Cool News
Rest In Peace Richard Jeni
Hey guys. Quint here with some sad news.
Comedian Richard Jeni died yesterday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Of his movie appearances, the only one I really remember with any fondness or clarity is his portrayal of the best friend to the Jim Carrey character in THE MASK. He was very natural and likable in that flick and looking back on it now I'm surprised he didn't get more supporting work.
My main memories of Jeni come from my adolescent years when his specials ran on cable. I was addicted to stand-up comedy at that age and I would watch anything I could, as long as there was a mic and a comedian trying to make me laugh I was happy. I loved the stand-up movies, like Eddie Murphy's RAW and DELIRIOUS and RICHARD PRYOR LIVE ON SUNSET STRIP and BILL COSBY'S HIMSELF. As much as I liked those films, there was something about watching a cable special, like George Carlin's stuff, or just random people I hadn't heard of and had no expectations of... I don't know, it was almost more personal, more affecting to watch a cable special than a feature.
I caught Jeni's work there and I seem to remember him hosting some USA channel comedy specials. He always came off as a laugh a minute, happy man, which makes his apparent suicide all the more shocking.
It's a shame whenever anybody takes their own life and I wish he was in a better place in his life and didn't feel he had to end it. My thoughts go out to Jeni's friends, family and fans.
-
+ Expand All
-
..that comedians are deeply unhappy people
-
Enjoyed his work. RIP.
-
http://tinyurl.com/39ls2p
-
I think that's the most fucked up part about all this. Oh, that and whenever I saw him on anything, he seemed the most non-suicidal commedian I've ever seen. Yeesh.
-
... and disturbing news indeed.
Hail Jeni! -
I'm probably the only one but I remember his sitcom that aired on UPN during it's first year on the air. Actually thought it deserved better success than it had. At the same time I thought he was a real true stand up comic. I mean, some comics clearly go into standup to eventually become a TV or film actor. Jeni seemed to be first and foremost about standup. Just recently saw one of his cable specials and he was just so funny. Damn shame.
-
He was a talented guy who seemed to get confused with Kevin Pollak.
Maybe that's what really caused his suicide. I read this somewhere, and agree with it for the most part:
I believe that unless you have a debilitating disease and can make a sane judgment to end your life, suicide is not a viable answer but a pretty good indication that you have a mental illness -- even if it is temporary. For Mr. Jeni to kill himself in such a violent way with his girlfriend in the house indicates that he was very selfish or crazy or both. The fact that she cared enough to cook breakfast for him tells me that she won't be getting over his passive aggressive "f--k you" any time soon. If he was doing this because he had a physical illness, really, he could have waited for her to leave or sent her away before he shot himself after he called 9-1-1 so he would have been found by emergency responders and not by somebody who cared about him. But that's not what he did. -
This talkback has already gotten weird.
-
It always seems like a job for people who aren't well-adjusted.
-
I think the problem with being a comedian is that everyone else gets to laugh, but you don't. I mean, everyone else in the room could be rolling on the floor, but they have to keep a straight face (or at least their composure) and move on. That must suck. And it's to bad about Mr. Jeni.
-
that Family Guy where Peter was laying in bed fantasizing about Richard Jeni? "Oh and what a sweet ass".. that's some funny stuff. Too bad he did what he did.
-
I think I will pop in Jaws 4 and watch it in memorial.
-
Andy Sidaris dies and now Richard Jeni? Man...
-
what a shame.
-
I always liked Jeni. I think I got most familiar with him back in the era when Comedy Central was basically 24 hours of stand-up comedians. It says he was most recently working with Chris Rock, wrote for the Academy Awards and showed up on his sitcom. This suicide always makes these stories even sadder, because you wonder how messed up he was. Sad news.
-
Geez, I always liked the guy. When I saw that he'd passed, it bummed me out, but when I saw how he passed, that really was a punch to the gut. I really liked him in "The Mask" too, and I really liked his other appearances. Someone once said that he was sometimes confused with Kevin Pollak, who I always used to confuse with Kevin Spacey. Hope you can find some peace now, Rich.
