Comedian Richard Jeni commits apparent suicide

[BERIGAN]

Very sad.....I remember his Showtime Comedy specials, which were so damn funny, back in the early 90's. Movies just seemed to make him a bland character, and I didn't notice him being the "funny" guy he was 15+ years ago. From those specials, it sounded like he had a tough childhood. Rest in peace Richard...... Comedian commits apparent suicide, police said

POSTED: 9:47 a.m. EDT, March 13, 2007

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- 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 49-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. An autopsy on Jeni would be done Monday, said Lt. Fred Corral from the investigation division of the coroner's office.

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."

Frazer Smith, standup comedian who often opened for Jeni and the emcee at the Ice House, where Jeni often performed, said young comedians looked up to him.

"He was probably one of the best standup comedians in the last 50 years," said Smith. "He had tons and tons of material. He was looked up to by all the young comedians, a total pro."

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.

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

[BERIGAN]

I have always remembered his joke about half of all marriages ending in divorce, and what the other half ended in!

(CNN) -- With a cynical eye, Richard Jeni mined his Catholic boyhood, New York heritage and difficulties with romantic relationships for material. Here are bits from some of his routines, culled from around the Internet:

"I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west.' "

On religion: "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend."

"The way I see it, we're all on the Hindenberg. Why fight over the window seats?"

"It is a sad fact that 50 percent of marriages in this country end in divorce. But hey, the other half end in death. You could be one of the lucky ones!"

Defining "Platypus Man," the title of one of his UPN series and one of his comedy specials: "An adult male human that attempts to mate frequently but spends most of its time alone."

"I always look for a woman who has a tattoo. I see a woman with a tattoo, and I'm thinking, OK, here's a gal who's capable of making a decision she'll regret in the future."

"My mother never saw the irony of calling me a son of a bitch."

"You know what the average person is? Average."

[Free For All]

I was very sorry to hear about this. I really enjoyed his act and the various HBO specials and movies in which he appeared.

I'm sorry he was unhappy/depressed enough to make this choice.

RIP.

[Jim R]

I was very sorry to hear about this. I really enjoyed his act and the various HBO specials and movies in which he appeared.

I'm sorry he was unhappy/depressed enough to make this choice.

RIP.

I had the same reaction. He was a wonderful comedian, right up there among the best during the comedy circuit renaissance of the 80's/90's. Thanks for all the laughs... RIP.

[DTMX]

I saw one of his shows in Atlanta 10-15 years ago. It is still the funniest show I've ever seen and I remember almost passing out because I couldn't stop laughing long enough to breathe. It was during some story he was telling about a woman's vibrator that was so powerful you had to kick-start it like a motorcycle.

RIP.

[Noj]

There's some very funny clips of Mr. Jeni's stand up on youtube. It's incredibly sad that someone with this wonderful sense of humor found life too depressing to carry on. RIP.

[Chuck Nessa]

Sorry to hear this but it leaves me wondering how one "commits apparent suicide".

[Free For All]

There's some very funny clips of Mr. Jeni's stand up on youtube. It's incredibly sad that someone with this wonderful sense of humor found life too depressing to carry on. RIP.

For some reason this reminded me of Frank Rosolino's death, I guess because it happened to someone who posessed a great sense of humor. As most know, Frank was very funny and entertaining and few would have predicted his suicide, and especially that he would take the life of one of his children and leave the other one permanantly handicapped. I'm fairly certain there was also some additional "chemical" influence on Frank at the time other than just the depression from which he was suffering. As much as I still love his playing, it makes me sad to hear him and wonder what's going on under the surface.

I was also a big fan of Richard Jeni.

Also Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg and Lenny Bruce. Some others who went away too soon.

Edited March 14, 2007 by Free For All

[rachel]

I saw one of his shows in Atlanta 10-15 years ago. It is still the funniest show I've ever seen and I remember almost passing out because I couldn't stop laughing long enough to breathe. It was during some story he was telling about a woman's vibrator that was so powerful you had to kick-start it like a motorcycle.

RIP.

I love him.... this is so sad!

I remember that bit and also needing to 'come up for air' from laughing so hard. His set-ups were hilariously and intricately circuitous, always ending with the punchline that seems to come out of nowhere. I loved his Showtime specials back in the day.

I just can't believe he's gone...

[Joe G]

Also Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg and Lenny Bruce. Some others who went away too soon.

Phil Hartman, too. There's a dark side to the comedy, obviously.

[JSngry]

There's a dark side to the comedy, obviously.

[catesta]

This was sad news.

I met Jeni some years back while eating Arancini on 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst. Seemed like a nice dude.

[Neal Pomea]

I loved his bit about how people can get crazy in restaurants, barking out orders as though we are Roman emperors. "WINE! Bring me wine!" Or, upon seeing a lobster in the tank, "I'll have the little one. He amUUUUUUses me." We've been using that joke at my house for years. In a nice way...

[Joe G]

I loved his bit about how people can get crazy in restaurants, barking out orders as though we are Roman emperors. "WINE! Bring me wine!" Or, upon seeing a lobster in the tank, "I'll have the little one. He amUUUUUUses me." We've been using that joke at my house for years. In a nice way...

That bit stuck with me, too. I thought of it just the other day.

[Scott Dolan]

Just realized I only commented about this on that "other" Jazz related website.

I wasn't a big fan of his, but I did think he was a very funny guy.

Very sad stuff.

RIP, Mr. Jeni.