Sammy Shore, the co-founder of the iconic Comedy Store in Los Angeles, has passed away at the age of 92.
Shore's family announced that the legendary stand-up comedian died of natural causes at his Las Vegas home. Shore was accompanied by his wife Suzanne and other family members at the time of his passing.
Throughout his 70-year career, Shore worked with Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Sammy Davis, Jr., and more. Yet it was in 1969 when Elvis tapped the comedian to open for him during his comeback residency in Las Vegas that Shore first burst into the mainstream. Three years later, Shore and screenwriter Rudy De Luca opened the Comedy Store as a venue for up and coming comics to showcase their talent in front of Shore's famous friends. Since the doors opened in 1972, the Comedy Store has been graced by a host of household names. This includes Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Tim Allen, and Dave Chappelle.
In addition to owning and operating the Comedy Store, Shore wrote books (The Warm-Up and The Man Who Made Elvis Laugh) and was in the process of writing another one—Last Comic Sitting (Confessions of a Pissed-Off Comic)—when he passed.
Shore's son Pauly eulogized his father and comedic partner on Twitter.
"Dad, you lived an amazing life and I'm so proud to say that you are my father." Pauly wrote. "When you're in heaven I'll be killing the crowds night after night and carrying on your legacy. Love you Dad. Rest in peace. Your son and fellow stand up comic, Love, Pauly."
In a Facebook post from the Comedy Store that confirmed Shore's passing, it is said that he was most proud of his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show because he finally felt as though he "arrived." Shore leaves behind a wife Suzanne and four children.