-
anyone???
-
Thank you! I've been trying to remember his name all morning. "Was he the one in 'A Few Good Men'? No, that was that other guy. 'Usual Suspects'? No that's that other guy, too." Thanks for giving me the name.
-
His take on waking up and going to school as a kid was a riot. Platypus man on HBO was the best.
-
...but I still shed a tear.
-
Seems like celebrities go out in groups. Every time there is a RIP article on AICN, it's almost surely followed by a couple more in the same week. Like airplane crashes and train derailments...once one happens, there will be a few more shortly thereafter. Just one of those phenomenons. Anyway, sad to see Jeni go, he was surely a very funny man.
-
This sucks. That's enough celebrity suicide for this week, please. Man, depressing as hell.
-
There are a lot of sad souls out in the world.
I figure he'd be up in heaven and Richard Pyror would be telling him he came too early. -
Die.
-
He wasn't funny, but I guess lots of people loved him, just like they love Ellen who isn't funny either. That sucks that he sunk to such depths of depression....very sad.
-
That was a classic bit.
-
Anyone who compares the two is DEAD wrong. Delp died of health issues, not by his own hand...he will me missed. Jeni wussed out, and killed himself. Plus, he didn't even do it with originality---or even successfully! He died on the way to the hosipital! What a chump! Off yourself like a man.
-
If you killed yourself, you could be remembered fondly just like Richard Jeni. Do it, Mr. The Cable Guy. Just one second's courage and it's done. Unless you fuck up like Richard and you linger on for an hour but no matter! Think of your legacy and more importantly, society. Do it, Larry. And if you can enter a murder/suicide pact with the rest of the Blue Collar comics, by all means. And not like the other pact you have, with all the buttsex. I mean a pact where you all die. But I digress.
-
Sure, most comics do, but I would never have suspected him of being happy. Damn shame...
-
I also remember Jeni from the MASK and a few other films I can't name off the top of my head. I too remember his cable specials because I was a stand up addit myslef, watched a lot of Night at the Improv on A&E that's probably where I caught Jeni first. It's sad that for whatever reason he felt he needed to take his own life.
-
Your HBO comedy special brought pleasure to millions...And what a sweet ass.
-
A good friend of his just came out and said it. So he died on his terms. He was a fucking funny guy.
-
I liked him. He had a very funny stand up act. But the girlfriend is saying he shot himself in the face. The head, yes. But who shoots themself in the face? Anyone else having a Phil Hartman flashback?
-
please forward to Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworthy and Carlos Mencia - the comedy Axis of Evil.
-
Based on the inital news story, minus any facts. Save the coward comments at least until something close to the full and real story is known.
As to Jeni, well I think it is interesting that he was a better known and more popular comic than Seinfeld, Roseanne, Tim Allen or any of the other stand-ups that got sit-com breaks and went on to fame in the late 80s early 90s.
Oh, and the Jaws IV routine was great... http://tinyurl.com/24akd7 -
Funny guy - one of the few who *stayed* funny.
-
and had just given it all to charity prior to shooting himself.
Not exactly cowardly you stupid pricks.
Lerkst, do everyone a favour and be original when you kill yourself. Maybe see if you can choke on your own ass? -
He performed live at my school. Unlike most of the "comics" who think they're funny just because they have a mike in their hand and stand in front of a fake brick wall, this guy was genuinely funny. RIP.
-
always crying on the inside.
Tally ho -
Jeni was by far my favorite comedian since I was 17.
I loved Hedberg, (another one gone way before his fucking time,) and I think Eddie Murphy was untouchable when he did "Delirious," but in terms of longevity and continuous entertainment value, Jeni has always been my favorite. In fact, he's the only comic I ever put down money to buy tickets for. I saw his record his "Good Catholic Boy" special back in '97 in Santa Ana.
God damn it. Rich, I hope you've found yourself in a better place, and I don't know whatever the circumstances were that made you do it, but fuck... I hate that you're gone. -
does "My thoughts go out to" mean? I mean really? Such a wierd phrase when you think about it.
