Tom Dreesen, Sinatras Opening Act, Dies at 86

Tom Dreesen, the influential comedian who served as Frank Sinatra's warm-up act for years, died on Wednesday at 86.

Dreesen's family revealed that he had died at 5:50 a.m. in a somber Facebook post on his official page.

'He wanted you all to know how much joy you brought him through the years,' Dreesen's children wrote in the brief post. 'He said to tell you that he loved you all. May he rest in peace.'

His family did not reveal his cause of death. 

Dreesen was regularly on the road as the opening act for Sinatra – who died in 1998 at 82 – for 13 years.

He was also a regular collaborator with fellow Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr., and he provided the for other musical icons, including Smokey Robinson, and Gladys Knight.

Though he was best known for his stand-up prowess, the comic also had a long list of film and television appearances, including in the  sci-fi spoof Spaceballs (1987), Columbo: Murder In Malibu (1990) and the Andy Kaufman biopic Man On The Moon.

Though he was best known for his stand-up sets, Dreesen had a long list of film and television appearances, including in the Mel Brooks spoof Spaceballs (1987), Columbo: Murder In Malibu (1990) and the Andy Kaufman biopic Man On The Moon; Dreesen (R) pictured with (L–R) Jada Pinkett Smith, Jay Leno and Jason Schorn in April 2001