One For The Road: Happy Birthday Del Close

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 9, 2012 11:40PM

Del Close would have been 78 years old today. Even though he passed away 13 years ago March 4, his influence on comedy and acting will last long after all of us are gone.

As the video below highlights, Close's championing of improvisation as more than a mere exercise has had a lasting effect on at least two generations of actors and comedians. There have been times when a quarter of the cast of Saturday Night Live was directly trained by him. Repertories globally use his "Harold" technique as the foundation for their performances.

And he was damn funny and wise.