Del Close Skull

Chicago comedy legend Del Close apparently did not, in fact, donate his skull to the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday. The human skull that was thought to be Close's has become a legendary prop in Chicago theater and a symbol of his eccentric and offbeat humor. 

Close died at 64 in 1999 of emphysema and legend has it that Close’s last words were, “I’m tired of being the funniest person in the room.” He donated his skull in his will to the Goodman Theatre for use in Hamlet productions, on the condition that he should receive credit in the program as Yorick.

“It's not his skull, but the idea behind it is there," said Jeff Griggs, Close's biographer. "The idea should be preserved, if not the actual cranium."

The woman who claims to have arranged for the donation, however, steadfastly says that it is Close's skull.

The Tribune recently took photos of the skull and showed it to paleopathologist Anne Grauer, who is also a professor in Loyola University's anthropology department.

The photos "made me laugh," she said. "One hundred percent of the models that I have here in my office look like this. It looks like a clinical skeleton that was purchased."

Close is considered one of the premier influences on modern improvisational theater. An actor, improviser, writer, and teacher, Close had a prolific career, appearing in a number of films and television shows. He was a co-author of the book Truth in Comedy along with partner Charna Halpern, which outlines techniques now common to longform improvisational theater and describes the overall structure of “Harold” which remains a common frame for longer improvisational scenes. His favorite framework for comedic storytelling was the structures of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The Tribune said Close was a mentor to many comedians, including Bill Murray and John Belushi.

Close spent the 1980s and 1990s teaching comedy improv while slowly succumbing to emphysema. But he remained active. During this period, Close acted in several movies, co-authored the horror anthology Wasteland for DC Comics with John Ostrander, and along with Charna Halpern he co-founded the ImprovOlympic which is now know as I.O.