Tom Dreesen, a comedian who achieved prominence as half of one of America's first interracial stand-up duos and later served as Frank Sinatra's longtime opening act, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.

Dreesen, alongside his Black partner Tim Reid, formed the comedy duo "Tim and Tom" in 1969. Amidst a period of racial tension, their act used humor to address social issues and foster understanding across different audiences. The duo performed together until the mid-1970s. Reid later found solo success on the television sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," where Dreesen made a guest appearance.

Following his partnership with Reid, Dreesen developed a successful solo comedy career. He made over 500 national television appearances, including 60 visits to "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," and was a frequent guest and occasional guest host on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Dreesen and Letterman's friendship began in the early 1970s when both worked at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood.

Dreesen's final television appearance was on "Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen," which aired last week.

For 14 years, Dreesen opened for Frank Sinatra, developing a close relationship with the iconic singer. Dreesen recalled Sinatra's deep care for him, stating in a 2014 interview with The Desert Sun, "If he loved you, he worshipped the ground you walked on. In a lot of ways, he was like a father to me."

Beyond Sinatra, Dreesen also toured with Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, and Tony Orlando. Deana Martin, daughter of Dean Martin, posted on X that Dreesen was "one of the most brilliant comedians of all time."

In 2008, Dreesen co-authored the book "Tim and Tom: An American Comedy Act in Black and White," and in 2020, he released his memoir.

Dreesen also had a career in acting, appearing in television shows such as "Columbo," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Touched by an Angel." His film credits include "Spaceballs," "Man on the Moon," and "Trouble With the Curve," as well as the HBO films "The Rat Pack" and "Lansky."

Born in Chicago on September 11, 1939, Dreesen was raised in suburban Harvey and served in the U.S. Navy before pursuing his entertainment career. He was also involved in charitable work, motivational speaking, and veteran advocacy, serving as an ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation. Gary Sinise posted on X, "America lost one of our great comedians and patriots, and I lost a dear friend."

Dreesen is survived by his daughters, Amy and Jennifer, from his marriage to Maryellen Subock, and seven grandchildren. His son, Tommy, preceded him in death.