Foster Brooks, a comedian whose act as a lovable drunk made him a fixture on television and Las Vegas stages, died at the age of 89 on December 20, 2001, at his home in Encino, California.

Brooks, with silver hair and a beard, was a master at appearing as someone who had had too many cocktails and was trying not to show it.

Brooks was born on May 11, 1912, in Louisville, Kentucky, one of eight sons, whose father was a county sheriff. Brooks dropped out of school after the 6th grade and did a variety of jobs before beginning a career in radio at the age of 21. He was a newscaster and disc jockey in Louisville, and Buffalo before switching to television newscasting. While in Buffalo he joined Robert Schmidt, who would later adopt the name Buffalo Bob and team up with the puppet Howdy Doody in a country and western vocal group called the Hi-Hatters. Elmendorf said her father, hoping for a break in Hollywood, moved his family there in 1960.

His popularity reached a peak in the 1970s and 1980s with frequent appearances on "Dean Martin's Celebrity Roasts" and as a guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."

"People seemed very surprised to learn that he didn't drink at all. They seemed to think he must have had at least one cocktail before going onstage. Somebody bet $10 that he wouldn't quit, and he needed the money." - Teri Elmendorf, Brooks' daughter.

Then, during a decade of struggle with only an infrequent bit part on television shows such as "Bewitched," "The Munsters" and cowboy dramas, he worked delivering phone books and Christmas mail, and he managed a North Hollywood apartment building in exchange for free rent.

During the same period, he worked as a security guard for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Years later, after becoming a familiar face on national television, he was rewarded by the Dodgers with a bronze reproduction of the security badge he had worn.

Brooks' Hollywood break came after he attended a 1969 charity golf tournament and was asked by his friend at the event, the game show host Dennis James, to tell a few jokes to the crowd.

His improvised routine of a comedic lush caused a stir, and word of the performance spread. He was soon asked to open a Las Vegas show by Perry Como, and that led to Brooks' first appearance on "The Tonight Show."

He also appeared for a season on "Mork & Mindy," the situation comedy that starred Robin Williams, and as a panelist on game shows, including "Match Game" and "Circus of the Stars." He played supporting roles in the 1979 film "The Villain" and the 1983 film "Cannonball Run II."

Elmendorf said Brooks continued performing until he was 86, appearing for the last time in Las Vegas at a celebrity roast for Zsa Zsa Gabor in the Congo Room at the Sahara.

So far I've been able to find out that Brooks played at the International/Las Vegas Hilton in 1971 and 1972, Frontier in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and Sands in 1973.

In addition to Elmendorf, of Villa Park, Calif., Brooks is survived by his wife, Teri Brooks; another daughter, Scotti Brooks of Encino; and three grandchildren.

Brooks' film credits include Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, (1998) (TV); The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991) as Doc; GoBots: War of the Rock Lords (1986) as Stoneheart/Fossil Lord; Challenge of the GoBots (1984) TV Series (voice); Cannonball Run II (1984) as Fisherman; Oddballs (1984) as Hardy Bassett; Circus of the Stars #3 (1979), #8 (1983) (TV) - Performer; Cracking Up (aka Smorgasbord) (1983) as The Pilot; Mork & Mindy (1978) TV Series as Miles Sternhagen (1981); The Villain (aka Cactus Jack) (1979) as Bank Clerk; Super Seal (1976); Joys (aka Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope in 'Joys' (1976) (TV); Match Game PM (1975) TV Series - Panelist; The Manhunter (1972) (TV) as Gas Station Owner; and Real Tom Kennedy Show (1970) TV Series - Regular.

Brooks' guest appearances include Cosby (1996); Murder, She Wrote (1984); Here's Lucy (1968); Adam-12 (1968); Green Acres (1965); The Beverly Hillbillies (1962); Gunsmoke (1955); High Chaparral (1967); Bonanza (1959); It Takes a Thief (1968); The Monkees (1966); Bewitched (1964); I Dream of Jeannie (1965); and The Munsters (1964).