Sam Sianis of the Billy Goat, Chicago’s most famous saloonkeeper, dies at 91
Sam Sianis, a Greek immigrant who became one of the most successful saloonkeepers and a popular figure in the sports and media worlds, died in Chicago early Friday morning. He was 91.
The Billy Goat Tavern’s Sam Sianis at his famous restaurant and bar at Hubbard Street and Lower Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, on Feb. 18, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis with his children Patti Sianis, from left, Ted Sianis and Bill Sianis on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Lower Michigan Avenue location. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
A photograph of William “Billy Goat” Sianis, founder of the Billy Goat Tavern, Feb. 18, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
People eat at the Billy Goat Tavern at Hubbard Street and Lower Michigan Avenue, Feb. 18, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Owner Sam Sianis at the Billy Goat Tavern on Sept. 6, 2020, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis parades a goat in front of Wrigley Field before the Oct. 14, 2003, National League Championship Series game against the Florida Marlins. Sianis, his sons and the goat were refused entry to what would become known as the Steve Bartman incident game. (John Lee/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis is outside Wrigley Field with a goat prior to the Cubs vs. the Atlanta Braves Game 3 Divisional playoff on Oct. 3, 1998. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis walks a goat at Wrigley Field on May 4, 1994, to help end the Cubs record home losing streak. Something worked. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune)
Owner Sam Sianis works the grill at the Billy Goat Tavern on Nov. 12, 2013. (Anthony Souffle/Chicago Tribune)
Three generations of the Sianis family, including Sam Sianis, right, his son Tom, and grandchildren Sam, 9, left, and George, 6, read the Sunday newspaper during the COVID-19 pandemic at Billy Goat Tavern, Sept. 6, 2020. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis and son, Bill Sianis, in the then-new private party space at the Hubbard Street and Lower Michigan Avenue location, Oct. 30, 2018. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
A worker sweeps sidewalks walks past the Billy Goat Tavern on Hubbard Street and Lower Michigan Avenue, May 7, 2020. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The iconic door at the entrance of the Billy Goat Tavern, Aug. 17, 2015. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)
The wise guys corner at the Billy Goat Tavern in 2015. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)
Political memorabilia in the then-new private party space in the Billy Goat Tavern, Oct. 30, 2018, in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Sam Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, on Oct. 25, 2011. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/ Chicago Tribune)
The Billy Goat Tavern celebrates their 50th anniversary with owner Sam Sianis behind the bar on March 6, 1984. (Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune)
Owner Sam Sianis serves up beer as the Billy Goat Tavern celebrates its 50th anniversary on March 6, 1984, at 430 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. (Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune)
The "Wall of Fame" in the Billy Goat Tavern features some of the notables in Chicago journalism, Feb. 29, 1984. A portrait of former owner William "Billy Goat" Sianis hangs in the center. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis in the Hubbard Street location, Oct. 30, 2018. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Wisconsin Governor and Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker chats with Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis during a campaign stop, July 27, 2015. The Billy Goat Tavern became a regular campaign stop for politicians in the midwest. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Sam Sianis, left, then-new owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, with artist Sachio Yamashita and his painting of founder William “Billy Goat” Sianis on Nov. 24, 1970. (Earl Gustie/Chicago Tribune)
WLS-TV's Pat Collins and chef Julia Child receive a lesson on the "virtues of a cheeseburger" at the Billy Goat by owner Sam Sianis in 1991. (Chicago Tribune archive)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis peels onions on June 30, 1988, at the Taste of Chicago. (John Irvine/Chicago Tribune)
Gilda Radner, left, plays a patron, with John Belushi as George and Dan Aykroyd as Pete during the Olympia Restaurant skit on "Saturday Night Live" on May 26, 1979. The sketch, a parody of the real-life sayings of Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis and employee Bill Charuchas, immortalized the restaurant. (Al Levine/NBC)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis at the Lower Michigan Avenue location on March 27, 1990. (Val Mazzenga/Chicago Tribune)
Billy Goat owner Sam Sianis holds a trophy and is flanked by Don DeBat, left, and Mike Royko as the Daily News softball team celebrates its championship season 1974. (Sam Sianis)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis serves turkey dinner to homeless men on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 1991. (Ovie Carte/Chicago Tribune)
Olaf Logan, an Andy Frain usher, stops William Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern at 1855 W. Madison St., from entering the ballpark in a re-enactment on Oct. 12, 1945. Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley said Sianis could come in, but the goat had to stay out because he smelled. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
Billy Goat Tavern owner Sam Sianis on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Lower Michigan Avenue location. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
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The Billy Goat Tavern’s Sam Sianis at his famous restaurant and bar at Hubbard Street and Lower Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, on Feb. 18, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
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