Comedian. He and his brothers Harry and Jimmy Ritz formed the popular comedy trio "The Ritz Brothers". The group forged an entertainment career that spanned from the Vaudeville stage in the 1920s to movies and television in the 1960s. Born under the surname Joachim, the brothers grew up in New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York City, New York. After the three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act. The brothers began using the name "Ritz" for their nightclub act reportedly after seeing the name on the side of a laundry truck. With fourth brother George as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked nightclubs and vaudeville. The act consisted of the trio indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and songs, and slapstick. In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy Hotel Anchovy, which led to their being signed by 20th Century-Fox as a specialty act. Sing Baby Sing (1936) was the first feature film to costar the Ritzes, and, their first starring role followed a year later in Life Begins in College. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Ritz Brothers continued a wildly popular supper club and resort circuit and made their first appearances as TV guest stars. The Ritzes were appearing at New Orleans' Roosevelt Hotel in December of 1965 when Al died of a heart attack. Harry and Jimmy kept the act going as best they could, though by the end of the 1960s they settled into semi-retirement, making occasional talk show and game show appearances. In the mid 1970s, Harry and Jimmy briefly returned to the limelight with the popularity of Mel Brooks and his professed idolatry of the brothers. Harry made a handful of solo TV and movie appearances. Harry and Jimmy retired permanently in the 1980s, proud of the fact that despite all tribulation, the Ritz Brothers weathered seven decades as one of show business' most professionally harmonious comedy teams. They have a star on the walk of fame on the west side of Palm Canyon Drive between Tahquitz and Amado.