A familiar face. A favorite credit.
Bernie Sahlins
The sketches, the credits, the comedy.
All in one place.
Born August 20, 1922
Died June 16, 2013Aged 90
Credited work (1)
Funny from behind the scenes.
The person behind the punchline
A little backstory.
Bernie Sahlins was an American theatre producer and director who helped establish modern improvisational sketch comedy. He co-founded Chicago’s Second City in 1959 with Paul Sills and Howard Alk. His credited work in the archive includes SCTV’s Cooking with Edith Prickley, connecting the television series with the stage company from which it developed.
A University of Chicago graduate, Sahlins helped open Second City’s Toronto theatre in 1973 and supported the company’s expansion into television. He worked with generations of performers and directed theatrical productions as well as comedy revues. His career linked ensemble improvisation, scripted sketches and the development of lasting comedy institutions.