Guru: My Days with Del Close

by Jeff Griggs

A legend of improvisational theater, Del Close is best known for discovering and cultivating the talents of John Belushi, Chris Farley, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, and countless other comedy giants. He was resident director of Chicago's famed Second City and "house metaphysician" for "Saturday Night Live," a talent in his own right, and one of the brightest and wackiest theater gurus ever. Jeff Griggs was a student of Close's at the ImprovOlympic in Chicago when he was asked to help the aging mentor (often in ill health) by driving him around the city on his weekly errands. The two developed a volatile friendship that shocked, angered, and amused both of them—and produced this hilarious and ultimately endearing chronicle of Close's last years. With all the elements of a picaresque novel, Guru captures Close at his zaniest but also shows him in theatrical situations that confirm his genius in conceptualizing and directing improvisational theater. Between comic episodes, Jeff Griggs gives the reader the essentials of Close's biography: his childhood in Kansas, early years as an actor, countercultural exploits in the 1960s (he toured with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and designed light shows for the Grateful Dead), years with the Compass Players and then with Second City, and continuing experimentation with every drug imaginable, which pretty much cost him his health and ultimately his life. He was comedian, director, teacher, writer, actor, poet, fire-eater, junkie, and philosopher. "Being a really good actor does not necessarily guarantee that you will be a very good improviser," Close liked to say. "Being an actual, complete, hopeless, wretched geek in real life doesn't disqualify you from being a solid improviser, either." He approached improv the same way he conducted his life—in bizarre, dark, and dangerous fashion. Guru captures it.

Genres: Biography, Comedy, Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brian Kameoka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this brief portrait of one of the most influential figures in modern American comedy. Jeff Griggs was Del Close's assistant for the last year or so of Del's life, though this isn't Hollywood and Del was no celebrity - so most of the anecdotes are about mundane matters such as getting to the bank or stopping off at the local indy bookstore. A few of the best quotes and stories I had read before on some improv message boards. I think this nicely fills a gap for people like myself, who studied improv with Del's disciples but never got to meet or work with him. If you're a geek about improv, SNL, Second City, I think this is a must read. But I think Griggs doesn't quite find a way to make the book appealing to general readers. And he misspelled Kevin Dorff's name.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun read. It's not a 'make you think' book but if you know anything about the improv world in Chicago, it's a lot of fun to read. I did laugh out loud during the scene where Close's laundry gets sent in for cleaning.

[Jonathan Sparkles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for any actor or comedic performer. I liked it because it was part Del Close biography, part adventure book with Jeff & Del and part improvisation instruction booklet. Very enjoyable. Main complaint was that it was too short.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

phenomenal. hilarious. tear jerking. informative. read this. now.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The world sorely needs a Del Close biography, but this isn't it. Jeff Griggs is a terrible writer and an opportunistic golddigger who used his anecdotes about taking Del Close to the bank once a week to ride on the coattails of a great performer. (I know Charna Halpern approved of this book, and I think that was a mistake.) Griggs took stories that would likely be entertaining in a conversational setting and slathered them with ego, crappy prose and Wikipedia-level background information. If this wasn't so short, I wouldn't have finished it.

[Marlowe Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. I was sort of familiar with Del's work and saw at least one show he directed at ImprovOlympic back in the tail end of the 1990s before his death. While parts are honest and heartfelt there are certainly moments and stories that read less like reporting and biography and more like press release anecdotes. Regardless I think it's a book the puts before the world the work of a man whose influence on performance is legendary.

[LeeLee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm such a freak. i know this.

This book makes me sad. Sad and disturbed and intrigued and nostalgic for a time and a place that i was never apart of.

God bless you Del Close. You were a crazy nut and i can appreciate that.

The writing can be a little stilted, but the events and themes of the book really hit me.

[J.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Griggs is a capable writer, handling the life and times of Del Close in a kind and beautifully sentimental way yet without glossing over the drug addiction or rough edges of one of the world's most important improv teachers.

[Phillip Mottaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of books about improvisation, and this one is the best. A charming collection of stories about a man and some angle of his mind, which informed how he conceived of modern improvisational techniques.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and easy to read. Short chapters. Some great improv nuggets, too.

[Jeremy Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never laughed so hard! It is an excellent read that inspired me to write my own book. Well done Jeff!

[Barrett Phelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious and a great peek into the origins of American improv.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on the recommendation of a business podcaster. Didn’t know Del, but have seen his work. Author managed to make it all interesting, entertaining, and fun

[CD · Rating 2 out of 5]

A self serving cash-in on Del Close. A few interesting anecdotes and much of the myth repeated, this is just barely an O.K. book.

Readable, and mostly accurate as far as I know (good friends knew Del a lot longer than this author) the book is readable, but it borders on 'Why?'.

As a chronicle of his last days and the final impressions he left on people, it is fine. Beyond that don't expect any epiphanies or rare insight.

[Beth Stelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chats with Cats was one of my favorite chapters. Laughed a lot and fun to peek into the life of Del Close from a perspective of a peer.

[Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

*PLOT SPOILER!*
It is an interesting look at a clash between generations of comedians. This del close guy sucks cause he died and I would have wanted to meet him

[Anoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny and heartfelt and did I say funny?

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Del makes it seem like everyone in the sixties knew each other. He connects the dots from LRon Hubbard to Nichols & May to Jerry Garcia all the way to Armando Diaz.

[Dana Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a faster read then I had expected. Made me laugh out loud several times!!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funnest books about improv you'll ever read.

[MJ Petro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. I feel lucky that Jeff Griggs was with Del Close for such an extended period. I really feel like I know Del Close as a result of reading this excellent book. Great job Jeff!

[Christina Cola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every improviser should read this book. This man was a mad genius.