Here's one for you...did they ever find out why he did it? Was he depressed? That happened the day after my birthday. What a shock!
Here's one for you...did they ever find out why he did it? Was he depressed? That happened the day after my birthday. What a shock!
I was terribly sad to hear of Richard's death. He was one of my fav comedians. I guess great humor can hide great pain.
His family says that he was depressed and had been diagnosed with episodes of psychotic paranoia.
strange, isn't it, that so many who make us laugh are the ones who are truly unhappy? Richard Jeni was depressed and couldn't handle it any more. It's sad that he went out the way he did.
Im new here, but yeah, I was shocked beyond belief that Richard and died because I had seen him on tv many times and thought he was/is hilarious as all get out. I hope that the peace he sought in life he has now found on the other side.
[SIZE=3]I also enjoyed his comedy although only saw a couple of HBO performances and quite awhile ago at that. I had always felt that one of his routines about breaking up in particular was hilarious - ironically it mentioned suicide.[/SIZE]
after owen wilson tried to kill himself i came to the conclusion that there are a lot of sad comedians. sometimes it can be seen in their biographys.
Here's part of the official corner's report on Jeni:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive...7071jeni1.html
That whole story was sad. He was troubled and no one knew.
I didn't know that he was dead until his HBO special aired again (the most recent) and my fiancee` said that he was going to miss him...so horrible and with his girlfriend there...
I loved Richard Jeni, but did anyone notice how much cosmetic surgery he has had done over the years? By the end, his face was so tight, I didn't know if he could close his eyes or mouth all the way. I'm not being snide about this. I think he has excessive work done, and that is sometimes a signal that things are not all right in a person's life. (i.e. Michael Jackson) I always thought he was a good looking man. When I first heard about the suicide, I thought of the "work" he had done, and it just seemed to click for me. I am saddened by his loss. His view of life was always witty and refreshing.
One of the things I love about Findadeath and this forum is the insight I gain into artists lives and deaths. I had never heard of Richard Jeni but after watching some routines, loved "Gay Baby" its great to discover such a talented performer and comedian! He had a very open childlike quality combined with that razorsharp observation and great delivery. Brillant! Its sad when you discover someone like this!
Wow, what a story.
He had the gift to make everyone else laugh and be happy~only he couldn't that enjoy that gift HIMSELF!
A sad story, mental illnesses can be truly horrible~especially when not properly treated.
Hope he has finally found peace.
i knew this girl, a pornstar named "holly body" , a long time ago, that had unusually big feet... well she used to tell me about all of the things jeni liked to do to her feet... so i guess there was more to this platypus man thing that most people even know about...
Such a funny ugly little man. "I'm going to ovulate right here on the freeway!" Ha!
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Anyone can be stricken with mental illness and creative types due to introspection and process messing with the psyche, are particularly vulnerable.
My friends and I just LOVED Richard Jeni. We "discovered" him just before he hit the big time and were instant fans. Much of our inside jokes came from his routines. I will never hear the song "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" the same way.
His death was a shock and very saddening. I pray that in those last moments before he died that he met and felt God's abundant love. I hope he has found the peace and joy that were so illusive to him here. Mental illness is such an evil affliction.
Did anyone else notice that in addition to depression and suicidality - he was also diagnosed with homicidality ?? As tragic as his death was, it sounds as if he had the potential to take others with him, which thankfully didn't happen !!
A long time ago I thought Tom Arnold had lost a lot of weight.
I am new on this list, but look forward to reading and participating. What a website! I just wanted to say that I saw Richard Jeni a few times live, sat up front, got abused, but the man was a total sweetheart to my wife and I and never disrespectful. I was sorry to learn of his death. Mental illness is nothing to play with. let's not besmirch him.
scottythebee
San Diego
Guest
I never really knew of him until after he committed suicide. From the picture on the FAD website, not even knowing what he looked like before, I suspected he had a great deal of plastics done. Don't ask me, either the shiny look, his skin meing unnaturally tight or ??? He just looked like he had a lot of work done.
But yes, having plastics done, especially to your face, for no other reason than cosmetic, can be a bad sign. Not always, but frequently enough. We have a friend who is a clean and sober addict/alcoholic, probably over 30 years clean and sober, but even in her sobriety she was somewhat miserable. Which is odd, because folks who are clean and sober for any amount of time are usually bursting with such gratitude and love of life that they border on being highly annoying. So in any event, our friend spent a fortunate on having her face pretty much re-done in addition to her body "sculpted." To make a long story short, she is still miserable. Don't know why, but if you can't like yourself the way you are, nothing will help.
The FAD entry for Richard Jeni is fascinating reading, especially if you are at all interested in the pathology of depression. The day he died, he and his girlfriend were laying next to each other in bed, planning out their day and tyring to decide what to have for breakfast. So his girlfriend goes downstairs to start prepraring the meal, when she heard the gun go off. Only with the most severe depression can you be deciding on what to eat for breakfast and then kill yourself just moments later.
Just for your typical death hag curiosities, I always wondered what he said he wanted for breakfast, and maybe his girlfriend wanted something else.
Any day above ground is a good day.
his death really shocked me. I'll miss his comedy forever. What a great comedian.
My ex-wife killed herself and it is really devastating for the whole family, it kind of sad that people kill themselves without thinking about how it hurts so many people. Ok off soap box
Never knew he was depressed...I loved when he use to go on Howard Sterns show...I would laugh for hours.
If you watch his comedy now knowing he offed himself you can clearly see he had a negative/grim streak to his nature.
I have been plagued by major depression for the last eight years or so. For the last couple of years, I have had major health problems on top of it. I have thought about suicide many times over the years but unfortunately (or fortunately) I couldn't do it because of my faith and also because I have two sweet little boys who I think I am the best person in the world to raise them.
