R.I.P. Richard Jeni, A great Comedian dies

Baltimore Shooter

Baltimore Shooter

Well-known member
From Yahoo:

Comedian Jeni dies in apparent suicide

By ANA BEATRIZ CHOLO, Associated Press Writer
Sun Mar 11, 7:58 PM ET

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.
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Sad.

Warren
 
S

SwampOtter

Member
I was truly bummed when I heard this. I remember many moons ago this bit he did on TV news. If somebody is called a Meteorologist, what would you expect them to talk about? Meteors!

"Now let's go to our Meteorologist. How's it looking, Bob?"

"Haven't seen any. No meteors, no asteroids, no Klingons. FABulous night for space travel!"
 
shootist

shootist

PRO user
travelling as we all do......i've run into more than my fair share of "celebs" on the road. without exception (well one exception) i've always left them alone and respected their privacy. i know they're usually deluged and once one person "makes" them, their day can be shot.

the only time i made a point of saying something to one was when i saw richard jeni at the delta club at the atlanta airport. i had a long layover after an exhausting 10-day shoot and went to the bar.

i saw him sitting there....nodded....ordered my drink and turned to leave. stopped and turned to him and said: "i don't want to bother you but.....i'd be remiss if i didn't take the opportunity to tell you i think you're the funniest man in america today. i've seen you live...i've seen your specials....and tv appearances. you never disappoint and you make bad days good. thanks." i turn to leave and he says in that raspy, cracky voice..."WHAT? THAT'S IT?"

I laughed...he gestured to the seat next to him and as much as i asked him about how he does what he does....he turned it back to me (he saw the camera, obviously) and asked all about MY trip and MY job. it was a pleasant break from the day.

he seemed beat up and "down" but that didn't surprise me. i can only imagine what a grind the life of a standup comic must be. all the travelling....always being "on"....insecurites....nights that you bomb, you remember....nights you kill....well...that's what you're paid to do. not an easy road.

funny man...tough life....r.i.p.
 
Canonman

Canonman

Well-known member
shootist said:
he seemed beat up and "down" but that didn't surprise me. i can only imagine what a grind the life of a standup comic must be. all the travelling....always being "on"....insecurites....nights that you bomb, you remember....nights you kill....well...that's what you're paid to do. not an easy road.
Click to expand...
You would be surprised at how many comedians suffer from depression.

I hope that he is truly resting in peace.

cm
 
Baltimore Shooter

Baltimore Shooter

Well-known member
Canonman said:
You would be surprised at how many comedians suffer from depression.
Click to expand...
True. This from Comcast.net:

Family: Jeni Suffered from Severe Clinical Depression
Tue Mar 13, 1:40 PM

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."
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Warren
 
texshooter

texshooter

Well-known member
Very sad, Jeni was one of the funniest comics I had ever seen.

As a cooking enthusiast, my favorite Jeni lines are:

Talking about cooking shows..."Today we are going to make this FABULOUS meal, using ingredients you can't find, utensels you can't afford, and a kitchen bigger than your whole freakin' apartment!"

On lobster restaurants..."You go in and there's a sign, 'fresh lobster flown in daily'. How would you like to be the lobster, 'not only do I have this cool window seat, I'm racking up frequent lobster miles'. next thing you know, your in a tank, your hands are tied, and everyone's sitting around wearing a bib with YOUR picture on it".

He will be missed.
 
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