In The Street" of The Steve Allen show. Bill is only three years shy of being in television for its entire lifespan. Plus TV guest shots, including 17 Ed Sullivan Shows, Bill was part of the late fifties-early sixties night club scene pantheon with Jonathan Winters, Mort Sahl, Bill Cosby, Lenny Bruce, Shelly Berman, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen, Dick Gregory, and Phyllis Diller.

Jose Jimenez was already a national phenom when Garry Moore Show staff member Neil Simon asked whether Jose had ever been an Astronaut. That appearance was followed by the Kapp recording "Jose The Astronaut" - Its "Light Stuff for The Right Stuff guys" historic timing was such that Dana's reluctant space venturer was adopted as the official eighth mercury astronaut (out of a possible seven). On May Fifth (Cinco de Mayo) 1961, the first words spoken from the ground to an American entering space were,"Okay Jose, you're on your way."

Having become a part of the extended astronaut family, Bill serves currently on the advisory board of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and is on the Nominations Committee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Jose is acknowledged in The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and enshrined at the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame at Titusville, Florida.

From his comedy creations as head writer of the Golden Age Steve Allen Show, his own NBC vehicle, "The Bill Dana Show", "Golden Girls", Uncle Angelo, and over a dozen chart-busting comedy albums to his present day multi-media activities, Bill has been an innovator in humor and has helped launch other comic greats such as Don Adams, Don Knotts, Jackie Mason and Jim Nabors.

The Bill Dana written multi-Emmy winning All In The Family episode, "Sammy Davis Visits Archie Bunker", is #12 in the TV Guide Best 100 Episodes in the history of television. "The Laughter Prescription" (Ballantine 1983) co-authored with the late Dr. Laurence Peter of Peter Principle fame, was the first book of its nature following Norman Cousin's Anatomy Of An Illness.

Long active in the Latino cause, Bill was honored by the prestigious national Hispanic Media Coalition with their first Impact Award and is on their advisory board. This fall will see Bill with his pals Dick comedian bill dana booking information Cavett, Dick Gregory, Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman and Louis Nye in "The Comedians on Tour".

Born William Szathmary in Quincy, Massachusetts on October 5, 1924. Bill was educated in Quincy schools, is a decorated combat infantry veteran of WWII, (for conspicuous precaution under cover) and a graduate (1950) with highest honors from Emerson College in Boston. Bill is married to Evelyn Shular Dana of Walden's Creek, Tennessee, his inspiration and partner in life and business.

The lovable Bill "My name is Jose Jiminez" Dana is available for your next engagement. Contact us today for booking information for your next event!