Legendary comedian Sid Caesar died February 12. He was 91.

A pioneer of network television, Caesar’s first series, Admiral Broadway Revue (1949) with Imogene Coca ironically was so popular that the sponsor, a TV set manufacturer, couldn’t keep up with orders and dropped the show. Caesar moved on to Your Show of Shows (1950-1954) and Caesar’s Hour (1954).

In later years he also appeared in movies — Silent Movie, History of the World, Part I, Airport 1975, and the 1998 production of Ray Bradbury’s The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.

Caesar inspired the Alan Brady character in the Dick Van Dyke series and “King” Kaiser in My Favorite Year.