Charles J. “Dink” Freeman, 83, a standup comedian who performed locally and nationally, was usually an opening act and made use of 11 dialects in telling humorous stories.
A resident for 20 years of Buffalo Grove, he died of a heart attack Nov. 13 in a bowling alley in that suburb.
“His love was for a good punch line,” his daughter, Carrie, said. ” `You got to laugh–to have a sense of humor–to get you through the hard times,’ he used to say. His ability with dialects was phenomenal and his humor, hysterical. I don’t think there was a day in his life when he didn’t go up to strangers and crack a joke. He was very upbeat.”
Mr. Freeman, the grand nephew of Sime Silverman, the founder of Variety, the entertainment newspaper, began his career in Hollywood more than 50 years ago. He was a film editor and actor with several bit parts in Blondie and Dagwood movies. His mother was a vaudeville performer and his father, a booking agent.
Following a stint in the U.S. Army, he settled in Chicago, where he established himself as a standup comedian. He opened for such performers as Donald O’Connor, Sammy Davis Jr. Debbie Reynolds and Harry James.
Survivors, besides his daughter, include his wife of 52 years, Helen; and a son, Jono.
A memorial dinner will be held by the III Sheeters theatrical club at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Black Ram Restaurant in Des Plaines.
