One of the Greatest Female Comedians EVER

While searching YouTube for female comics I came across Totie Fields. Simply amazing! I am surprised I haven't heard of her before. I know she was kickin' butt on stage long before I was even reading joke books...but her name should be on the lips of all female comics as someone they should aspire to be.

Not being the best writer, I have basically just copied and pasted the following info about her...READ IT! Watch all her videos, she will make you smile, giggle and wish you had seen her live.

*******************Born Sophie Feldman in Mystic, Connecticut. Fields started singing in Boston clubs while still in high school. She took the stage name of Totie Fields. The name "Totie" was a childhood nickname, a corruption of her first name.

Fields gained fame during the 1960s and 1970s. Ed Sullivan gave Fields her first big break when he booked her on his show after seeing her perform at the Copacabana in New York. She appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 40 times, and then later made 125 appearances on The Mike Douglas Show, and was a staple on the Merv Griffin show. In 1972, she wrote a humorous diet book titled I Think I'll Start on Monday: The Official 8 1/2 oz. Mashed Potato Diet (New York: Hawthorn Books, 1972). And, in 1978, during the last year of her life, Fields was voted "Entertainer of the Year" and "Female Comedy Star of the Year" by the American Guild of Variety Artists.

Fields was plagued with health problems the last two years of her life. In April 1976, her left leg was amputated above the knee when surgery to remove a blood clot failed. In June 1977, to the astonishment of her fans, Fields starred in the special series, Standing Room Only, on HBO beginning her show seated in a wheelchair.[2] As the audience welcomed her, she stood up, causing the cheering audience to stand with her. Said Fields: "I've waited all my life to say this... I weigh less than Elizabeth Taylor!" The Old Totie was back and the audience put at ease; if Fields could laugh at her troubles, then it was all right to laugh with her.

While still recovering from the amputation, she suffered two heart attacks. And in October 1977, Fields was diagnosed with breast cancer and her right breast was removed. Nevertheless, Fields continued to perform, incorporating her health problems into her act.[3][4]

Fields was scheduled to appear at the Sahara Hotel when she suffered a fatal heart attack in her Las Vegas home on August 2, 1978. She was buried in Las Vegas and later moved to the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles to be buried next to her husband.

Totie Fields was married to George William Johnston Jr. She had two daughters, Jody and Debbie.