Shelley Berman began studying acting shortly after he was honorably discharged from the US navy. He enrolled as a drama student at Chicago's Goodman Theater, where he met Sarah Herman, another aspiring thespian. They fell in love and were married in 1947. After graduating from the Goodman Theater, Shelley joined the Woodstock Players, a stock theater company in Woodstock, IL. It was here that he had the opportunity to really develop and polish his acting skills, with the support and encouragement of fellow players 'Geraldine Page' free time volunteering for various charitable organizations and indulging in his favorite hobby, knife collecting.
Biography in: "Whos Who in Comedy" by Ronald S. Smith, pg. 48-50. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Uncle of actor Henry Herman.
He studied drama at HB Studios in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Interviewed in "The Great Comedians Talk About Comedy" by Larry Wilde.
In 1955 he joined The Compass Players in Chicago, a comedy improv group that had a cabaret on the citys North Side.
One of the jobs he had before he got into show business was a dance instructor at an Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
He was the son of Irene (Marks) and Nathan Berman. His father was born in Illinois, to Polish Jewish parents. His mother was born in England, to a Russian Jewish father and a Latvian Jewish mother.
In the mid-1960s, Berman and wife Sarah adopted two children, son Joshua (1965-October 29, 1977) and daughter Rachel. The Bermans were planning Joshuas bar mitzvah when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Joshua died on October 29, 1977 at age 12.
Has two grandsons.
As much experience, education and awareness as one can attain is,important for a comedian.
I am in the Master of Professional Writing program teaching Humor,Writing, Literary and Dramatic.
The old problems--love, money, security, status, health, etc. --are still,here to plague us or please us.
I was an actor before becoming a comedian.
As a culture I see us as presently deprived of subtleties. The music is,loud, the anger is elevated, sex seems lacking in sweetness and,privacy.
I will always love to perform standup comedy.
I quit smoking well over 20 years ago.
I believe it is important for comedians to know who came before them.
I am presently in my 13th year of teaching a graduate course at the,University of Southern California.
I am careful with my material and presentation.
My whole act is confession.
Unquestionably, standup comedy is and has always been an art form.
[referring to his comedy album, "The Edge of Shelley Berman"] Though it,sold very well, I hated "The Edge".
The most memorable performance was my appearance in concert in Carnegie,Hall. The first standup to do so.
Believe me. He was the smartest, most reasonable, intelligent human,being. If you doubt me, ask him.
I am in the Master of Professional Writing program teaching Humor Writing, Literary and Dramatic.
As a culture I see us as presently deprived of subtleties. The music is loud, the anger is elevated, sex seems lacking in sweetness and privacy.
The old problems - love, money, security, status, health, etc. - are still here to plague us or please us.
