Comedy legend Sid Caesar passed away today in his LA home at the age of 91. Caesar’s friend Larry King revealed his passing on Twitter, writing, “Sorry to learn about the passing of Sid Caesar - a dear friend, a comic genius and an American classic. There will never be another one like him.”
One of the most influential figures in TV comedy history, Caesar was the star of Your Show of Shows, the iconic live 90-minute variety show (costarring Imogene Coca) that ran from 1950 to 1954 before transforming into Caesar’s Hour, which aired from 1954 to 1957. Between the two shows, Caesar displayed an amazing ability as a versatile sketch actor and worked with a whole slew of renowned writers early on in their careers, like Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart. Caesar continued to work in supporting roles in TV and film in the years that followed, but the legacy of the near-decade he spent as anchor of Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour continues to define the comedy world to this day. For more on Caesar’s many accomplishments, read our full analysis of his career here.