Irwin Corey, the cunningly befuddled comedian who spent more than 70 years perfecting his portrayal of “the world’s foremost authority,” died on Monday at his home in Manhattan. He was 102.

His death was confirmed by his son, Richard Corey.

Although he inhabited other characters in stage and film roles, Mr. Corey was best known as his alter ego, the professor of some unspecified discipline who could foment clouds of inspired nonsense.

Dressed in his trademark outfit — black swallowtail coat, string tie and sneakers — with his hair marching in several directions at once, Mr. Corey was a caricature of every windbag who ever emptied his lungs. He was also taking aim at everyone who did not share his unrepentant leftist’s view of the world.

Still, when he declared, “If we don’t change direction soon, we’ll end up where we’re going,” who could disagree?