Second City founder dies at 80

CHICAGO Sills also founded the Compass Players, the predecessor of Second City .

Some of the biggest names in comedy got their start at Second City. While sills was the director there he worked with performers such as Alan Arkin and Jerry Stiller.

Director Mike Nichols says Sills was "at the very heart" of Chicago theatre.

There is no word on the cause of death. Sills was 80 years old.