Greg Giraldo passes away at age 44

[Lepidopterous]

You will be missed

[WyldeMan45]

I read about his OD a few days ago but I couldn't find anything at the time about if it was hard drugs like Heroin or prescription. Didn't expect him to die though. He was the only judge I liked all season on Last Comic Standing.

Comedian Greg Giraldo died today at the age of 44 -- five days after he was hospitalized for an overdose.

Greg had been hospitalized in New Brunswick, NJ after he overdosed on prescription pills last weekend. A source said the overdose was not a suicide attempt.

TMZ has obtained what is believed to be the last photo of Giraldo -- taken at the Stress Factory comedy club in New Brunswick, NJ on Friday September 24 ... the night before he OD'd.

Giraldo was best known for his celebrity roast appearances. He had also been a judge on "Last Comic Standing."

A source close to Greg tells us, "Greg passed away today at the hospital in New Brunswick as a result of an accidental overdose. His family was by his side."

We're told plans are being made for a public memorial service.

[Lincoln6Echo]

If that pic was taken the night before the OD, then, I'm saying he didn't look too good there either. They say it wasn't a suicide attempt (well success in this case), but with that pic there, you could have fooled me.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Lincoln6Echo

If that pic was taken the night before the OD, then, I'm saying he didn't look too good there either. They say it wasn't a suicide attempt (well success in this case), but with that pic there, you could have fooled me.

Yeah he looked pretty miserable, but Greg was usually all about self-deprecation. It's not like comedians are happy people, they are some of the most miserable people alive. For me in the last 10 years the saddest passing of a great comedian was Mitch Hedburg, I was a huge fan.

[Lincoln6Echo]

What's funny is that I got the news of Greg's passing from a ReTweet from Jim Norton from one of his other comedian friends.

Oh, I forgot... need to add this to your sig...

[mikejet]

From Gilbert Gottfried's twitter:

If Greg Giraldo is cremated, will that be the "Greg Giraldo Roast?"

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by mikejet

From Gilbert Gottfried's twitter:

Yes Gilbert, it would.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by mikejet

From Gilbert Gottfried's twitter:

We spoke to Gilbert about the tweet ... who told us he has problems expressing his emotions -- but noted, "Greg can't say anything about it now ... I'm not worried about him calling and complaining."

Wow.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Wow.

I don't know about that. It sounds like a classic Gilbert Gottfried response to any given situation, serious or not. I don't think anyone would mistake him for a grief counselor.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Wow.

Greg and Gilbert where really good friends and that has always been his style, it might sound crass to people like us, but comedians are very dark people in general.

[Monolithium]

I do hope that next years Comedy Central Roast will do the honorable thing and completely and mercilessly make fun of Giraldo's life and death.

He will be missed.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

. It's not like comedians are happy people, they are some of the most miserable people alive. .

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

comedians are very dark people in general.

Where is this information coming from?

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Where is this information coming from?

You have apparently never read interviews with comedians or seen any of the documentaries or met any. Their time performing is generally the only happy times in their lives. Most of them are extremely depressed. Shit Louis CK has done many routines about this, if you've ever seen his show you know how true this is. Comedians are full of self-deprecation and self loathing. I've never met or see a happy comedian, of course douche bags like Dane Cook are happy he's not a real comedian he's an ******* who does it for the money and doesn't have any fans over the age of 18. Rodney Dangerfield was the perfect example of a real comedian who was very unhappy. He was miserable in his everyday life and comedy was the only time he ever felt appreciated. Mitch Hedburg was so afraid of crowds and so miserable in general he used heroin to cope. His comedy was absolute gold but he overdosed and died several years ago.

[Re-engaged]

ahh damn, just found out about this hmm and i agree he wasn't looking too good in the last pic aswell may he rip!

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

You have apparently never read interviews with comedians or seen any of the documentaries or met any.

Your assumption is incorrect. I have done all three. Thats why I asked. Your statement kind of lumps ALL (or the majority) comedians into that group, and I dont believe that would be accurate.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Your assumption is incorrect. I have done all three. Thats why I asked. Your statement kind of lumps ALL (or the majority) comedians into that group, and I dont believe that would be accurate.

The Tears of a Clown: Comedians and Depression

Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world, where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says the treatment is simple. The great clown Terrifini is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up. Man bursts into tears: "But doctor . . . I am Terrifini."

When I think of some of the greatest comedians in the world I also tend to think of mood disorders including depression and Bipolar Disorder. It seems that if you peer behind the laughter and smiles you are most likely going to find someone who has faced many challenges in their life. Comedy is one way for a person to cope with these challenges. Not every comedian is depressed but there does seem to be more mood disorders associated with this population than not.

I am not alone in my theory. In a fascinating interview with Dr. Amy Alpine who is both a psychotherapist and a comedian, she postulates that both depression and Bipolar Disorder are common among comedians. Doctor Alpine reports that some comedians who have Bipolar Disorder do not wish to be treated because they don't want their manic episodes to go away. You could see the fuel behind the fire of comedians such as Jonathon Winters, Ben Stiller, and Robin Williams who all reportedly have this disorder.

The frenetic energy we have come to associate with many comedians is but one side of the coin. What may surprise fans is to discover when their favorite comic falls into a deep depression. It seems incongruous with the person we see on stage. John Belushi and Chris Farley are just two examples of comedians who died from falling too deep into the well. Coincidentally both comedians died from doing speedballs, a combined injection of heroin and cocaine. And in 2007 actor and funny man Owen Wilson attempted suicide by slitting his wrists. Thankfully he survived. Fans were astonished because Wilson's actions did not match the lighthearted public persona we thought we knew.

