Remembering Longtime Cape Entertainer Rockwell “Rocky” King

Rockwell King

Rockwell King

Rockwell “Rocky” King, a comedian and entertainer on the Cape for more than 54 years who had crowds lining up outside the Sand Bar in West Dennis for decades, died February 26 at the age of 92.

“He was just a funny guy, like something you wouldn’t see anywhere else. Like the Cape’s very own Bill Murray sketch from Saturday Night Live,” said former stand-up comedian Art Sears of West Dennis, who had seen King’s act many times. ‘There was always a crowd waiting to see him, he was just a real character. I remember that you had to be quiet during his jokes because if anybody started getting too noisy he would just stop what he was doing and just give you a look like your dad would give you. People would of course be scared and sit quietly down and then he’d just carry on like nothing happened.”

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, King attended Phillips Academy in Andover, and Princeton University before joining the Army to serve in World War II. Once he returned home, King got into the entertainment business, beginning as a musician and composer. He developed a small but loyal fan base around the country but he was best known on the Cape where he did comedy, sang and played piano for two shows a night, six days a week, summers at the Sand Bar Lounge in West Dennis. King was very proud of the fact that he once performed for President Gerald Ford and made a joke about it a staple of his show.

King was an avid skier and golfer who belonged to the Hyannisport Golf Club and Mt.Mansfield Ski Racing Team. During the winter season King performed at the former Sister Kate’s restaurant in Stowe, Vermont which he co-owned.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Deignan Klein who told his Facebook fan club that she is grateful for for “30 wonderful years of marriage with Rocky.”

“She said he was a dear kind man, good husband and step father to her children and grandfather and she will miss him daily,” Peter G. Mozzone reported on the page.

Besides his wife he leaves a stepdaughter Heather Videgar; two granddaughters, one great granddaughter, neices and nephews.

A guestbook is available at www.gpmfunerals.com.

Comments

  1. This was great! Brought back awesome memories of a great entertainer who living a life of great times and shared with many!

  2. Janet Greffrath Menegakis says

    i remember Rocky from Sister Kate’s in Stowe Vermont. He was a very talented performer and had a wonderful sense of humor that highlighted many of his routines, He was truly one of a kind.

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