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Comedian Sid Caesar, Westchester Native, Dies At 91

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- Legendary comedian and Yonkers native Sid Caesar died Wednesday at the age of 91, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Sid Caesar

Sid Caesar

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Caesar was the youngest of three sons born to Jewish immigrants who came through Ellis Island. The surname "Caesar" was given to his father, Max, by an immigration official.

Caesar's parents owned a 24-hour luncheonette for many years on Warburton Avenue near Larkin Plaza in Yonkers.

After trying to make it as a musician, Caesar found the jokes he told between songs did better than his musical performance. Soon he was performing stand-up comedy in what became the famous "Borscht Belt" of the Catskill Mountains with the likes of Mel Brooks, Jack Benny, Red Buttons and many others.

Caesar became one of the first comedians to be featured on television with the 1950s variety show "Your Show Of Shows," with a legendary writing staff that included Brooks and a young Woody Allen. His show helped inspire a generation of stand-up comedians.

Caesar is known to many younger audiences as Coach Calhoun from the film "Grease."

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