Shelley Berman

Shelley Berman discusses the importance of the role of the comedian in history. Interviewed March 8, 2005 in Los Angeles, CA.

Shelley Berman (b. February 3, 1926 in Chicago) is a comedian, teacher, and actor. He honed his talents at the Goodman Theater and improvisational skills in the 1950s as a member of the famed Compass Players, and improv comedy troupe in Chicago, which later became The Second City. He left the group in 1957 and became a successful stand-up comedian with his first job at Mr. Kelly’s in Chicago. His trademark became a stool, self-confessional style, and “dialogues” with a telephone. His debut comedy album Inside Shelley Berman, won the first-ever non-music Grammy (1959). He was a household name in the early 60s, making frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and the Jack Paar show. The documentary “Comedian Backstage” (1964) was one of a number of personal setbacks that caused Berman to disappear from the limelight for many decades. He returned to small comedy roles in the late 80s, and in 1995 released another live comedy album. His recent appearances on shows such as Curb Your Enthusiasm has again cemented his role as an enormously influential performer. He has appeared in many plays, such as Neil Simon’s “I'm Not Rappaport” earned him a best actor nomination for the Jefferson award. He has also earned two LA Dramalogue best actor awards, and the 2004 Dell Close Lifetime Achievement Award. Since 1982 Berman has been teaching in the Masters of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California. He has authored three books Cleans and Dirtys, A Hotel is a Funny Place, and Up in the Air.