Second City "den mother" Joyce Sloane dead at 80

Joyce Sloane, who has been described as the "den mother" to Second City alumni John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray, has died at age 80.

Sloane's daughter Cheryl says her mother died "absolutely peacefully" late Thursday in bed as she got ready to watch Jim Belushi on television.

In her 50 years at Second City, Sloane held nearly every title at the improvisation theater, including associate producer and executive producer. She was founder of the national touring company and co-founder of the Toronto branch of The Second City.

Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert on Friday told the Chicago Tribune that Sloane was "incredibly kind to me and believed in me."

Sloane is credited with discovering the Belushi brothers and Nia Vardalos of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" fame.