Mike Myers to Portray Improv Legend Del Close

Mike Myers (‘Wayne’s World,’ ’Austin Powers,’ ‘Shrek’) has come on board to star as Del Close, Myers’ mentor and legendary teacher, in the upcoming comedy ‘Del’ to be directed by the award-winning Betty Thomas (‘Private Parts,’ ‘28 Days’).

Penned by Nick Torokvei, the film follows an aspiring comedian who is taken under the wing of Del Close, a legendary teacher notorious for pushing his students to their limit. What begins as a disastrous relationship, ultimately transforms each of them in this hilarious, irreverent and heartfelt comedy.

In 1972, after a decade of touring America with improv troupes and the Grateful Dead, Del Close returned to his hometown of Chicago and to the improv powerhouse Second City. Over the next decade, he coached many popular comedians and in the early 1980s served as “house metaphysician” at Saturday Night Live. Over the years, a significant number of the show’s cast have been Close protégés including Myers, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Tina Fey, and many others. Close spent the mid-to-late 1980s and 1990s teaching improv at Yes and Productions and the ImprovOlympic Theater before his death in 1999.

‘Del’ will be produced by Paul Hanson of Covert Media, alongside Thomas, The Second City’s Diane Alexander, Robert Teitel over at State Street Pictures, and Thruline Entertainment’s Ron West.