Totie Fields
August 2, 1978 (aged 48)
Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles
Totie Fields Johnston
Comedian
1954–1978
George William Johnston, Jr. (1950–1978; her death; 2 children)
Career[edit]
Fields gained fame during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.[5] After years of Fields' successful appearances in nightclubs,[6][7] Ed Sullivan gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana in New York in March 1964.[8] She made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[9][10] She also appeared in a 1971 episode of The Carol Burnett Show (Season 4, Episode 21) and a 1972 episode of Here's Lucy (Season 5, Episode 7) starring Lucille Ball.[11][12]
It was on Mike Douglas in 1974 that Totie met the band Kiss, who were making their first national TV appearance.[13] Fields joked that it would be funny if bassist Gene Simmons, under the makeup, turned out to be "just a nice Jewish boy." Simmons (who is not only Jewish but was born in Israel) responded "You should only know", to which Fields said, "I do! You can’t hide the hook!" (Simmons and Fields became friends and corresponded until her death.)[14]
Fields also appeared on various television game shows in the late 1960s and 1970s, including multiple episodes of both Hollywood Squares and Tattletales with her husband George Johnston.
In 1972, Fields wrote a humorous diet book titled I Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8½ Oz. Mashed Potato Diet.[15]
