Del Close

Del P. Close was an American actor, writer, and teacher who coached many of the bestknown comedians and comic actors of the late twentieth century. In addition to a prolific acting career in television and film, he was considered a premier influence on modern improvisational theater. Close coauthored the book Truth in Comedy, which outlines techniques now common in longform improvisation, and describes the overall structure of Harold, which remains a common frame for longer improvisational scenes.

Close was born on March 9, 1934 in Manhattan, Kansas, the son of an inattentive alcoholic father. He ran away from home at the age ofto work in a traveling side show, but returned to attend Kansas State University. At agehe performed in summer stock with the Belfry Players at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. At agehe became a member of the Compass Players in St. Louis. When most of the castincluding Mike Nichols and Elaine Maymoved to New York City, Close followed. He developed a standup comedy act, appeared in the Broadway musical revue The Nervous Set, and performed briefly with an improv company in Greenwich Village with fellow Compass alumni Mark and Barbara Gordon. Close also worked with John Brent to record the classic beatnik satire album How to Speak Hip, a parody of languagelearning tools that purported to teach listeners the secret language of the hipster.

Source: Wikipedia