Bill Dana (born October 5, 1924) is a comedian, writer, author, producer and composer, who was well-established in comedy writing before he created the character Jose Jimenez for the Steve Allen Show. After 1970, responding to changing times, he no longer portrayed the Jose Jimenez character. Born William Szathmary in Quincy, Massachusetts, Dana was educated at Emerson College (graduated in 1950). Bill was educated in Quincy, Massachusetts public schools, and is a decorated combat infantry veteran of World War II. He is married to Evelyn Shular Dana of Walden's Creek, Tennessee, his inspiration and partner in life and business.
He was part of the comedy team Dana and Wood (with fellow Emerson alum Gene Wood) appearing on television and in clubs. Dana later appeared on television as a solo performer and was a head writer for The Steve Allen Show (1956 - 1960).
Performer Dana's appearances include his starring role in The Bill Dana Show (1963 - 1965), appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Martha Raye Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Hollywood Palace and as the role of ‘Uncle Angelo’ on The Golden Girls, among others. Bill was part of the sixties night club peer group with Jonathan Winters, Mort Sahl, Bill Cosby, Lenny Bruce, Shelley Berman, Bob Newhart, Woody Allen, Dick Gregory, and Phyllis Diller.
The Bill Dana written multi-Emmy winning All in the Family episode, “Sammy Davis Visits Archie Bunker”, for Emerson alumni Norman Lear, is #12 in the TV Guide Best 100 Episodes in the history of television. "The Laughter Prescription " (Ballantine 1983) co-authored with the late Dr. Laurence Peter, of Peter Principle fame, was the first book of its nature following Norman Cousin's “Anatomy Of An Illness”. Long active in the Latino cause, Bill was honored by the prestigious National Hispanic Media Coalition with their first Impact Award and is on their advisory board.
José Jimenéz was already a national phenomenon when The Garry Moore Show staff member Neil Simon asked whether José had ever been an Astronaut. That appearance was followed by the Kapp recording “José the Astronaut”.
Its “Light Stuff for The Right Stuff guys” historic timing was such that Dana’s reluctant space venturer was adopted as the official eighth Mercury astronaut ("out of a possible seven"). On May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) 1961, the first words spoken from the ground to an American entering space were, "Okay Jose’, you're on your way." (by Deke Slayton to Alan Shepard) Having become a part of the extended astronaut family, Bill serves currently on the advisory board of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and is on the Nominations Committee of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Jose is acknowledged in The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and enshrined at the United States Astronaut Hall Of Fame at Titusville, Florida. Bill has over a dozen comedy albums to his credit and continues his present day multi-media activities.
At 81, Bill Dana is still performing and is a firm believer in the healing power of laughter. He is currently helping establish The American Comedy Archives with his alma mater, Emerson.
Recently, Bill helped to found the (see ) American Comedy Archives at Emerson College, a collection of primary source material and oral history interviews with legendary figures in the comedy field. In 1997 Dana received an image award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.
