richard jeni

Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Died March 10, 2007 (aged 49)

Los Angeles, California, U.S. Medium Improv/Stand up Nationality American Years active 1987–2007

Richard John Colangelo (April 14, 1957[1] – March 10, 2007), better known by the stage name of Richard Jeni,[2] was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 HBO Specials 5 Showtime Specials 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External links //

Early life

Raised in an Italian-American family in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn,[3] he graduated with honors from Hunter College, earning a bachelor's degree in Comparative Politics.[4]

Career

Jeni first received recognition through a series of Showtime stand-up specials and frequent appearances on The Tonight Show. Top executives at HBO picked up his first appearance on The HBO Comedy Hour in 1992, titled Richard Jeni: Platypus Man.

The show was well-received and Jeni would return for two more shows, going on to receive a CableACE Award for one of his HBO specials. Jeni would also star on the short-lived UPN sitcom Platypus Man and appeared in the Jim Carrey film The Mask. Jeni composed the theme song ("I'm A Platypus Man") for his TV series.[5] He appeared in The Aristocrats, National Lampoon's Dad's Week Off, Burn, Hollywood, Burn, and Chasing Robert [6]. He starred in commercial campaigns for Certs and Arby's, and won a Clio Award for his work as a writer/performer in an advertising campaign for the American Dairy Association.

Jeni appeared on The Tonight Show more than any other stand-up comedian, dating back to when the program was hosted by Johnny Carson.[7] Jeni's death was referenced on the show by Jay Leno on March 12, 2007, with accompanying footage of Jeni's last appearance on The Tonight Show.

In 2004, Jeni was ranked #57 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.[8]

Death

On March 10, 2007, Jeni was found by his girlfriend with an apparent self-inflicted handgun wound to the face,[9] in West Hollywood, California.[10] Police found him alive, but gravely injured when they arrived.[2] He was quickly transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he died.[11]Jeni was 49 years old. Suicide was suspected but was not officially confirmed by police.[11] His family later stated with certainty that the death was in fact a suicide, and that Jeni had recently been diagnosed with "severe clinical depression coupled with fits of psychotic paranoia."[12] Jeni's death was marked by many homages, including specials on XM Satellite Radio, Turner Classic Movie Channel, and Bill Maher's HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher (Season 5, Episode 5) being dedicated to Jeni's memory.

HBO Specials Richard Jeni: Platypus Man (1992) Richard Jeni: A Good Catholic Boy (1997) Richard Jeni: A Big Steaming Pile of Me (2005)

Showtime Specials Richard Jeni: Boy from New York