Comedy Store owner Mitzi Shore dies at 87

The Comedy Store co-founder Mitzi Shore passed away at 87. Photo / Getty

Some of the biggest names in comedy, the people who stood as giants in the genre, developed their craft at the Comedy Store — people such as Robin Williams, Richard Pryor and David Letterman. It was there that Roseanne Barr was discovered, that Jim Carrey worked the door.

And the woman who became synonymous with that Los Angeles institution was owner Mitzi Shore. She died early Wednesday at the age of 87, according to her son, actor and comedian Pauly Shore.

"Looking back on my mom's life, the one word that comes to mind is giver," Pauly Shore said. "She gave her heart, her soul, and her stages. So Mom, on behalf of myself and all of the other comedians, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for letting us develop our crazy at the Store. Not only were you our comedy Godmother, you are my mother. We'd be nothing without you and your guidance."

Mitzi Shore booked the comics and nurtured their careers. She also gave blunt assessments to those she deemed lacking charisma, and served as a gatekeeper to bigger opportunities. More recent years have seen comics such as Whitney Cummings and Joe Rogan work there.