From the Second City website, and the AP Wire below:
Paul Sills – In Memoriam – 1927-2008
It is with great sadness that The Second City learned of the passing of Paul Sills at the age of 80.
A founder of The Compass Players and The Second City, the influence of Paul Sills on the American Theatre can not be exaggerated.
The Second City extends its condolences to Carol Sills and the Sills’ family. Paul will never be forgotten and the inspiration of his work will certainly live on forever.
Paul Sills, a founder of ‘Second City,’ dies at 80
By Caryn Rousseau, Associated PressCHICAGO (AP) — Paul Sills, one of the founders of the improvisational comedy group “The Second City,” which has turned out some of America’s best-known comedians, died Monday. He was 80.
. . .
The troupe said in a statement on its Web site Monday that “the influence of Paul Sills on the American Theatre can not be exaggerated.”
Sills helped found the comedy institution in 1959, along with its precursor “The Compass Players.” Second City helped launch the careers of John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Stephen Colbert and Mike Myers.
“Somehow he ended up making the careers of dozens and hundreds of other people,” said Jeffrey Sweet, who interviewed Sills in his book “Something Wonderful Right Away: An Oral History of The Second City and The Compass Players.” “Not a year has gone by that somebody coming out of (Second City) hasn’t achieved major stardom.”
Mr. Sills, we owe you a great debt for the amazing comedians who started their careers with you. Thank you.
Oooh wow that’s sad to hear. :( A little while back I read about the origins of Second City in this Second City book and it was fascinating to see how it originated and Paul Sills was such a huge part of it. He really affected a lot of lives.
Recaptcha: lost nowadays. Seems pretty fitting.
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Paul Sills, thanks for Second City. You did the world an awesome thing.
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RIP visionary, you left the world a better place.
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Mr. Sills,
Thank you.
May he rest in peace.
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I don’t know how to uniquely phrase it, but I also wanted to express my gratitude for his part with The Second City. Rest in peace, Mr. Sills. My condolences go out to those who knew him.
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