It does appear that depression can wear many masks.

In many ways, though, comedy is used for survival. One of the greatest examples of this is one of my favorite comedians, the late Richard Pryor. Pryor was born the son of a prostitute who abandoned him at the age of ten. After his mother left him he went to live in his grandmother's brothel. He was also sexually molested at the age of six by a teenage neighbor and then later by a neighborhood priest. Richard Pryor distracted himself from the horrors of his life by watching movies. He wanted to be in entertainment and found his niche in comedy where his life provided much material for his routines.

Pryor's personal demons continued to follow him despite his success and in the early 80's we almost lost him due to a fiery explosion caused by the ignition of ether being used in conjunction with cocaine. He survived only to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in later years. In 2005 Pryor died of a heart attack at the age of 65. I could be wrong about this but I feel that Richard Pryor survived as long as he did because of his comedy. I feel it gave him purpose to keep going against all the seemingly insurmountable challenges in his life.

And then there are comedians who use their humor to aid others who are feeling depressed. One poignant example is the late Bernie Mac who just recently died at the age of fifty. Bernie Mac grew up in a large family on Chicago's South Side. His grandfather was the deacon of a Baptist Church and it was within this setting that Bernie Mac developed his gift to entertain. One of his first skits was performed at the age of eight where he impersonated his grandparents at the dinner table for the church congregation.

Yet aside from the attention and laughs he received, there was a deeper motivation for Bernie Mac's humor. In Mac's book entitled, "I Ain't Scared of You," he relives a childhood memory of seeing his mother crying when he was four years old. But when his mother started laughing in the midst of her tears Bernie Mac saw that it was Bill Cosby on TV who was the cause of his mother's change in demeanor. It was at that young age that he saw the power of comedy and vowed to become a comedian himself. Mac's purpose was to never see his mother cry again. Bernie Mac defines his life mission in his book by saying: "That's a true story, man. That's what made me want to do this, even after my mother passed. That's what inspires my humor. I don't want nobody to cry." It is remarkable that at such an early age this comedian had found the power of humor to change lives. Despite his death, I do think Mac's vision goes on in the legacy of his comedy which we can still view today.

How do comedians deal with their depression and mood disorders?

In an article in The Sun, actor and comedian, Jim Carrey discusses how he has treated his depression in the past and how his views have changed over time. He did try one of the traditional anti-depressants, Prozac, for awhile. But then felt that the medication simply numbed him.

During his interview he explains:

"I tried dealing with depression by taking Prozac.

"It was good for a little bit for my life. But it didn't heal me.

"It didn't get me to the bottom of my anger or my frustration, whatever it was.

"I realised that it is important that we need to feel our feelings. We need to let things out to get to the bottom of things.

"One of the most important things in our society today is that it is OK to let our feelings out."

Carrey goes on to remind us that we all experience our own share of darkness. I agree. I think it doesn't matter if you are rich or famous or a hermit, nobody is immune to the challenges of the human condition. And sometimes this means that we may become depressed.

The lives of some comedians remind us of our own frail souls. To laugh at our life seems a better option than crying over it. Yet there has to be a balance between the laughter and the tears. In the depths of my depression these comics have helped me to feel something other than despair. As a silent voyeur I wish I could stop the pain of those who give us laughter. I am reminded of the famous scene in Hamlet where the skull of the former court jester is lifted up in tribute. Alas poor Yorick! We knew him well. Or maybe...we really didn't know him at all.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Where is this information coming from?

Look at how many comedians have died young, and usually by their own doing. It's just something that's hard-wired into the personality of most comedians. It's so sad how many great ones we have lost too soon over the years.

[WyldeMan45]

So you still think I'm full of shit and comedians are happy people? These are just the ones I can remember.

Jim Carrey: Suffered from severe depression for years before finding help.
Drew Carrey: Depression lead to suicide attempt.
Owen Wilson: Depression lead to suicide attempt.
John Belushi: Manic Depressive that lead to alcohol and drug abuse eventually leading to overdose and death
Robin Williams: Depression lead to alcoholism and cocaine problem
Chris Farley: Depression lead to alcohol and drug abuse eventually leading to overdose and death.
Rodney Dangerfield: Became outspoken about his bouts with lifelong depression in 1997.
Richard Jeni: Suffered with severe clinical depression coupled with bouts of insomnia and psychotic paranoia that lead to suicide in 2007.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

comedians are very dark people in general.

You are generalizing

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

The Tears of a Clown: Comedians and Depression

An article about a small group, that takes liberties in generalizing as well.

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Look at how many comedians have died young, and usually by their own doing. It's just something that's hard-wired into the personality of most comedians. It's so sad how many great ones we have lost too soon over the years.

Detroit, this is generalizing too. Most comedians?

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

How many comedian legends survived to real old age? I just posted a great article that discusses this. Seems like most died in their late 30's or 40's.

Most died young? Wrong

How many lived to be old? The number that reach old age vastly outweighs the number that have died young. For every yound suicidal comedian ther are thousands that are not.

Support your arguement with facts, not an article about a handfull of isolated examples.

How many rock stars and actors have died young from suicide? A bunch. Does that mean the "Actors and rock stars in general" are dark and depressed? No, it doesnt.

There is nothing to support the notion that comedians "By nature" or "In general" are dark and depressed.

Perhaps you are more familiar with these dark comedians because you follow them more because you enjoy their style and shows. That doesnt mean all comedians are in that group.

[DealDevil]

didn't know much about the guy, but was known to me prior to his death, sad - ofcourse

may he R.I.P!