Every new year brings a long list of departed entertainers, and 2022 is no exception. This guide answers your questions about comedians who died in 2022. As the year unfolds, recent comedian deaths will be added, from legendary stand-up comedians who lived long, eventful lives to young, up-and-coming comedians taken too soon. If you see a comedian's name in the news or on Twitter and wonder what happened, check the list below. It serves as your reference for comedians who died in 2022. You'll find the full story on recent Hollywood deaths, including famous comedians who just died and stand-up comics who passed away this year. This list covers searches like who died this week and the latest comedian deaths. Notable comedian deaths in 2022 include actor and Full House star Bob Saget, who died while on tour doing stand-up comedy, as well as comedy legends Gilbert Godfried and Louie Anderson. Check back throughout the year for updates on famous stand-up comics and comedy actors who died in 2022. You may be surprised by the names on the list, and perhaps a little heartbroken if you were a big fan.
About this list
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Brandon "Boogie B" Montrell, a social media personality and comedian, died in New Orleans on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022. He was 43.
Montrell built nearly 100,000 Instagram followers with his series "New Orleans Hood History," where he explained New Orleans culture. The comedian lived in Los Angeles but returned to New Orleans for the holidays.
Montrell posted a story on Instagram about New Orleans' 7th Ward Santa, Fred Parker, who died in 2020. Montrell posted this video hours before he was shot outside a Rouse's Supermarket in New Orleans' Central Business District.
Source: NOLA.com
Also ranks #92 on Famous Film Actors From Louisiana
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Kirstie Alley died December 5, 2022, from colon cancer. She was 71.
Alley won an Emmy and Golden Globe Award. She was a beloved comedy actress. Her breakout role was Rebecca Howe on the popular '80s sitcom CheersThis role catapulted her to stardom. Alley replaced Shelley Long at the show's peak. She remained in the ensemble through the show's entire run. Alley also starred in the acclaimed TV series David's Motherand NBC sitcom Veronica's Closet.Alley moved to film with her role as a half-Vulcan in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.Alley's other film credits include It Takes Two, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Look Who's Talkingwith John Travolta, after which they became close.
In tribute to his late best friend, Travolta posted photos of Alley on his Instagramwith the caption: “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had. I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
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Comedian Gallagher, an inventive prop comedian known for smashing watermelons, died November 11, 2022, at age 76.
Gallagher got his start on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show in 1972. He showed his signature bit, the “Sledge-o-matic,” which quickly made him a popular comedian in America. He toured and performed for audiences everywhere for decades.
Gallagher has 17 comedy specials covering decades of work. This includes the 1980's 'A Very Censored Evening,' his first special. HBO aired several of his specials, and 13 were for Showtime.
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Comedian and actor Leslie Jordan, known for roles in “Will and Grace” and “American Horror Story,” died October 24, 2022, after a car crash in Hollywood.
Jordan drove a BMW when he crashed into a building at Cahuenga Boulevard and Romaine Street. The longtime actor and writer was declared dead at the scene.
After getting his big break in 1989 when he was cast in the first season of “Murphy Brown,” Jordan’s 30-year career was marked by scene-stealing roles in television shows such as “Bodies of Evidence” and “Hearts of Afire.” His fame grew while starring in NBC’s “Will and Grace,” as well as stints on Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story” franchise and “The Cool Kids,” in which he played queer, confident senior citizen Sid Delacroix.
Jordan, 67, won a prime-time Emmy in 2006 for his performance as Beverly Leslie in the TV show “Will and Grace.”
More recently, while holed up in an apartment of his native Chattanooga, Tenn., Leslie found online viral fame with a constant string of Instagram videos, where he would comedically quip about day-to-day life in quarantine, marked by his lively, Southern accent.
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Variety0 - 5
Comedian David A. Arnold passed away on September 8, 2022. He was 54.
Arnold was a producer of the “Fuller House” reboot and the creator and showrunner of Nickelodeon’s “That Girl Lay Lay." He also wrote television episodes for “Meet the Browns,” “The Ricky Smiley Show” and “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.”
Arnold gained appeal through his perspective about fatherhood. He headlined two Netflix comedy specials: “Fat Ballerina” in 2019 and the Kevin Hart-produced “It Ain’t for the Weak,” which only just debuted in July 2022.
Arnold was also featured in the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival in late April. Most recently, he was three shows into his four-month comedy tour called “Pace Ya Self.”
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Teddy Ray, a comedian and actor who appeared on the HBO Max series "PAUSE with Sam Jay," passed away on August 12, 2022 due to an apparent drowning. He was 32.
"Teddy Ray was a hilarious and beloved performer," said TV network Comedy Central in a Twitter statement Friday. "He'll be deeply missed by the entire comedy community."