-
I'd guess it is a secularization of "My prayers go out to...." And, it's spelled "weird."
-
I am sitting here in Awe. I worked with him in both Radio and TV since 92 helping to get him on shows I worked for to promote his stand-up club gigs and the last one being the NFL show he did on HBO, unbelievable...I dont know what to say right now! Speechless.
-
...Funniest stand-up special Showtime ever aired. His disgruntled Drive-thru bit had me in tears. RIP, brother.
-
My friend called and told me to check the news last night and this one really hit home. The second worst thing about this is we had basically made a pact to catch Jeni next time out because his area shows always coincided with things we couldn't cancel... sad but true. The absolute worst thing about this is how it reminds me of my late father, who died of cancer 2 years ago. Jeni was absolutely his favorite comedian. I remember we both got pissed about 10 years ago when "The Comedy Tape" got stuck in the VCR and we had to take it in for repairs. It was a VHS cassette of the old Platypus Man Special, Tim Allen's first special (back when he was actually funny, I swear) a damn hilarious Mike MacDonald Showtime special (no one else has ever heard of him but it was good) and a couple of Young Comedian-type deals (on the 6-hour setting obviously.) When we got the VCR back, the tape had vanished and the repair guy swore that they never threw away tapes, even busted-up ones. My dad (unreasonably but funnily) decided that someone at the repair shop had swiped his favorite tape on purpose and actually brought this up about five times a year for several years. If Jeni was terminally ill, I can forgive how he took himself out... (though apparently the poor guy could have aimed a little better--but he was a comedian, not a sniper.) If we go to a better place, I hope Jeni's up there getting ready to do a show, and I hope my dad has a ticket. Sorry for the ramble, but I had to get that one off my chest. Viva Jeni!
-
...is not actually that uncommon among attempted suicides. It seems to be perpetuated by movies where you see someone off themself by pointing a gun at the underside of their chin and then pulling the trigger. Unfortunately, the bullet's trajectory just manages to take off the person's mouth, nose, and maybe one or both eyes. Often the brain is missed entirely, and even if it is hit one can live a long time with only damage to the frontal lobes. Jeni is just damn lucky that he actually died and isn't lying faceless in some hospital bed somewhere.
-
Goodbye, Richie
You were a good friend for over 20 years and I will miss you.
We never had a bad show together and never met a couple of drunk babes that we didn't ry to hit on.
May angels guide you to your peace.
Namaste' -
Sorry, but to steal an analogy, that's like being the fattest Red Hot Chili Pepper.
-
last thursday on howard stern, baba booey said he wasnt a good cohost on the howard stern show...did that push him over the edge? yea right.
-
I can see anna nicole offin herself, but Jeni? FUCK!! He was my all time fav comedian, since his showtime special. but watching his "Big Steaming pile of me" sheesh there were since. He looked sick, but damn that show was funny. FUCK!!! rest in peace my friend, you will be sorely missed...
-
ok, i will. but still sad about jeni, i always thought he was a good comedian.
-
im gonna gitterdun. kamikazzi!!
-
Always thought he was funny. I even watched the Platypus Man UPN show (which, while overall not very good, had a few funny moments here and there and a couple of real laugh-out-loud bits), and his appearance in the Mask definitely stayed with me.But nothing beat his standup stuff. Very funny guy. RIP Richard.
-
Yeah, I remember seeing commercials for this show when UPN first came on. They had 3 or 4 days of sitcoms and then Star Trek Voyager. The sitcoms lasted for that one year before they dropped most of their programming and focused on a more urban audience.
-
This was a very funny man. Check out his skit PMS and Red Wine http://tinyurl.com/3bdvcz
VERY funny stuff. He will be missed. -
I saw him in Austin in January, he was performing at a corporate event where I was doing grip work and I saw him backstage.
Very sad.
