Wikipedia

Del Close

Del Close(March 9, 1934 – March 4, 1999) was an American actor, writer, and teacher who coached many of the best-knowncomediansandcomic actorsof the late twentieth century.[1]In addition to an acting career in television and film, he was one of the influences on modernimprovisational theater.Close was co-founder of theImprovOlympic(iO).

Del Close
Born(1934-03-09)March 9, 1934
Manhattan, Kansas,U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 1999(1999-03-04)(aged 64)
Chicago,Illinois,U.S.
Resting placeGoodman Theatre,Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, teacher
Years active1960–1999
Notable workThe Delmonic Interviews
iO
The Del Close Theater
Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation

Life and career

edit

Early life

edit

Close was born on March 9, 1934, inManhattan, Kansas.[2]He ran away from home at the age of 17 to work in a traveling side show, but returned to attendKansas State University.At age 19 he performed in summer stock with theBelfry Playersat Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.[3]At age 23 he became a member of theCompass PlayersinSt. Louis.[4]When most of the cast—includingMike NicholsandElaine May—moved toNew York City,Close followed. He developed astand-up comedyact, starred as the Yogi in the Broadway musical revueThe Nervous Set,[5]and performed briefly with an improv company inGreenwich Villagewith fellow Compass alumni Mark and Barbara Gordon. Close also worked withJohn Brentto record the classicBeatniksatire albumHow to Speak Hip,a parody of language-learning tools that purported to teach listeners the secret language of the "hipster".[6]

Chicago years

edit

In 1960 Close moved toChicago,his home base for much of the rest of his life, to perform and direct atSecond City,but was fired due to substance abuse. He spent the latter half of the 1960s inSan Franciscowhere he was the house director of improv ensembleThe Committee,featuring performers such asGary Goodrow,Carl Gottlieb,Peter Bonerz,Howard HessemanandLarry Hankin.He toured with theMerry Pranksters,and he created light images forGrateful Deadshows.

In 1972, he returned to Chicago and to Second City. He also directed and performed for Second City's troupe in Toronto in 1977. Over the next decade he coached many popular comedians. In the early 1980s he served as "house metaphysician" atSaturday Night Live;for many years, a significant percentage of the show's cast were Close protégés. He spent the mid-to-late 1980s and 1990s teaching improv, collaborating withCharna Halpernat Yes And Productions and theImprovOlympicTheater with Compass Players producer,David Shepherd.[7]

In 1987, Close mounted his first scripted show,Honor Finnegan vs. the Brain of the Galaxy,created by members of Close and Halpern's Improv Olympics from a scenario by Close, at CrossCurrents in Chicago.[8]Running concurrently at the same theater wasThe TV Dinner Hour,written byRichard O'DonnellofNew Age Vaudeville,featuring Close's running routine as The Rev. Thing of the First Generic Church of What's-his-name.[8]

During this period, Close also appeared in several movies; he portrayed corrupt alderman John O'Shay inThe Untouchables[9]and an English teacher inFerris Bueller's Day Off.He co-authored the graphic horror anthologyWastelandforDC ComicswithJohn Ostrander,[10]and co-wrote several installments of the "Munden's Bar" backup feature for Ostrander'sGrimjack.Close performed in the 1993 world premiere of Steve Martin'sPicasso at the Lapin Agileat Chicago'sSteppenwolf Theatre Company.[citation needed]

Personal life

edit

An obituary published in theManhattan Mercurysaid that Close’s father died in Manhattan, Kansas, on December 16, 1954, after being found unconscious in his jewelry store and that the cause of death was “self-inflicted.”[11]Close would have been 20 years old and, according toKim "Howard" Johnson,a biographer in the documentaryFor Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close,said that Close was in New York at the time, over a thousand miles away from where his father died.[12][citation needed]

Close had told many varied and dramatic accounts of his father’s suicide, with the general story being that his father did it right in front of him when he was a child (accounts vary in age between 6–17 years old) by drinking a caustic liquid (various accounts on which type of caustic liquid).[11]

Regardless of when or how the suicide of Close’s father occurred, many of his friends believed it had a profound effect on him. Close would frequently bring it up in conversation with friends and even on stage. In the 2020 documentaryFor Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close,he is filmed on stage saying to the improv actors and audience, “My father was a spectacular suicide. He drank a quart of sulphuric acid, slashed his wrists. And they kept him alive for two days longer than Jesus hung on the cross, and I used to use that death to get sympathy and to get laid with.”[13][citation needed]Then Close wanted to do an improv scene where he would play himself and another actor,Dave Thomas,would play the doctor who would tell Close that his father had just died from the suicide that Close had described. Thomas refused, saying in the documentary that he didn’t think it would be a good joke and that there was an obligation to the audience to create laughs—not just to make them gasp. Close replied, “Now perhaps you’re not used to this particular kind of horrifying honesty, but I expect the same thing from you and nothing less.”[13][citation needed]

