Richard Jeni Died

[PlexiBrown]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/11/comedian.dead.ap/index.html

[fryingdutchman]

Looks like suicide...

Here's the text from the AP:

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Richard Jeni, a standup comedian who played to sold-out crowds, was a regular on the "Tonight Show" and appeared in movies, died of a gunshot wound in an apparent suicide, police said Sunday.

Police found the 45-year-old comedian alive but gravely injured in a West Hollywood home when they responded to a call Saturday morning from Jeni's girlfriend, Los Angeles Police Officer Norma Eisenman said.

Eisenman said the caller told police: "My boyfriend shot himself in the face."

Jeni died at a nearby hospital.

Eisenman said suicide had not been officially confirmed and the investigation was continuing.

Jeni regularly toured the country with a standup act and had starred in several HBO comedy specials, most recently "A Big Steaming Pile of Me" during the 2005-06 season.

Another HBO special, "Platypus Man," won a Cable ACE award for best standup comedy special, and formed the basis for his UPN sitcom of the same name, which ran for one season.

Jeni's movie credits included "The Mask," in which he played Jim Carrey's best friend, "The Aristocrats," "National Lampoon's Dad's Week Off," and "An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn."

He had guest appearances in the TV shows "Everybody Hates Chris," "Married: With Children," and updated versions of the game shows "Hollywood Squares" and "Match Game."

The Brooklyn-born comic first received national attention in 1990 with the Showtime special "Richard Jeni: Boy From New York City." Two years later, his "Crazy From the Heat" special attracted the highest ratings in Showtime's history.

Jeni became a frequent guest on "The Tonight Show" during Johnny Carson's reign and continued to appear after Jay Leno took over as host.

He also wrote comic material for the 2005 Academy Awards, which was hosted by his friend Chris Rock.

[fryingdutchman]

Didn't really know much of his work, but 'tis a shame nonetheless.

Been quite a weekend for celebrity death...first Brad Delp and now Richard Jeni.

These things come in threes. Any guesses on who's next?

(And don't say Eddie Van Halen...)

[Matt White]

RIP RICH

[VanHalener]

THAT'S IT! NOBODY ELSE HAS MY PERMISSION TO DIE UNTIL I COME BACK HERE TOMORROW AND SIGN IN.
RIP RICH

!

Damnit!

[fryingdutchman]

Richard Jeni's family has revealed his clinical depression, which manifested itself in "psychotic paranoia."

From E! Entertainment Television...

Richard Jeni's family doesn't need to wait for the coroner's report.

The comic, in the throws of severe clinical depression that was "coupled with bouts of psychotic paranoia," committed suicide, the family said Tuesday.

Jeni, 49, died Saturday after apparently shooting himself in his Los Angeles home, police said. An autopsy was performed Monday.

In a statement, Jeni's family said it wanted to squash speculation that Jeni took his own life over career frustrations.

"He was not down or blue," the family said. "He was ill."

Jeni's clinical depression was diagnosed earlier this year, the statement said. The illness led him to cancel gigs for the first time in more than 20 years, one previous weather-related incident notwithstanding, it said.

"One only needs to have a family member or friend with a mental illness to understand that there is nothing rational, predictable or fair about these diseases," the family said.

"That's pretty spot-on," said Dr. Kenneth Duckworth, medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, when reached for reaction Tuesday.

According to Duckworth, up to 10 percent of Americans are afflicted with a serious mental illness. Paranoia, as Jeni was said to have battled, can exacerbate the problem and complicate treatment.

"They may not experience the problem as within themselves," Duckworth said. "They often see the problem as outside themselves."

Jeni's death came, the family said, as the performer was riding high professionally.

"In fact, he had just enjoyed one of his most financially rewarding years to date," the statement said.

Last week, the family said, Jeni had scheduled meetings with HBO chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht to discuss future projects. Jeni starred in three specials for the cable network.

Jeni was a Tonight Show fixture who toured regularly. He appeared onscreen in Jim Carrey's The Mask and starred his own prime-time sitcom, Platypus Man. His observational routines riffed on everything from the plot of Jaws: The Revenge to the prosecution of Martha Stewart.

"Perhaps Richard's passing will encourage people to have sympathy, compassion and understanding for those who are afflicted with mental illness," the Jeni family said. "As we are all trying to make sense of this, take time to remember the joy and laughter Richard brought to the countless people he touched during his much too short life."

It's ashame that a guy who worked to make other people laugh couldn't do the same for himself.

Depression sucks...

[jgdrag]

Drag, RIP R

[Diamondjimi]

Picture of said dead guy...



He was a funny dude!

R.I.P.

[BITEYOASS]

R.I.P. Platypus man!

[FORD]

There's an old cliche that says "Behind every comedian, there's a sad man". Guess it's true in some cases.

Not a big fan of his stuff, but as one who has lived with depression both as a spectator and a participant, it's sad to see anyone do that to themselves. Whether it's bullets or carbon monoxide or whatever........

[POJO_Risin]

Originally posted by FORD
There's an old cliche that says "Behind every comedian, there's a sad man". Guess it's true in some cases.

It's better than what they say about Hagar...

you know...

There's an old clice that says, "Behind Sammy Hagar, is a gay man."