If you have ever enjoyed “Saturday Night Live” or other humorous improv in America, most likely, it started at “The Second City,” Chicago’s famed improvisational comedy group.

Today, we lost one of “The Second City” founders Paul Sills at the age of 80.

The comedy troupe says in a statement on its Web site that Sills’ influence on American theater “cannot be exaggerated” and “his work will certainly live on forever.”

Sills helped start Second City in 1959. The center of humor and stage improvisational that has turned out some of America’s best-known comedians, including John Belushi, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.

Sills’ play, “Story Theatre,” was nominated for a Tony Award in 1971.

Rest in humor, Paul.