Comedian Jay Leggett passes
November 25, 2013 Bram Teitelman In Memoriam, News
Comedian and screenwriter Jay Leggett, who was a member of In Living Color for one season, has died at the age of 50. Leggett died at the end of a hunt on Saturday. He’d just killed a deer and strapped it to his ATV when upon returning to his cabin, got off the ATV and collapsed, CNN reports. Family members attempted to revive him via CPR, but paramedics were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A native of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, Leggett started in the Chicago comedy scene before moving to Los Angeles. He joined the cast of In Living Color for the 1992-1993 season, and wrote and co-starred in the Matt Dillon-starring film Employee of the Month, and also wrote the Dax Shepard and Seth Green-starring Without A Paddle. More recently, he’d produced and directed To The Hunt, a documentary about deer hunting. He’d also been the lead instructor at Comedy Now L.A., teaching improv, acting and writing. Among those paying tribute to Leggett was Workaholics star Adam Devine, who Tweeted about Devine’s passing:
RIP my friend, teacher and mentor Jay Leggett. You will be missed.
— ADAMDEVINE (@ADAMDEVINE) November 24, 2013
Devine is also quoted on Comedy Now’s website stating the following:
Jay Leggett is a guru. Jay is by far the best teacher I’ve ever had. He gave me the comedy chops I needed to become successful. It’s simple: He’ll make you the best you can be. He eats and sleeps comedy. And also real food and real sleep – because he’s not crazy. He also gave me my first paying comedy job which proves just how smart and insightful he really is. Thanks for everything Jay!
You can see a trailer for Leggett’s 2011 documentary below.
