Sid Caesar
Biography
Sid Caesar, born Isaac Sidney Caesar on September 8, 1922, in Yonkers, New York, was an American comic actor, comedian, and writer whose career spanned sixty years. He passed away on February 12, 2014, at the age of ninety-one. Caesar was the son of European immigrants and became known for his work in television and film. He pioneered the television variety show format with the 1950s live television series Your Show of Shows, which ran from 1950 to 1954, and Caesar's Hour, which aired from 1954 to 1957. Later generations also knew him for his role as a coach in the films Grease in 1978 and Grease 2 in 1984.
Career overview
Isaac Sidney Caesar, born on September 8, 1922, in Yonkers, New York, was an American comic actor, comedian, and writer whose career spanned sixty years. He was the son of European immigrants and became known as a leading man and pioneer of the television variety show format during the 1950s.
Caesar was best known for his work on live television series of that decade, specifically Your Show of Shows, which ran from 1950 to 1954, and Caesar's Hour, which aired from 1954 to 1957. Later in his career, he appeared in films, including roles as a coach in Grease in 1978 and Grease 2 in 1984. Throughout his life and career, he accumulated numerous known acting credits across television and film. He passed away on February 12, 2014, at the age of 91.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
111 titles- Remembering Gene Wilder (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- It's a Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie, Zabriskie Point (2023) as Melville Crump (archive footage)
- Mel Brooks: Unwrapped (2018) as Self (archive footage)
- The Grease Story (2017) as Coach Calhoun (archive footage)
- Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013) as Self
- Lunch (2012) as Himself
- In the Beginning: The Caesar Years (2012) as Self
- Woody Allen: A Documentary (2011) Thanks
- Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- The Jewish Americans (2008) as Self
- Pioneers of Primetime (2005)
- Comic Book: The Movie (2004) as Old Army Buddy
- Sid Caesar Collection: Buried Treasures - The Legend of Sid Caesar (2003) as Himself
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Self
- Globehunters: An Around the World in 80 Days Adventure (2002) as Jacob (voice)
- Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002) as Self (uncredited)
- The Sid Caesar Collection: Creating the Comedy (2000) as Himself
- The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV (2000) as Self
- The Sid Caesar Collection: The Magic of Live TV (2000) Executive In Charge Of Production
- The Sid Caesar Collection: Inside the Writer's Room (2000) as Himself
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars Club (1999) as Self
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998) as Self
- The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998) as Sid Zellman
- Vegas Vacation (1997) as Mr. Ellis
- Caesar's Writers (1996) as Self
- The Great Mom Swap (1995) as Papa Tognetti
- The 100 Funniest Moments of the 20th Century: The Unexpected (1995) Thanks
- Mad About You (1992) as Uncle Harold
- Love & War (1992)
- Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' (1991) as Self
- Wall of Tyranny (1988) as Max
- Side by Side (1988) as Louis Hammerstein
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987) as Self
- The Emperor's New Clothes (1987) as The Emperor
- Christmas Snow (1986) as Mr. Snyder
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Lou Bundles
- Alice in Wonderland (1985) as Gryphon
- Stoogemania (1985) as Doctor Fixyer Mindyer
- Love Is Never Silent (1985) as Mr. Petrakis
- Cannonball Run II (1984) as Fisherman #2
- Over the Brooklyn Bridge (1984) as Uncle Benjamin
- All Star Party for Lucille Ball (1984) as Self
- The Boys of Summer (1983) as Host
- Found Money (1983) as Sam Green
- Matt Houston (1982)
- Grease 2 (1982) as Coach Vince Calhoun
- History of the World: Part I (1981) as Chief Caveman
- The Munsters' Revenge (1981) as Dr. Dustin Diablo
- The Big Show (1980) as Self
- Pink Lady (1980) as Sid Caesar
- The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980) as Joe Capone
- Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz (1980) as Wizard / Mince Pie U.N. Krust / Narrator (voice)
- Intergalactic Thanksgiving, or Please Don't Eat the Planet (1979) as King Goochi (voice)
- America 2100 (1979) as MAX (voice)
- Vega$ (1978)
- Grease (1978) as Coach Calhoun
- The Cheap Detective (1978) as Ezra Dezire
- W.E.B. (1978)
- The Love Boat (1977) as Michael Harmon
- Curse of the Black Widow (1977) as Lazlo Cozart
- Fire Sale (1977) as Sherman
- Flight to Holocaust (1977) as George Beam
- Barnaby and Me (1977) as Leo Fisk
- Good Heavens (1976)
- Silent Movie (1976) as Studio Chief
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- When Things Were Rotten (1975) as Marquis de la Salle
- Ann-Margret Smith (1975) as Self
- Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (1975) as (archive footage)
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974) as Self
- Airport 1975 (1974) as Barney
- Hamburgers (1974) as self
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The Bobby Darin Show (1973)
- Ten from Your Show of Shows (1973)
- The Julie Andrews Hour (1972) as Self
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970) as Self
- The Don Knotts Show (1970) as Self
- Love, American Style (1969) as John Smith
- Love, American Style (1969) as Bert
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest
- A Guide for the Married Man (1967) as Technical Adviser
- The Spirit Is Willing (1967) as Ben Powell
- The Busy Body (1967) as George Norton
- That Girl (1966) as Marty Nickels
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Melville Crump
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self (archive footage)
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Sid Caesar
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Checkmate (1960) as Johnny Wilder
- Some of Manie's Friends (1959)
- The All-Star Christmas Show (1958) as Self
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- Caesar's Hour (1954) as Self - Host
- Caesar's Hour (1954) Creator
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Nick Lucifer
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mr. Petrakis
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Your Show of Shows (1950) as Self - Regular Performer
- The Admiral Broadway Revue (1949)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947) as Sammy Weaver
- Tars and Spars (1946) as Chuck Enders
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Sid Caesar best known for?
Sid Caesar is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998), Vegas Vacation (1997), The Great Mom Swap (1995), Reservoir Dogs (1992).
When and where was Sid Caesar born?
Sid Caesar was born on September 8, 1922 in Yonkers, New York, USA. They passed away on February 12, 2014.
How many credits does Sid Caesar have?
Sid Caesar has accumulated over 111 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1946 to 2024.
What is Sid Caesar's background in cinema and television?
Sid Caesar, born Isaac Sidney Caesar on September 8, 1922, in Yonkers, New York, was an American comic actor, comedian, and writer whose career spanned sixty years. He passed away on February 12, 2014, at the age of ninety-one. Caesar was the son of European immigrants and became known for his work in television and fi...
Sid Caesar by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mr. Petrakis — aged about 28
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998) as Self — aged about 75
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest — aged about 44
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Lou Bundles — aged about 62
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 39
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 39
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