Shelley Berman Passes Away at 92

Actor and comedian Shelley Berman has passed away at the age of 92. Shelley played Larry David’s father on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Shelley was the first comedian to have a comedy album go gold with the 1959 release of Inside Shelley Berman. It was also the first recording to win a Grammy that was not music.

He was known for sitting on a stool during his acts. He once explained how that habit developed.

“When developing my routines doing improvs with Compass. I had always sat in a chair to talk on [his imaginary] phone. But when I went to audition at Mr. Kelly’s, I realized that on the very low stage I’d be invisible beyond the front tables. I requested a bar stool to sit on. I would become identified with that prop and the mimed phone. Needless to say, I won my first comedian job at this very club.”