I watched his Jaws 4 bit yesterday. Funny stuff... R.I.P. -
"Oh Richard Jeni, your HBO standup specials have delighted millions! And what a sweet ass..." We'll miss you, Platypus Man.
-
Met the guy a couple of times, here in Detroit. Loved his stand-up work. Actually dug his TV show (was in the minority on that one). Hate to see talent wasted. Suicide, Just Say No.
-
This guy had to have made some of the worst movies of all time. When I was in college there was a series of his films about 2 blondes who were some sort of secret agents (the films were never clear about this). There would literally be scenes in the films where they would take their shirts off while the scene played out, show their tits, and then put their shirts back on again. His films were the sort of horrendously bad movies that are huge fun to watch.
-
I love how every obituary on AICN winds up somehow being more about the person writing it than about the actual person who died.
-
I always view that kind of like a wake where you share memories you have of the person who died, kind of like "i remember that one time bob and i got so stinking drunk we ended up spooning" kind of deal
-
...I feel "Family Guy's" reference to him in a bit is a proper farewell.
-
that's from penn and teller! good reference, man!
-
singular
-
Well this is a shock. The first time I saw Jeni was on Channel4's Just 4 laughs here in the UK about 20 yrs ago. He was ripping the shit out of Jaws 4: The Revenge. I nearly choked on my drink laughing. I've always kept an eye out on things he did since. I thought he was excellent in The Mask and other stuff since. I remember him in the documentary about Bill Hicks 'Its just a Ride' speaking about how Hicks was such an influence within the stand-up community. He stuck me as a good guy. To hear he was ill and then to do this is really sad. I hope he's at peace now.
-
I loved the man's comedy--especially the bit about ordering live lobster in a restaurant as if you were a Roman emperor (yeah, you had to be there). His stuff's available on YouTube--what a damn shame. RIP and my prayers go to his family and friends. May you have a captive and more understanding audience in that comedy club in the afterlife.
-
He made me laugh.
-
"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.' ""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."
-
Richard Jeni was a background man. Never in front, but always pulling some strings. Chances are you've laughed at some of his jokes and didn't even know he wrote them. A good friend of Chris Rock's, Jeni has helped write his standup, award shows, and film scripts. I've seen him on cable and laughed. Rest in peace.
-
A “Has Been” is always better than a “Never Was” and a “Has Been” may “Be” again. Too bad – sad story. By the way… RIP Brad Delp (“Boston’s” lead singer). I loved that band.
-
...Charles Manson and every woman I've ever dated?? Charles Manson has the decency to look like a maniac WHEN YOU MEET HIM. You'd never make it all the way to dinner with the guy and then start thinking, 'This guy is fucking nuts! He asked for a children's menu and ordered a CHILD!"
-
"I used to work at a shoe store selling ladies' shoes. I figured, I'm young, I'm surrounded by women all day long with short skirts, and I'm down there putting their shoes on - what could be better? Turns out that if I had to choose now between that job and, say... giving birth to a flaming porcupine, I'd probably look into the latter as a career choice."
-
I always though he was hilarious. His bits on Carson were classic. I love stand up comics and he was a true pro. I hate suicide. My nephew took his own life last April. The only reason for it that I could ever understand and forgive would be for grave illness. While I would not wish that on anyone either I just hope if this was the truth that Mr. Jeni has found the peace and relief he was seeking.
-
He was one of the funniest comcis out there. I think I'll go watch the Belch Gourmet now. Sad news indeed!
-
I wonder if this style of suicide in movies became popular as a result of the gun-in-mouth looking a bit too much like fellatio. Ye olde visually-stylized cock-in-mouth syndrome needed to be changed and thus the "Yes - that's it - we'll have him stick the gun UNDER the chin - looks purty cool too!" Just a thought
-
Ah Shawshank - thou truly deserve your vaunted IMDB status.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 209 total posts 207 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 160 total posts 97 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 144 total posts 77 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 68 total posts 68 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 64 total posts 60 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 480 total posts 55 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 53 total posts 50 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 118 total posts 32 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 182 total posts 27 posts