Close was addicted tococainebut decided to change his lifestyle when his studentJohn Belushidied of a drug overdose in 1982. Close had recently read the bookA Witch's Guide to Psychic HealingbyYvonne Frost,which argues that themodern PaganreligionWiccacan provide spiritual healing. He joined a Wiccancovenin Toronto and fought his drug habit together with Wiccan priests who performed a banishing ritual. He stopped using drugs and remained an active Pagan.[14][15]

Death and legacy

edit

Close died ofemphysemaon March 4, 1999, at the Illinois Masonic Hospital (now the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center) in Chicago, five days before his 65th birthday.[1]He bequeathed his skull to Chicago'sGoodman Theatreto be used in its productions ofHamlet,and specified that he be duly credited in the program as portrayingYorick.Charna Halpern, Close's long-time professional partner and the executor of his will, conveyed a skull that she claimed was his, in a high-profile televised ceremony on July 1, 1999.[16]

A front-page article in theChicago Tribunein July 2006 questioned the authenticity of the skull, however, citing the presence of teeth (Close wasedentulous— toothless — at the time of his death) as well as showing the presence of autopsy marks (Close was never autopsied) among other problems.[17]Halpern stood by her story at the time but admitted three months later, in aThe New Yorkerinterview, that she had purchased the skull from a local medical supply company.[18][19]

Bill Murrayorganized an early 65th birthday party and wake, shortly before Del's anticipated death as he lay on his deathbed in a Chicago hospital, memorialized in a two-part video.[20]

After Close's death, his former students in theUpright Citizens Brigadefounded the annual Del Close Marathon, three days of continuous improvisation by hundreds of performers at various venues in New York City.[21]

Notable students

edit

The Delmonic Interviews

edit

In 2002, Cesar Jaime and Jeff Pacocha produced and directed a film composed of interviews with former students, friends, and collaborators of Del Close. The film documented not only Del's life and history, but the impact he had on the people in his life and the art form he helped to create. It is not sold on DVD and was made as a thank you and a tribute to Del, "as a way to allow those that never got to meet or study with him, a chance to understand what he was like."[22]

The Delmonic Interviews includes interviews with:Charna Halpern(co-founder of Chicago'siO Theater),Matt Besser(iO's The Family; Upright Citizens Brigade),Rachel Dratch(iO; Second City; Saturday Night Live),Neil Flynn(iO's The Family; NBC's Scrubs),Susan Messing(iO; Second City; Annoyance Productions),Amy Poehler(Upright Citizens Brigade, Saturday Night Live), andMiles Stroth(iO's The Family; Del's "Warchief" ). The film was shown at several national improv festivals, including the 2004 Chicago Improv Festival, the 2004 Phoenix Improv Festival, the 2002 Del Close Marathon in New York City, and the 2006 LA Improv Festival.

In print

edit

Close is featured in an extensive interview inSomething Wonderful Right Away,a book about the members of theCompass PlayersandSecond Citywritten byJeffrey Sweet.Originally published in 1978 by Avon, it is currently available from Limelight Editions.

From 1984 to 1988, Del Close wrotecomic bookstories inFirst Comics'Grimjack.With regular writerJohn Ostrander,Close co-wrote Munden's Bar stories inGrimjackissues #3, 4, 8, 10, 17, 22, 25, 28, 35, and 42.[23](Close knew Ostrander from the Chicago theater scene.)[24]From 1987 to 1989, also with Ostrander, Close wrote anthology-style horror stories in theDC ComicstitleWasteland.Several of the stories are allegedly autobiographical;[25][24]one recounts Close's experiences while filmingBeware! The Blob(1972), and another recalls an encounter with writerL. Ron Hubbard,author of horror and science fiction, and founder ofScientology.[26]Eric Spitznagel wrote about when he heard Close recount his alleged meeting with L.Ron Hubbard, in which Close claimed to have suggested to Hubbard, "Well, if you’re worried about taxes, you should just turn Scientology into a religion" (an anecdote that Spitznagel claimed many others have heard Close recount also).[11]In the 2020 documentary,For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close,one of the interviewees,Charna Halpern,recounts that she had heard Close say the same anecdote about himself and Hubbard.[27]There have been a number of different individuals that have claimed for themselves, or been attributed with, giving Hubbard the suggestion of turning Scientology into a religion in order to make a lot of money.[28]

In 2004, writer/comedianR. O'Donnellwrote "My Summer With Del" forStop Smilingmagazine #17 Comedian Issue.[29]The feature was an account of O'Donnell's visits at Del's Chicago apartment as well as recounting highlights of their time spent at CrossCurrents, the theater that housed both their comedy groups.[29]

In 2005, Jeff Griggs publishedGuru: My Days with Del Closedetailing their friendship during the last two years of Close's life. Due to Close's poor health (in part caused by long-term alcohol and drug use), Halpern suggested that Griggs run errands with Close.Gurugives a particularly detailed and complete picture of Close based on those shared hours. At the beginning of their relationship, Griggs was a student of Del's, and the book includes several chapters in which Griggs depicts Close as a teacher. The book has been adapted into ascreenplay,and as of 2006Harold Ramiswas attached to direct the script.[30]Ramis (who died in 2014) wantedBill Murrayto play Close.

