Biography
Paul Sills is widely recognized as the father of improvisation in Chicago and the pioneering co-founder and director of the renowned Compass Players and Second City improvisational comedy troupes. He aimed to teach the improvisational comedy techniques passed down from his mother, Viola Spolin, who taught creative dramatics to children and adults at a recreational center. Her methods included acting games, storytelling, folk dances, and other forms of self-expression, which now form the foundation of most improvisational training.
Preferring to avoid the spotlight, Sills remained largely behind the scenes, yet his followers have included some of the entertainment industry's most famous actors. His early ensemble, the Compass Players, featured Severn Darden, Elaine May, Mike Nichols, and Barbara Harris, to whom he was once married. The original Second City troupe comprised Darden, Harris, Roger Bowen, Mina Kolb, Andrew Duncan, and Eugene Troobnick. A notable offshoot of the Chicago group formed in Toronto, Canada, featuring future comedy stars Gilda Radner, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi. On Broadway, one of Sills' major achievements was the Tony-nominated revue "Story Theatre," a reinterpretation of Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Cast member Paul Sand earned a Tony Award for his role in 1971.
Throughout the 1990s, Sills continued to shape emerging talent through lectures and workshops. In 2000, he published a book titled "Paul Sills' Story Theater: Four Shows." He was the father of five children—one son, David, and four daughters, Rachel, Polly, Aretha, and Neva. Paul lived in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, with his third wife, Carol Bleackley, a painter and teacher, until he passed away from pneumonia at age 80 in 2008.
