Straight man is the hardest gig in show biz. You have to have the same comic timing, but you never get the laugh pay off.
Comparable to Ginger Rogers. The same moves as Fred Astaire, but backwards. And in high heels...
I remember hearing somewhere that in the Vaudeville days, straight men were paid more than comics. Their job was tougher and they were harder to find.
RIP, Lyle.