Shelley Berman, famed 'sit-down' comedian and Curb Your Enthusiasm star, dies aged 92

Shelley Berman - a comedian whose groundbreaking 'sit-down' routines in the 1950s and 1960s addressed the annoyances of everyday life - has died. 

Shelley was 92 and died Friday at his home in Bell Canyon, California, says his publicist Glenn Schwartz. He had been battling Alzheimer's disease.

Longtime friend Christopher Bay announced the sad news in a Facebook post revealing Shelley had 'slipped away peacefully, in his sleep, with no pain, as far as his hospice care workers could tell.'

Groundbreaking: Comedian Shelley Berman passed away aged 92 on Friday. He is pictured in 2013

Groundbreaking: Comedian Shelley Berman passed away aged 92 on Friday. He is pictured in 2013

Screen star: The actor was nominated for an Emmy in 2008 for his role in Curb Your Enthusiam as Nat David, father of Larry David

Screen star: The actor was nominated for an Emmy in 2008 for his role in Curb Your Enthusiam as Nat David, father of Larry David

Shelley's wife of 70 years, Sarah Herman, who he married in April 19, 1947, was by his side.

The couple met while they were studying acting at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

They adopted two children, Joshua and Rachel. Joshua tragically died in 1977 age 12 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. 

Bay revealed in his post on Friday that there will be a private service for family followed by a public memorial service, with details to follow.

The Chicago-born star won gold records and appeared on top television shows as a pioneer of a new brand of comedy that could evoke laughter from such matters as air travel discomforts and small children who answer the telephone.

Legend: Berman's groundbreaking 'sit-down' routines in the 1950s and 1960s addressed the annoyances of everyday life

Legend: Berman's groundbreaking 'sit-down' routines in the 1950s and 1960s addressed the annoyances of everyday life

Shelley paved the way for Woody Allen, Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld and other comedians who fashioned their routines around the follies and frustrations of modern living. Pictured circa 1970

Shelley paved the way for Woody Allen, Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld and other comedians who fashioned their routines around the follies and frustrations of modern living. Pictured circa 1970

Longtime loves: Shelley's wife of 70 years, Sarah (pictured), was by his side when he passed away

Longtime loves: Shelley's wife of 70 years, Sarah (pictured), was by his side when he passed away

He paved the way for Woody Allen, Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld and other comedians who fashioned their routines around the follies and frustrations of modern living.

Late in his career, he played Nat David, father of Larry David, on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, for which he was nominated for an Emmy in 2008.

Berman made the first of many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1959.

That year he issued his first album, Inside Shelley Berman the first winner of a Grammy for the spoken word.

Longtime friend Christopher Bay announced the sad news in a Facebook post revealing Shelley had 'slipped away peacefully, in his sleep, with no pain'.

Longtime friend Christopher Bay announced the sad news in a Facebook post revealing Shelley had 'slipped away peacefully, in his sleep, with no pain'.

 

  

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