Dying is easy, comedy is hard. Just ask Hunter Boyle, an actor who several have proclaimed to be "the funniest man in Columbia."

"Working on a comedy is challenging," the 47- year- old said. "Someone once said 'one clean bit is better than three muddy bits.' It's a lot of work, but it's fun."

Born and raised in Sumter, Boyle began his theater career in high school and continued on to USC where he received his BA in interdisciplinary studies and an MFA in theater. Currently, he teaches theater and speech at USC Sumter.

Boyle balances his teaching schedule with appearances in local plays at all three theaters in Columbia. This weekend he will star in Workshop Theatre's production of "Moonlight and Magnolias." He will play famed Hollywood producer David O. Selznick who locks director Victor Fleming and screen writer Ben Hecht in his office until they fix the script for "Gone with the Wind."

In order to prepare for the part, Boyle spent hours watching films from the '30s and '40s.

"The way people spoke back then was different," he said. "They seemed to relish their words a lot more. This character is also completely different from me. He's so driven to fix this film."

Boyle generally prefers his comic characters to be of a slightly older era, Shakespearian to be exact. Boyle was a founding member of the S.C. Shakespeare Company

that puts on the bard's classics in Finlay Park. Some of his favorites include Nick Bottom of "A Midsummers Night Dream," Malvolio of "Twelfth Night," and the well- known blow hard Falstaff, who appears in "Henry IV" parts one and two and "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

In December, Boyle stepped out of the comic role and into a character that was slightly heavier. He appeared as Juan Peron in the Trustus production of "Evita" opposite Robin Gottlieb as the title character.

"It was a good stretch," Boyle said. "But I am definitely comfortable in comedy."

Before each show and rehearsal Boyle does his best to clear his mind for 15 minutes then spends the rest of the time before curtain rises in character. But even the best mental concentration, can't prepare an actor for a wardrobe malfunction.

"One time I was playing Sancho Panza in 'The Man of La Mancha'," he said. "It was Act 1, and the audience was just cracking up the whole time. I didn't realize for several minutes that my pants had actually fallen down around my ankles."

Boyle has known for awhile that the stage was his calling and getting paid to do what he loves is just a bonus. But what about being the "funniest man in Columbia"?

"I'm real flattered," he said with a laugh. "Columbia is blessed with a lot of really funny, talented people, and if I'm counted among them, I'm pleased."