Ray appeared as the bailiff on "PAUSE with Sam Jay," appeared in the digital series "Cancel Court," and was a stand-up comedian.
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Jak Knight, a stand-up comedian, actor and writer who recently co-created the Peacock series Bust Down, passed away on July 15, 2022. He was 28.
Knight died Thursday night in Los Angeles, his family announced through an agency rep. Additional details, including cause of death, are not being released at this time. “Knight’s loved ones ask that their privacy please be respected during this extremely difficult time,” the rep said.
Knight’s career was not only in a good place, but his star was on the rise. After writing for a string of hit shows — from Netflix’s critically acclaimed raunchy comedy Big Mouth to ABC’s beloved Black-ish — Knight segued to co-creating, executive producing and starring in the new Peacock series Bust Down.
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Comedian Nick Nemeroff passed away on June 27, 2022. He was 32. Nemeroff's passing was announced on his social media profiles.
Nick Nemeroff grew up in Montreal-West. He graduated from Ryerson University in Toronto. Nemeroff pursued a standup career, showing his comedy on shows like Conan and The Stand-Up Show with Jon Dore.
Nemeroff released a performance album titled This Pursuit of Comedy Has Ruined My Life. The album earned a Juno Award nomination last year.
Before releasing the record, Nemeroff hoped fans would "laugh a lot and get my jokes stuck in their heads the same way I did listening to old Mitch Hedberg albums."
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Gilbert Gottfried died on April 12, 2022, after a long illness. His family announced this through a statement shared on a Twitter page.The statement shared on the late actor's Twitter page.Gottfried was 67.
The Gottfried family announced the passing of their beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. Gilbert was the most iconic voice in comedy. He was a wonderful husband, brother, friend, and father to his two young children. Though today is sad for everyone, keep laughing loud in Gilbert’s honor. Love, the Gottfried family," the statement read.
Gottfried started his stand-up career at age 15. He gained national attention joining the 1980 season of Saturday Night Live. Gottfried starred with SNL's Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop II. He voiced the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin and the Aflac duck in insurance commercials. Gottfried became the original host of USA Network’s Up All Night in 1989, continuing the role until 1998.
Gottfried appeared in TV shows like The Fairly OddParents, Ren and Stimpy, Becker, Hollywood Squares, many celebrity roasts, SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Film credits include Problem Child, Problem Child 2, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and Jack in the Beanstalk. People knew Gottfried for his unique voice and comic delivery; he popularized the vulgar joke from the 2005 documentary, The Aristocrats.
His podcast, Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, became one of the most popular on medium.
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Actress Estelle Harris died on April 2, 2022, from natural causes. Her son, Glen Harris, confirmed this to Deadline.DeadlineShe was 93.
A source said, "It is with the greatest remorse and sadness to announce that Estelle Harris passed on this evening at 6:25 pm. Her kindness, passion, sensitivity, humor, empathy, and love were practically unrivaled, and she will be terribly missed by all those who knew her," he said.
The New York-born actress began acting in amateur community theaters while raising her children. She later starred in many series, includingFuturama, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ER, Living Single, Mad About You, Married... with Children, and Night Court. Estelle Harris is best known for playing George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) mother onSeinfeld.She appeared 27 times on the show from 1992 to 1998.
Estelle Harris voiced Mrs. Potato Head in Pixar's films two, three, and four.Toy Storyfranchise. More film credits includePlaying Mona LisaMy GiantThe Odd Couple II, Chairman of the BoardThis Is My Life, Stand and Deliver, Once Upon a Time in America, SummerdogandLooking Up.
Harris used her humor and unique voice to become known on Madison Avenue as the "Queen of Commercials." She booked about 25 commercials in one year.
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John Edward Szeles, known as “The Amazing Johnathan,” died February 22, 2022, from heart disease. He was 63.
“Johnathan Szeles (Amazing Johnathan) passed away around 11:30 pm 2/22/22. My heart is broken. One of my best friends, one of the funniest humans I’ve ever met. I loved him so very much, and will never forget this wonderful, amazing, kind, funny, great person,” said fellow standup comic Penny Wigginsposted on Facebook. His wife, Anastasia Synn, confirmed the sad news to theLas Vegas Review-Journal. Szeles got a "serious heart condition" diagnosis in March 2007, later learning it was cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle.
Szeles, the self-described “Freddy Krueger of comedy,” gained fame on Criss Angel’s reality TV showMindfreak.He shocked audiences with fake-gore bits in his shows. He gained more notice as the subject of the 2019 Hulu documentary,The Amazing Johnathan Documentary. The film followed him trying to return at 60, despite his terminal illness. It also showed his drug addiction.
