Bingo Martin was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and humorist. He is best known for his role as Arnold on the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple and his appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Bingo Martin was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 26, 1932. His parents were of Irish descent. As a child, he loved to sing and play the guitar. He began his career as a singer in the 1950s.
In 1961, he joined the cast of the CBS sitcom The Odd Couple. He played the role of Arnold, a slovenly handyman who lived with his uptight roommate Felix (played by Jack Klugman). The show ran for nine seasons and became one of the most popular shows on television.
In addition to his role on The Odd Couple, Bingo Martin appeared on several other television shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was a regular performer on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1975 to 1981.
He also made numerous appearances on Saturday Night Live and other comedy programs.
Martin retired from acting in the early 1980s and returned to music. He released several albums and toured extensively throughout the United States.
In 2006, he recorded a new album called I Ain’t Never Done Nothin’ Wrong: The Songs of Bingo Martin. He continued to tour throughout 2007 and 2008.
Bingo Martin was known for his wit and humor. He was often able to turn even the simplest situations into humorous moments.
His fans loved him for his down-to-earth personality and his ability to make them laugh no matter what situation they were in. Bingo Martin died on January 9, 2009 at age 79 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