For me, when I am depressed, I just feel so shitty about myself that I cannot imagine anyone thinking of me other than dog shit. So if I off myself, I am really doing them a favor because they despise me anyway. That and I am taking oxygen away from the endangered rain forests. I have had other folks tell me that they considered suicide because they were in such mental pain they couldn't stand it anymore. That is definitely part of it, but for me, K-FUK Radio broadcasts continuously that the world would be so much better without me.
Thanks to many kind, caring people, family and friends, therapists, psychiatrists, doctors and a ton of anti-depressants, I have so far been able to keep the K-FUK volume turned down. But even still, my mind is sometimes a dangerous neighborhood to visit.
Any day above ground is a good day.
geekygirl,
At least you knew you had a problem and sought help for it. Knowing that much means you aren't too far gone.
And also, you're right to think about your kids. To kill yourself would sentence them to a very hard path in life. Kids have a way of personalizing things like that and blame themselves for the actions adults take.
Keep on keeping on. You're special in your own way and have every right to be here on this planet with the rest of us. Don't let yourself tell you any different.
As for Richard Jeni, I was shocked to discover he suffered from this as well. I always thought he was talented and I'll miss him along with the other greats in the industry.
I remember the first time I saw him on T.V......HBO I believe. Gawd I have never laughed so hard in my life. We were suppose to see him in San Jose CA the following June. Someone mentioned that he got picked on in the audience by Rich (all in good fun though) We always sit in front at this comedy place in San Jose, so no doubt we would have been his targets. What a blast that would have been! So very sad...
I remember reading that his girlfriend had heard him talking to himself days before the suicide in another room. He said, "Just pull the trigger".
does anyone know where richard jeni is buried at ????????? i can find where he is at
There is a picture of his grave on the FAD page about him. It doesnt say where the grave is though. I am puzzled as to why it says his remains are still unaccounted for.
There was also the comedian that jumped from the building in the 70's...He was a member of the Comedy Club I think...Steve Lubetkin.
One of my favorite comedians. I remember him as Playtapus Man. Adored him really did. RIP Richard
I cried for shoes .... til I met a man with no feet.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
I was a big fan of Jeni's. For those who don't know about him, here's one of my favorite comedians talking about one of my least favorite movies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUkeyw7xdb4
I really wish he was still here, but if he is without pain elsewhere, then I wish he found what he needed on the otherside.
I was very impressed that his family acknowledged his mental illness on his website...how
many families of famous people would do that?? They are obviously trying to help others with mental illness...very impressed!!
Find a Grave still lists his burial info as "unknown".
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...&GRid=18342037
At first I said, "Who was Richard Jeni?". But after his photo was displayed on television, then I said, "Oh yeah, I recognize him."
Very sad story. Not only can the suicide be tragic, but the grief among those who are left behind can be as well. A family friend committed suicide by kneeling on a train track as an on-coming train made its way toward him. Someone later mentioned to us that she saw body parts falling from the tracks. He visited us for the last time and said goobye. He didn't converse with us; He didn't even come into the house. And later that same day we heard the news. His mother was haunted by it until her own demise (natural couses).
Who is Richard Jeni??
I was listening to a little bit of that clip you posted, ratkin, and he seems okay...sharp sense of humor about him. You just never know where mental illness will strike...
I liked that clip, but these are better. FYI...they are successive clips from his HBO comedy show, "Platypus Man"
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ztpKAj6JN8A
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=st0i5ZwkIO8
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=s9DkxI0tU7Q
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jxMpe2Vy2wY
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NEsCc7J5LWw
Enjoy!
They replayed his "Big Steaming Pile" routine on Comedy Central this morning. I LOVED him so much!!! They say that comics oftentimes are depressed people, so I'm not too surprised that he was troubled. I do wish he was still with us though.
To understand the living, you got to commune with the dead.
Minerva
I loved watching him in Liar Liar
Comedy Central replayed one of Rich's HBO specials from 1997 early this morning. As a person who is open about her mental illness, I rarely find "normal" people interesting and/or funny. Richard has made me laugh for so many years, just typing this makes me want to cry. As a Bi-Polar Manic Depressive, I can all too easily relate with Rich's "planning the day, breakfast first", then the darkness swoops in. Manyatimes, I have been perfectly happy, then found myself in the bathroom with a knife....
I admit that antidepressants work for alot of people, however, I've personally found that most people think that pills solve all problems. Its not the case at all, Prozac, Geodon and Lexapro both effected me adversely,so much i had to stop them cold turkey.
I cry at times knowing that Rich had to struggle with depression and other mental issues. I just wish he could have gotten the joy out of himself that she shared with so many of us. He was handsome, witty, and most of all....FUCKING hilarious.
Every year, 4 days before my birthday, I'm gonna sit down n have a joint for Rich and watch more of his stand up. It makes me cry that hes not here anymore, but to me he's a rare angel that makes me smile and want to stick around another day.
Thank you for all the great laughs Rich....I hope ur givin em hell on the other side. I hope u have found the peace u couldnt find here with us.
Love Ya Rich.
Last edited by Trista; 05-01-2009 at 04:13 PM.
I don't remember his comedy, but I remember being shocked to hear of his suicide. It seemed like it didn't get reported much either. I wonder what compels the media to favor some celebrity deaths over others.
"You live alone, creating your life as you go." - Edie Sedgwick
Crazy funny on the outside and suicidally sad on the inside ... Like the tears of a clown when no one is around ... ((((((((RIP Richard )))))))))
We saw him a few times in Atlantic City and we loved him. He was just hysterical. I felt terrible when he died. I hope he's at peace now too.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]