Bernard Sahlins (; August 20, 1922 – June 16, 2013) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

writer, director and comedian best known as a founder of

The Second City The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise. It is the oldest improvisational theater troupe to be continuously based in Chicago, with training programs and live theaters in Toronto and New York. Since its debut in 1959, it has b ...

improvisational comedy Improvisational theatre, often called improvisation or improv or impro in British English, is the form of theatre, often comedy, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers. In its ...

troupe with

Paul Sills Paul Sills (born Paul Silverberg; November 18, 1927 – June 2, 2008) was an American director and improvisation teacher, and the original director of Chicago's The Second City. Life and career Sills was born Paul Silverberg in Chicago, Illinois ...

and

Howard Alk Howard Alk (October 25, 1930 – January 1982) was an American filmmaker based in Chicago, Illinois, and an original co-founder of The Second City theater troupe. In the 1960s he began to work in film with the Chicago Film Group, filming and di ...

in 1959.Sahlins, Bernard (2001)
Days and Nights at the Second City.
via SCTV Guide Sahlins also opened the Second City Theatre in Toronto in 1973.

Biography

Born in Chicago, Sahlins graduated from

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

in 1943. His brother was

anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...

Marshall Sahlins Marshall David Sahlins ( ; December 27, 1930April 5, 2021) was an American cultural anthropologist best known for his ethnographic work in the Pacific and for his contributions to anthropological theory. He was the Charles F. Grey Distinguishe ...

. When Sahlins received an honorary doctorate from

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago is a Private college, private art college in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1890, it has 6,493 students (as of fall 2021) pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It i ...

in 2006, theatre department professor

Sheldon Patinkin Sheldon Arthur Patinkin (August 27, 1935 – September 21, 2014) was a chair of the Theater Department of Columbia College Chicago, artistic director of the Getz Theater of Columbia College, Artistic Consultant of The Second City and of Steppen ...

wrote: In 1986, Sahlins co-founded both The University of Chicago's Off-Off Campus and The International Theatre Festival of Chicago. Sahlins is the recipient of The Sergel prize for playwriting, The University of Chicago Professional Achievement Award, The Chicago Drama League’s Professional Achievement Award, Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing and professional achievement, The Illinois Arts Alliance "Legend" award, and the Improv Festival Achievement Award. On June 16, 2013, Sahlins died at his home of pancreatic cancer at age 90. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Jane Nicholl Sahlins, and a brother, Marshall Sahlins, both of Chicago. His first marriage to Fritzi Sager ended in divorce. A daughter from his first marriage, Lee Sherry, died in 2012.

Bibliography

*Bernard Sahlins, Ivan R. Dee (Editor) (2001). ''Days and Nights at Second City''. *Tristan Remy and Bernard Sahlins, Ivan R. Dee (Editor) (1997). ''Clown Scenes''. *Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais and Bernard Sahlins (1990) ''The Marriage of Figaro: In a New Translation and Adaptation.'' Ivan R. Dee Publisher. *Bernard Sahlins, Molière (1999). ''The Bourgeois Gentleman (A Play)''. Samuel French ASIN B000MWX09E *Bernard Sahlins (2000). ''The Mysteries: Creation: A New Adaptation''. Ivan R. Dee, Publisher; New Ed edition. *Bernard Sahlins (1993). ''The Mysteries: The Passion''. Ivan R. Dee, Publisher; New Ed edition.

References

External links

* * when he received his honorary doctorate. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sahlins, Bernard 1922 births 2013 deaths American theatre directors The Second City University of Chicago alumni