Sid Caesar, whose sketches lit up 1950s television with zany humour, dies at age 91

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Innovative, influential comedy genius Sid Caesar, whose sketches lit up 1950s television with zany humour, has died at age 91.

Family spokesman Eddy Friedfeld says Caesar died early Wednesday.

Caesar’s two most important programs were “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour.” He used them to display his incredible skill in pantomime, satire, mimicry, dialect and sketch comedy.

He paired with Imogene Coca in sketches that became comedy classics.

He attracted a stable of young writers who went on to highly successful careers of their own including Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.

Caesar also appeared on Broadway and on the big screen in the 1963 comedy epic “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.”