Dick Shawn

 Dick Shawn was supposedly the first person to execute the iconic "High Five," in the movie, "The Producers" (1967). It was during the play in the movie, "Springtime For Hitler," the character of Hitler, played by Shawn, sent for Goebbels, who was played by David Patch, and instead of putting his hand in front of for the "give me five," Shawn held it up and Patch slapped it. Though it would not become popular till many years later."

I can't work places like Vegas or the Catskills where people are belching. Maybe I belong in colleges. At least if I die, I die in front of intelligent people who know what I'm talking about."

By freakish coincidence, the 63-year-old Shawn was performing at the University of California at San Diego on the evening of April 17, 1987, when, during the show, he suddenly collapsed on stage. The audience, at first laughing and thinking it was part of his odd shtick, had suffered a fatal heart attack. The irony of his death on stage is that it went "unnoticed" because of Shawn's strict instructions to stage crews. He would tell all concerned that he was liable to do anything at any time, including pratfalls, and that they were not to react to this. At his last performance, it did not occur to anyone that something tragic had happened until it was felt that his lying motionless on stage had run the joke rather thin. It was only then that Shawn was discovered to have died doing what he did best; enthralling his audience with his marvelous humor.

"I think of my relationship with any audience as a love affair. It lasts only a little while, but I always look forward to a happy ending. For both of us."

Happy Birthday, Dick Shawn!