Jimmy Ritz

Jimmy Ritz (born Samuel Joachim; October 4, 1904 – November 17, 1985), was an American comedian and actor. He was also the second Ritz Brother.

Early life Ritz was born Samuel Joachim to parents Max (December 1871 – January 4, 1939) and Pauline Joachim (May 1874 – November 26, 1935) on October 4, 1904. His father was a haberdasher from Austria-Hungary and his mother was Russian. Ritz had three brothers, George, Al, and Harry, and a sister, Gertrude Soll.

Career The Ritz Brothers began as a dancing act in 1925, and by 1929 they had become vaudeville headliners. When vaudeville faded, they took their act, which combined complicated dance routines, sound-alike singing voices and a distinctively zany, juvenile humor (their theme song was titled Collegiate), to film, full theatrical presentations, and eventually television.

They were appearing on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood when movie producer Darryl F. Zanuck spotted them. Their first film, Sing, Baby, Sing, in 1936, was followed by On the Avenue, You Can't Have Everything, Life Begins in College, Hi'ya, Chum, One in a Million, The Gorilla, The Three Musketeers, The Goldwyn Follies, Straight, Place and Show, Pack Up Your Troubles, Argentine Nights, Behind the Eight Ball, Blazing Stewardesses and Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood, the last two with Harry only. Al died in 1965.

Death Ritz died on November 17, 1985, in Los Angeles, California due to heart disease at the age of 81. He is buried with his brothers at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography YearMovieRoleNotes 1934 Hotel Anchovy Jimmy - Hotel Bellboy Short 1936 Sing, Baby, Sing Himself 1937 On the Avenue One of The Ritz Brothers Uncredited 1937 You Can't Have Everything One of The Ritz Brothers Uncredited 1937 Life Begins in College Himself 1937 Ali Baba Goes to Town Himself 1937 Cinema Circus Himself Uncredited, (archive footage) 1937 One in a Million The Ritz Brothers 1938 The Goldwyn Follies Himself Uncredited 1938 Kentucky Moonshine Himself 1938 Straight Place and Show Himself Uncredited 1939 The Three Musketeers One of The Three Lackeys Uncredited 1939 The Gorilla Garrity - a Ritz Brother 1939 Pack Up Your Troubles One of The Ritz Brothers Uncredited 1940 Argentine Nights Jimmy 1942 Behind the Eight Ball Jimmy Jester 1943 Hi'ya, Chum Merry Madcap 1943 Show-Business at War Himself Uncredited 1943 Never a Dull Moment The Three Funny Bubbies 1956 Brooklyn Goes to Las Vegas Himself Short 1975 Blazing Stewardesses Jimmy 1976 Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Cleaning Woman Final film role