Actor and Comedian Peter Bergman Dies

Actor and comedian Peter Bergman, who was one of the founders of The Firesign Theatre, passed away on Friday. The Cleveland, Ohio native was 72 and died due to complications from leukemia, according to the theater comedy group.

Bergman, Phil Austin, David Ossman and Philip Proctor started The Firesign Theatre. In 1966, they began creating their old timey, witty, sound-rich sketches and dramas on Bergman's live radio show, Radio Free Oz, in Los Angeles.

One of Firesign's more popular dramas was the film noir Nick Danger detective series. Bergman was the voice of Police Lt. Bradshaw. The Firesign Theatre also produced records that have become cult classics.

Listen to The Big Internet Broadcast of 1996 and Digital Diner above and see the script for the program here.

The live musical comedy show, performed at the Knitting Factory, was the first live webcast of Bergman's show, Radio Free Oz, and the cast included Bergman, Philip Proctor and David Ossman of The Firesign Theatre.