Mitzi Shore, known as the stand-up comedy matriarch, died Wednesday at 87 after a battle against Parkinson's disease.
As the proprietor of the Sunset Strip’s legendary Comedy Store, Shore launched a who’s who list of comedy A-listers, including former "Late Night" host David Letterman, who once referred to her as a “den mother” to comedy’s greats.
In addition to Letterman, Shore showcased such comedy giants as Jay Leno, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Pryor, Garry Shandling, Jim Carrey, and Roseanne Barr.
The Comedy Store’s hectic 1970s and 1980s were depicted in “I’m Dying Up Here,” a series produced by Showtime with Melissa Leo playing a figure based on Shore.
Shore took over the reins of the Comedy Store, which she co-founded, as a result of her divorce from comic Sammy Shore. Her son, actor-comedian Pauly Shore, announced her death on Twitter.
In addition to Pauly, Shore is survived by three other children.
Well-wishers great and small lined up to show their respect for comedy’s matriarch.