Close co-authored the 1994 bookTruth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation(withCharna HalpernandKim "Howard" Johnson),[31]which outlines techniques now common inlongform improvisationand describes the overall structure of "Harold",which remains a common frame for longer improvisational scenes.[32]

In 2007, Eric Spitznagel wrote an article in the September issue ofThe Believermagazine reflecting on Close's life and his propensity for storytelling.[11]

In 2008,Kim "Howard" JohnsonpublishedThe Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close,a full-length biography. Johnson himself was a student of Close; the two remained friends until Close's death.

In 2022,Bob Odenkirkwrote a memoirComedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama,which includes excerpts of an interview with Del Close who was influential in the startup of his career.

Filmography

edit

References

edit
  1. ^abBruce Weber (March 16, 1999)."Del Close, 64, a Comedian With a Flair for Improvisation".The New York Times.RetrievedSeptember 2,2014.Del Close, an actor, improvisational comic and mentor to such comedians as John Belushi, John Candy and Bill Murray, died on March 4 at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago. He was 64 and lived in Chicago.... The cause was emphysema...
  2. ^"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J1RL-5M4:accessed Mar 12, 2013), Del P Close, March 4, 1999.
  3. ^Program, "The Belfry Players, Inc.," 1962, p. 23
  4. ^Adler, Tony."Improvisational Theater".The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago.Chicago Historical Society.RetrievedFebruary 18,2022.
  5. ^"The Nervous Set".The Guide to Musical Theatre.RetrievedFebruary 18,2022.
  6. ^"'How to Speak Hip' – Mercury Records 1959 ".Iotaillustration.posterous. January 7, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon April 15, 2013.RetrievedAugust 13,2011.
  7. ^"As Del Lay Dying".April 3, 2008.RetrievedMarch 4,2012.
  8. ^abKogan, Rick (March 20, 1987)."Comedy Uneven in Del Close's New Show and The TV Dinner Hour - double review".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedJune 16,2012.
  9. ^Johnson, Kim "Howard" (April 2008).The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of del Close.Chicago Review Press.ISBN9781569764367.
  10. ^Fryer, Kim (July 1987). "DC News".The Comics Journal(116).Fantagraphics Books:28.
  11. ^abcdSpitznagel, Eric (September 1, 2007)."Follow the Fear".thebeliever.net.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
  12. ^Ross, H. (Director). (2020).For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close[Documentary]. 1:19:59 - 1:20:19 [H:M:S].
  13. ^abRoss, H. (Director). (2020).For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close[Documentary]. 0:47:46 - 0:49:07 [H:M:S]
  14. ^Griggs, Jeff (2005).Guru: My Days with Del Close.Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. pp. 197–198.ISBN1-56663-614-0.
  15. ^Johnson, Kim "Howard"(2008).The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close.Chicago: Chicago Review Press. pp. 233–234.ISBN978-1-55652-712-8.
  16. ^Osnos, Evan(July 7, 1999)."Even After Death, Del Close Ahead Of Acting Crowd".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedAugust 1,2011.
  17. ^Elder, RK (July 21, 2006). No bones about it: Comic got last laugh.ChicagoTribunearchive.Retrieved March 7, 2013
  18. ^Friend, Tad (October 9, 2006)."Skulduggery".The New Yorker.RetrievedSeptember 28,2015.
  19. ^"Skull not that of Del Close".Articles.chicagotribune. October 5, 2006.RetrievedAugust 13,2011.
  20. ^Del Close's Last Birthday Party (Part 1 of 2).Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  21. ^Malinski, G (June 25, 2015). "Ten improv shows at the Del Close Marathon that you should see."VillageVoice.Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  22. ^"Cesar Jaime".ImprovResourceCenter. Archived fromthe originalon January 8, 2013.RetrievedJuly 18,2008.
  23. ^Grand Comics Database.Accessed Sept. 28, 2019.
  24. ^abFiffe, Michel."WASTELAND: The John Ostrander Interview,"Factual Opinion(March 6, 2012).
  25. ^Mautner, Chris,"Collect This Now! Wasteland,"Comic Book Resources(Aug 17, 2009).
  26. ^"When Del met Elron".Alec Nevala-Lee.October 20, 2017.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
  27. ^Ross, H. (Director). (2020).For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close[Documentary]. 0:08:48 - 0:09:00 [H:M:S]
  28. ^"non-scientologist faq on" Start a Religion "".don-lindsay-archive.org.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
  29. ^abO'Donnell, R. (2004)."My Summer With Del".Stop Smiling magazine.Archived fromthe originalon December 17, 2008.RetrievedJune 16,2012.
  30. ^"Harold Ramis interview".SuicideGirls.RetrievedDecember 17,2006.
  31. ^Halpern, Charna; Close, Del; Johnson, Kim (1994).Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation.Meriwether Pub.ISBN978-1-56608-003-3.
  32. ^Charna Halpern; Del Close; Kim Johnson (1994).Truth in Comedy.Meriwether Pub.ISBN978-1-56608-003-3.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Del_Close&oldid=1251806655"