Mike Myers to play Chicago improv mentor Del Close in film
Second City’s legendary guru Del Close will be immortalized in a feature film starring his former student Mike Myers and directed by Betty Thomas, producers announced Thursday at the Berlin Film Festival.
“Del” will depict the demanding teacher through the eyes of an aspiring comedian he takes under his wing. The screenplay by Nick Torokvei is based on the book “Guru,” written by Chicago actor and director Jeff Griggs about the months he spent driving Close on errands and learning of his history and his world view.
Close, considered one of the fathers of Chicago ( and all things) improv, was the person who mentored a bevy of today’s most successful comedians ( and “SNL” alums) including Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Myers, and the late John Belushi and Chris Farley. At first an actor and director at Second City, he later became the key creative voice at ImprovOlympic ( now iO) until his death in 1999.
“[ Del] was a series of contradictions,” Myers told the Sun- Times in a 2005 interview. “He had an encyclopedic knowledge of comedy and had the air of a very rational librarian, and yet he was also into the world of the supernatural and spirituality. In his classes, he was in total command but never total control.”
Second City owner Andrew Alexander is among the executive producers of “Guru.” Some if not all of the filming is expected to take place in Chicago.