In 1959, at the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards, Shelley Berman took home the trophy for Best Comedy Performance - Spoken. It was the first Grammy ever granted to a non-musical performer. The Chicago comic earned the award for his stand-up album Inside Shelley Berman, on which he riffed at length on buttermilk and airlines — long before flying was standard fodder for comedians.
Berman had come up through the Windy City scene, having performed improv with the Compass Players, the troupe featuring rising stars like Ed Asner and Alan Alda that would eventually evolve into Second City. Before that, Berman had trained as a serious actor at the Goodman Theatre.
No wonder that comic brought range to his screen performances. Weeks before he nabbed that historic Grammy, Berman popped up on televions as a featured guest star in Peter Gunn, playing the title character in "The Comic." His next small screen role would be The Twilight Zone (pictured above), where he played numerous characters in "The Mind and the Matter," the tale of a downtrodden office worker who encounters a world full of his clones.
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He was the first stand-up comedian to perform at Carnegie Hall. Berman continued to take guest roles on television shows like Car 54, Where Are You? ("Catch Me on the Paar Show") and The Mary Tyler Moore Show ("Divorce Isn't Everything"), as well as episodes of hits like Bewitched, Adam-12, Emergency!, CHiPs, Knight Rider and more.
In the new century, Berman had a late renaissance, portraying Larry David's father, Nat David, on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The role earned him an Emmy nomination in 2008.
Early this morning, Berman died at the age of 92, due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease, according to Variety.
The Official Shelley Berman Facebook Fan Group shared a favorite photo of the comedian and this note: "He slipped away peacefully, in his sleep, with no pain, as far as his hospice care workers could tell. Right now, I'm a bit of a wreck, having spent much of the last couple of hours crying, pacing, being unable to concentrate, and, frankly, being conflicted as to how I should feel about all of this. … I love you, Shelley."
People we have lost in 2017
ADAM WEST, TV'S BELOVED BATMAN
He will forever be known as the Caped Crusader. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo
Mary Tyler Moore
The television icon leaves behind a vast legacy. READ MORE
Image: The Everett Collection
BARBARA HALE OF 'PERRY MASON'
The actress who was Della Street passed away at the age of 94. READ MORE
ERIN MORAN OF 'HAPPY DAYS' AND 'JOANIE LOVES CHACHI'
The actress best known as Joanie Cunningham died at 56. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo / Wally Fong
DINA MERRILL, THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS WHO PLAYED BATMAN VILLAIN CALAMITY JAN
A Batman villain and one of the richest actresses in history, this socialite sold Mar-a-Lago to Trump. READ MORE
Mike Connors, star of 'Mannix'
The actor will be forever remembered for his tough-guy television role. READ MORE
Don Rickles
The legendary comedian passed away at the age of 90. READ MORE
RICHARD HATCH of 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'
The actor known as Captain Apollo passed away with his son at his side. READ MORE
Image: The Everett Collection
MICHAEL PARKS OF 'THEN CAME BRONSON' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'
From Perry Mason to Kill Bill, few actors have been so effortlessly cool. READ MORE
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Chuck Barris, host of 'The Gong Show'
The iconic game-show guru passed away at 87. READ MORE
Roger Smith of '77 Sunset Strip'
The actor best known as Jeff Spencer on the hip P.I. series 77 Sunset Strip died at the age of 84. READ MORE
ELENA VERDUGO OF 'MARCUS WELBY, M.D.'
The pioneering Latina actress passed away at 92. READ MORE
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CURT LOWENS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WAR HERO AND 'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTOR
The fascinating actor known for playing German officers in film and on television passed away at 91. READ MORE
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JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER OF 'THE PEOPLE'S COURT'
The popular TV judge passed away at the age of 97. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo
FILM HISTORIAN ROBERT OSBORNE
A personal friend of Lucille Ball, the TCM host passed away 84. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo
Dick Gautier, Hymie the Robot from 'Get Smart'
The actor also starred in 'Mr. Terrific' and provided voices for G.I. Joe and Transformers. READ MORE
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LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE OF 'STAR TREK'
The actor nearly replaced Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Learn the fascinating story of this character actor. READ MORE
LOLA ALBRIGHT OF 'PETER GUNN'
Albright was best-known for her role as Edie Hart on the television series Peter Gunn. READ MORE
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CHELSEA BROWN OF 'ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN'
The actress and dancer, pictured on the far right, passed away at 69. READ MORE
Image: The Saturday Evening Post
QUINN O'HARA OF 'THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI'
The Scottish-born actress broke onto the scene in the '60s in Jerry Lewis comedies and beach movies. READ MORE
Image: American International
PETER HANSEN OF 'GENERAL HOSPITAL' AND 'GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.'
For four decades, from 1964 until 2004, Hansen appeared on General Hospital. READ MORE
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JUNE FORAY, THE VOICE OF ROCKY THE FLYING SQUIRREL
The 99-year-old had voiced dozens of your favorite cartoons characters. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo / George Birch
RED WEST, THE ELVIS PRESLEY BODYGUARD WHO PLAYED THE PERFECT TV TOUGH GUY
The "Memphis Mafia" member wrote hit pop songs and appeared in dozens of episodes of The Wild Wild West. READ MORE
JOHN CYGAN OF 'THE COMMISH' AND 'BOB'
Before his most famous role, Cygan was a regular cast member on the short-lived Bob Newhart sitcom Bob. READ MORE
Image: The Everett Collection
MIGUEL FERRER, SON OF JOSÉ FERRER AND ROSEMARY CLOONEY
Rosemary Clooney's eldest son gave us great characters in 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' 'Twin Peaks' and 'RoboCop.' READ MORE
Francine York, 'Batman' actress and 1960s star
She was the Bookworm's henchwoman — and much more. READ MORE
Image: The Everett Collection
BRUCE LANSBURY, BROTHER OF ANGELA, PRODUCER OF 'WONDER WOMAN' AND 'WILD WILD WEST'
Lansbury also created the Bill Bixby series The Magician. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo / Charles Harrity
JEFFREY HAYDEN, DIRECTOR OF ALL OF OUR FAVORITE TV EPISODES
The notable television director worked on everything from The Andy Griffith Show to Knight Rider. READ MORE
Image: AP Photo
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