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English television and film comic actor Jack Smethurst died February 16, 2022. He was 89.
He started his film career in 1958'sCarry On Sergeant. He then acted in filmsSaturday Night and Sunday Morning(1960), A Kind of Loving (1962), Run with the Wind (1966), Night After Night After Night(1970), the big-screen version ofPlease Sir! (1971) and the ITV sitcomFor the Love of Ada(1970–71) among others, before his big break.
Smethurst became nationally famous inLove Thy Neighbour, a TV sitcom that ran for eight successful series in the 1970s. Viewers sometimes watched over 20 million during its five-year run (1972-76), leading to a 1973 film and a 1975 stage tour.
AfterLove Thy Neighbour ended, Smethurst's film work was rare. It included Chariots of Fire (1981), the John Goodman movieKing Ralph(1991; which reunited him with hisLove Thy Neighbourco-star Rudolph Walker) and 1996'sLa Passione.
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Also ranks #2 on Love Thy Neighbour Cast
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British comedy legend Barry Cryer died January 27, 2022. He was 86.
Cryer worked with top British comedians and wrote for comedy. This included writing jokes for Bob Hope, Richard Pryor, George Burns,The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise.The Two Ronnies and Morecambe and Wise.
Cryer's family stated, "He had a gift for friendship and a genius for putting people at ease. Oh yes, and he made many people laugh. A lot."
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Comedian and game show host Louie Anderson died January 21, 2022, from complications from large B-cell lymphoma. He was 68.
Days before, Anderson was hospitalized in Las Vegas for the cancer. Publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed the news toDeadline.
Anderson, one of 11 children, counseled troubled kids before launching his comedy career after winning first place at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition. Host Henny Youngman hired him as a writer, Schwartz said. Anderson began his late-night show onThe Tonight Showwith Johnny Carson in 1984. He appeared on 1988’sComing to Americaand its 2021 sequel. He played the Maurice role for two episodes of Lena Waithe's seriesTwentiesin 2020.
Anderson also had his own series,The Louie Showon CBS from 1995-96, and started his animated seriesLife with Louiethat same year. He won three Humanitas Prizes for writing on a children’s animated series, and two Daytime Emmys for outstanding performer in an animated program. He guest-starred onGrace Under Fire, Touched by an Angel, andChicago Hope, and appeared inFerris Bueller's Day OffHe won an Emmy in 2016 for playing Christine Baskets on the FX series.Baskets.
The host ofFamily Feudfrom 1999-2002, he appeared onCelebrity Family Feudin 2017, and was a regular panelist onFunny You Should Ask.
Anderson wrote the best-selling booksDear Dad - Letters from an Adult Child, Good-bye Jumbo… Hello Cruel World, and, most recently,Hey Mom. His latest stand-up special was 2018'sLouie Anderson: Big Underwear.
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Robert Breck Denny Jr., a writer and actor who appeared on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ratched and The Shrink Next Door, and was in the comedy troupe The Groundlings, died January 21, 2022, at age 34.
His family said Denny died Monday in Santa Barbara, CA, from a rare spontaneous splenic artery rupture.
Breck graduated from New York University with a creative writing degree. He went into comedy writing and acting. He was in the Sunday Company at The Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles, and his play Nickel Dickers won the Encore! Producer’s Award at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival.
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Comedian and actor Bob Saget died January 9, 2022, in his Orlando, FL hotel room. No cause of death was given. He was 65.
Saget toured the country, and lasttweetedabout a great audience for his show in Jacksonville, FL.
Saget was known best for playing patriarch Danny Tanner on the ABC sitcomFull Housewhich ran from 1987 to 1995. He played his part in the Netflix reboot,Fuller Housefrom 2016-2020. He also hostedAmerica's Funniest Home VideosRan from 1989 to 1997.
Stand-up comedy fans knew Bob Saget was a raunchier star. Comedy Central roasted him. Saget also had a recurring role inEntourageHe voiced the narrator inHow I Met Your MotherHe starred inRaising DadSaget appeared in many movies, includingSurviving SuburbiaandHalf Baked.
Most recently, Saget appeared onThe Masked SingerSaget played the Squiggly Monster. He also worked on a podcast namedBob Saget's Here for You.
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TikTok influencer Rory Teasley died January 6, 2022. His boyfriend of 10 years allegedly strangled him during a video game fight. Michigan's Oakland County Sheriff's Department said. He was 28.
Teasley, using the handle @too2pump4tv, posted comedy and dance videos. He had about 200 thousand followers and millions of views at his death.
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Also ranks #193 on Famous People Who Died In 2022
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