Sid Caesar

A wisecracking funnyman who perfected his knack for mimicry waiting tables at his parents' 24-hour restaurant, Sid Caesar was born in Yonkers, N.Y., on Sept. 8, 1922. A skilled saxophonist, he took classes at Juilliard and pursued a career in music before branching out into comedy.

The now-classic "Your Show of Shows" paired the vibrant comic with fellow entertainers Imogene Coca, Howard Morris and Carl Reiner, and served as a blueprint for future sketch-comedy series such as "Saturday Night Live." For 90 minutes every weekend, Caesar and his cohorts created memorable skits and colorful characters, including Caesar's own over-the-top portrayal of a living, breathing Thanksgiving turkey.

The two-time Emmy winner endeared himself to a whole new generation of fans as Rydell High's good-natured Coach Calhoun in the hit movie-musical Grease (1978) and its sequel, Grease 2 (1982).

Filmography