Cutting Off Your Best Friend's Head Isn't Easy

You've probably seen a picture like this. It’s from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” when the title character has a scene with the skull of a man named Yorick.

Okay, now stick with me: Del Close (picture below) was a Chicago comedian. Shortly before his death in 1999, Close made his friend Charna Halpern promise to donate his skull to a local theater. That way, Close could play the part of Yorick even though he was dead. (Some people will do anything to get on-stage!)

Halpern agreed. But when she asked the people at the hospital to cut Close’s head off after he died, they just laughed. No matter who she asked, Halpern couldn’t find anyone to cut Close’s head off! (Eventually, Close was cremated, with his head still attached.)

Halpern decided to get a “stand-in skull” from an anatomy shop. She found one that looked right, and then took it home to pull the skull’s teeth out.

Why? Because Close had worn dentures! This was a tough job. As Halpern said, “pulling teeth is like pulling teeth.” (Everyone’s a comedian!)

Anyway, then Halpern donated “Del Close’s skull” to a Chicago theater. It was the most famous skull in the city! Years passed, and then a reporter at the Chicago Tribune investigated the story. So Halpern confessed to what she had done. (Hey, I don’t blame her; she tried to do the right thing. But take it from me, cutting off your best friend’s head isn't easy.)

What about the stand-in skull today? The artistic director at the theater where it’s kept says, “The skull has no bookings at the moment.” (More details here.)