Dan Rowan

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Daniel Hale (Dan) Rowan (July 22, 1922 – September 22, 1987) was an American comedian. He was featured in the television show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where he played straight man to Dick Martin.

Born in the small town of Beggs, Oklahoma, Rowan toured with his parents in a carnival in a singing and dancing act. He was orphaned at age 11 and adopted in Denver, Colorado.

After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles, California and found a job as a writer at Paramount Studios. During World War II, Rowan served as a fighter pilot in the Army Air Force. He flew P-40s and scored two kills against Japanese aircraft before he was shot down and seriously wounded over New Guinea. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.

After his discharge, he returned to California where he teamed with Dick Martin and started a comedy night-club act. The team had appeared on television before, but it was not until the success of a summer special in 1967, that they found fame on Laugh-In.

He married Phyllis Mathis in 1946 and had three children: Thomas, Mary Ann, and Christie. In 1963 Rowan married again. His second wife was Adriana Van Ballegooyen. His daughter Mary was briefly married to Peter Lawford.

Rowan retired to Florida. He was a type II diabetic, and died of lymphatic cancer in Manasota Key, Florida on September 22, 1987.

In 1986, a book of letters written between himself and author John D. MacDonald was published entitled A Friendship: The Letters of Dan Rowan and John D. MacDonald, 1967-1974.