From Chicago speakeasies to TV stardom: the multifaceted life of Morey Amsterdam
In short: Before he was a household name on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Morey Amsterdam was a cellist working in Al Capone's speakeasies. His journey from vaudeville to television history includes legal battles over calypso hits and a missed opportunity to voice a cartoon icon.
Born in Chicago to Jewish immigrants from Austria-Hungary, Moritz "Morey" Amsterdam began his career in 1922 as a vaudeville straight man. His early professional life was far from the polished sets of 1960s sitcoms; by 1924, he was performing in a speakeasy operated by Al Capone. After narrowly escaping a gunfight, he relocated to California to pursue writing.
Amsterdam's influence on television was significant, particularly through his role as Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show from 1961 to 1966. This character, based on creator Carl Reiner's friend Mel Brooks, was one of the era's rare overtly Jewish characters. Amsterdam's versatility was evident in his ability to pivot between comedy and drama, including a notable noir turn in the 1960 film Murder, Inc.
His career was not without legal complexity. In 1943, while on a U.S.O. tour in Trinidad, Amsterdam obtained a US copyright for the song "Rum and Coca-Cola." While he was allowed to retain the copyright after a long litigation process involving Lord Invader and Jeri Sullivan, he faced other legal hurdles. In 1963, he sued Hanna-Barbera for $12,000, claiming breach of contract after being replaced as the voice of George Jetson after only one episode. The studio won the lawsuit in early 1965.
Beyond acting, Amsterdam was a prolific writer and producer. He hosted the first late-night entertainment show, Broadway Open House, in 1950—a pioneering creation by NBC's Pat Weaver that paved the way for The Tonight Show. He also served as vice president of American International Pictures, producing Beach Party movies in the 1960s.
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