Bill Dana
A comedian who gave America a gentle, accented everyman, making José Jiménez a beloved figure on television and in the space race era.
1924–2017 (age 93)·American comedian, actor, and screenwriter·Birthday: October 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born William Szathmary in 1924, Bill Dana’s path to comedy was unconventional, shaped by a stint in the Army during World War II. He found his footing as a writer, crafting jokes for the likes of Steve Allen before stepping in front of the camera. His breakthrough came with the creation of José Jiménez, a soft-spoken, heavily accented Bolivian character whose innocent observations on American life became a national sensation. Dana’s genius was in his empathy; Jiménez was never a target of ridicule but a lens through which audiences saw their own world anew. The character’s popularity soared when Dana portrayed him as an astronaut, perfectly capturing the public’s mix of awe and anxiety about space exploration. While the character retired as cultural sensitivities evolved, Dana continued writing and performing, leaving a legacy of warmth and wit that proved comedy could be kind.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bill was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2017Died at 93
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Created and performed the beloved character José Jiménez, a cultural touchstone of the 1960s.
- Served as a head writer for "The Steve Allen Show," shaping early television comedy.
- Won an Emmy Award in 1963 for his writing on the variety series "The Danny Kaye Show."
- Pioneered the use of a sympathetic, non-stereotypical ethnic character in mainstream American comedy.
Did You Know?
His birth name was William Szathmary, and he was of Hungarian Jewish descent.
The José Jiménez character was so popular that real-life astronauts like Alan Shepard would use the catchphrase "My name... José Jiménez" in pre-flight interviews.
He later wrote for popular television shows including "All in the Family" and "The Golden Girls."
Dana was a founding member of the Writers Guild of America's comedy writing workshop.
““Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.””
