Jeff Gerbino, Scott Hansen, Louie Anderson, Bill Bauer and Alex Cole/ photo by Joey McLeister

Bill Bauer, who along with Louie Anderson and Scott Hansen helped establish the Twin Cities as a major comedy market, died in his sleep Wednesday night, according to friends and family.

Bauer, 62, never gained national recognition, but he was a long-time fixture on the local stand-up circuit and was credited for being one of the true champions for Twin Cities comedy starting back in the the last 1970s.

"He was really there at the beginning of a great comedy scene," Hansen said.

More details at startribune.com later today.