Comedy legend Sid Caesar dies

Sid Caesar, the pioneer of the comedy sketch show, has died aged 91.

13:18 13 February 2014

Veteran comedy star Sid Caesar has died aged 91 in his Beverly Hills home after a short illness, it has been confirmed.

Best known for hosting his American variety show in the 1950s and his film roles as Coach Calhoun in the Grease films, Caesar had been heralded as an icon in the sketch and skit format.

Caesar's Your Show of Shows paved the way for the likes of Saturday Night Live. Your Show of Shows was a 90 minute broadcast of live, original comedy every Saturday night with only 13 weeks off in the year.

After that came Caesar's Hour whereby the likes of Neil Simon, Woody Allen and Mel Brooks were on staff as writers.

Carl Reiner led the tributes: "He was the ultimate; he was the very best sketch artist and comedian that ever existed.

"His ability to double talk every language known to man was impeccable."

The double Emmy winner's success waned after a lucrative decade in the 1950s as he became more dependent on drugs and alcohol.

While best known for his work on television and on the stand-up circuit, Caesar was also an accomplished composer and saxophonist.