Trivia

Was supposedly the first person to execute the icon "The High Five", in the movie, The Producers (1967). It was during the play in the movie, "Springtime For Hitler", the character of Hitler played by Shawn sent for Goebbels who was played by David Patch, and instead of putting his hand in front of for the "give me five", Shawn held it up and Patch slapped it. Though it would not become popular till many years later.

Died on stage of a heart attack.

The irony of his death on stage is that it went "unnoticed" because of Shawn's strict instructions to stage crews. He would tell all concerned that he was liable to do anything at any time, including pratfalls, and that they were not to react to this. At his last performance, it did not occur to anyone that something tragic had happened until it was felt that his lying motionless on stage had run the joke rather thin. It was only then that Shawn was discovered to have died doing what he did best; enthralling his audience with his marvelous humour.

William Shatner attended Shawn's second-to-last show the night before he died on stage. Shatner has said at conventions that he thinks that would be a great way to go out.

The 2020 short film Leave 'em Laughing was based on a LA Times article based on the account of an actual audience member who was at Dick Shawn's final performance at UCSD on April 17th, 1987 where Dick Shawn had a heart attack on stage and died.

Interred at Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California, USA.

Father of Amy, Wendy, Adam and Jennifer.

Dick Shawn was a guest star on a very popular in 1960s TV-show "Password" (1961).