Tom Smothers, half of iconic Smothers Brothers musical comedy duo, died at 86

Tom Smothers Obituary: Tom SmoTributes to Tom Smothersthers, the comedian and musician who rose to fame in the 1960s as one half of the iconic Smothers Brothers performing duo, has died, his brother said in a statement. Smothers was 86.

Tom Smothers Cause Of Death

The National Comedy Center, on behalf of his family, said in a statement Wednesday that Smothers died Tuesday at home in Santa Rosa, California, following a cancer battle.

Dick Smothers said his brother died peacefully on Tuesday at home with his family, according to the National Comedy Center statement. His death followed a recent battle with lung cancer, which was diagnosed at stage II.

Smothers was born in 1937, a year before his brother Dick, and the pair grew up in California and began performing after attending San Jose State University.

Tom and Dick Smothers broke new ground with their hit show, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which aired on CBS and won an Emmy in 1969.