Stars pay their tributes to Sid

Mel Brooks: ‘Sid Caesar was a giant - maybe the best comedian who ever practiced the trade. And I was privileged to be one of his writers and one of his friends.’

Woody Allen: ‘He was one of the truly great comedians of my time, and one of the finest privileges I've had in my entire career was that I was able to work for him.’

Rob Reiner: ’Inarguably he was the greatest single monologist and skit comedian we ever had. Television owes him a debt of gratitude for his pioneering work and the great shows he gave us all. Render onto Caesar what is his due. He deserves real applause from the American people.’

Larry King: ‘A dear friend, a comic genius & an American classic - there will never be another one like him.’

Arnold Schwarzenegger: We’ve lost one of the greats. Sid Caesar was a fantastic comedian and entertainer. His quadlingual shtick was always a hit. We'll miss him.'

Fred Willard: ‘Sorry to lose Sid Caesar and Shirley Temple. She saved Hollywood, he made live sketch comedy work.’

Danny Baker: ‘Sid Caesar locked in that shop basement with the fireworks in Its A Mad World just about the 1st time in my life I thought I'd die laughing… BBC obit of Sid Caesar leads with his Grease appearance. Thats like when when Ringo goes saying, "Thomas The Tank Voice Dies!”.’

Whoopi Goldberg: 'Life...doing her thing, another great has passed Sid Caesar. Funny man. We honored him at the very first Comic Relief. RIP turn turn turn.’

Joan Rivers: 'A childhood highlight was going to the taping of “Your Show of Shows.” I’m just sorry I never had the opportunity to work with Sid Caesar.’

Larry The Cable Guy: ‘RIP Sid Caesar. One of the best. You will be missed. These old time guys were so funny, and kept people laughing thru many bad times

Here is Caesar in a sketch, playing out an argument to Beethoven’s 5th:

Published: 13 Feb 2014