Ray Heatherton; Big Band Singer, Musical Comedy Star

Ray Heatherton, a big band singer and musical comedy star who appeared in a brief national television series with his actress daughter Joey Heatherton, has died. He was 88.

Heatherton died Friday at the Actors’ Fund Nursing and Retirement Home in Englewood, N.Y., of Alzheimer’s disease.

The entertainer got his start in big band music in the 1920s when he was discovered by bandleader Paul Whiteman. He went on to work with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

In the 1930s, Heatherton started his own band and hosted a radio show. He also sang in several Broadway shows including “Babes in Arms.” In 1975, Heatherton appeared with his daughter in a four-week musical variety series called “Joey & Dad.” He was also familiar to television audiences as the spokesman for Tropicana orange juice.

Heatherton had been president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Heatherton is survived by his daughter, who lives in Los Angeles; his son, Dick, of Pasadena; two grandchildren; and his companion, Barbara Bowden of Garden City, N.J.