Del Close marathon keeps the comedy going

Everyone knows Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.

Yet few outside the comedy world know the man who taught and inspired them. His name was Del Close, and for more than 30 years, he was the force behind the Chicago improv scene that thrived at places such as Second City and Improv Olympics.

Close died in 1999, but New York improv troupe the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) has been keeping his memory alive with annual Del Close marathons. This year’s consists of 420 shows over 56 hours, featuring improv groups from across the country and places like London and Helsinki.

amNewYork spoke with UCB co-founder Matt Walsh, who also stars in HBO’s “Veep.”