Patrice Malcolm Oneal , usually credited as
Patrice O'Neal, was an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, and actor died from complications from a stroke he was 41.
(December 7, 1969 – November 29, 2011)
Early life
Patrice Malcolm Oneal was born in
New York City,
New York,
[6] on December 7, 1969, and grew up in the
Roxbury neighborhood of
Boston,
Massachusetts.
[7] His mother, Georgia, named him after
Patrice Lumumba, the leader of the
Congolese independence movement, and
Malcolm X. He was raised by his mother and never met his father.
[8]
Oneal was a star football player at
West Roxbury High School,
ending his career with 3 letters in varsity football and a state
championship his senior year. He turned down football scholarships in
order to attend
Northeastern University on a public housing grant, majoring in Performing Arts.
[9]
At the age of 17, Oneal was convicted of
statutory rape of a 15 year old girl and sentenced to 60 days in prison
[10], served during his summer break, so as not to disrupt his schooling.
[11] The act, which occurred when Oneal was still 16, would have been legal in most states, but Massachusetts lacks a
close-in-age exception, and has an
age of consent of 16.
[12] Oneal said his humor helped him to negotiate the harsh realities of prison.
[11][13]
Career
Oneal began his comedy career in Boston at an open mic at Estelle's Bar and Grill in October 1992.
[14] In the late 1990s, he moved to
New York City, where he became a regular at the
Comedy Cellar, before relocating to
Los Angeles, in the hopes of finding greater fame. "I tap danced like you wouldn't believe... trying to get
something," he said in a 2008 interview with
Ron Bennington
. "I'm telling you, if I'd have had a gun back then, I would have shot
myself." His inability to achieve success on other people's terms
motivated him to prioritize his own integrity first. "At the end of the
day I just want to know that I was true to myself."
[15] Later in his career, Patrice would walk away from successful shows like
The Office,
Arrested Development,
Web Junk 20, and a writing position on the
WWE. "I'm a professional bridge-burner," Oneal stated in an interview.
[16]
Unwilling to yield to the demands of American club owners that he change his often confrontational act, Oneal relocated to the
United Kingdom
to work on his comedy there. He worked harder as an outsider and a
foreigner to gain the respect of his peers. "It took about 5 months...
for them to go 'Ok, this guy's not playing around,'" he told Bennington.
It was also during this time that he caught the eye of British comedian
Ricky Gervais, still early in his stand-up career.
[15] Gervais frequently mentioned Oneal as a favorite comic.
[17][18][19]
He returned to the New York area in 2002 when he got the offer to do
his first half-hour special for Showtime. Later that year he joined the
cast of
The Colin Quinn Show and then
Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. The following year, he recorded a
Comedy Central Presents special.
Oneal's first television appearance was on
The Apollo Comedy Hour where he performed his Malcolm XXL bit. From there, he moved on to appearances on
Showtime at the Apollo,
FNight Videos, and a brief stint as a writer for the
WWE. He appeared in guest-starring roles on
MTV’s
Apt 2F,
Assy McGee,
Ed,
Z Rock,
Yes Dear,
Arrested Development,
Chappelle's Show and
The Office. Oneal was a regular on the Fox series
The Jury, and he starred in the Comedy Central animated program
Shorties Watching Shorties, along with
Nick DiPaolo. He supplied the voice of Harold Jenkins on
Noggin’s animated program
O'Grady High and was featured as
Jesus in
Denis Leary’s
Searchlight. In 2005, Oneal filmed a half-hour
One Night Stand special for
HBO, and shortly thereafter became the first host of
VH1's
Web Junk 20.
Oneal left the show after two seasons, expressing concerns that the
show's audience was too different from his own. In 2006 and 2007 he
joined
Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour, playing large outdoor concert arenas across the country.
After moving back to New York in 2002, Oneal became a recognized
radio personality as a regular guest and occasional co-host on the
Opie and Anthony program. Along with
Bill Burr and
Robert Kelly, he filled in as co-host for comedian
Jim Norton while Jim filmed
Lucky Louie. From 2006 to 2008, Oneal hosted a call-in relationship advice show on
XM Radio, which ended when the satellite network merged with rival
Sirius. Initially promoted as
Bitch Management, the show was titled
The Black Philip Show, a reference to
Dr. Phil.
Dante Nero co-hosted, and a rotating cast of female comedians played
third mic. The show aired until the station suspended much of its
Saturday night programming when they were unable to reconcile budget
concerns with the new management following the merger. Oneal had also
appeared as a guest on other radio shows such as
Alex Jones along with numerous political talk shows on the
Fox News channel.
Living in the New York area, Oneal performed at
comedy clubs in the area, including headlining appearances at
Comix Comedy Club and
Caroline's. He was also popular in
Montreal, making five appearances at the
Just for Laughs
festival, including one of the most memorable in fest history: a
one-man, one-week show at Théâtre Ste. Catherine in 2008. Oneal had also
been slated to do five sold-out, one-man shows at Les Katacombes at the
2010 Just for Laughs Festival, but he was refused entry into Canada at
the U.S. border and the shows were cancelled.
[20]
In February 2011,
Comedy Central aired his first hour-long special,
Elephant in the Room. He eventually began a web series and podcast called
The Patrice Oneal Show - Coming Soon![21]
showing various episodes as of May 15, 2007. He performed with a
five-person group—Bryan Kennedy, Dante Nero, Vondecarlo Brown, Harris
Stanton and Wil Sylvince—touching on many fictional scenarios. The show
was produced by For Your Imagination and can be found on Oneal's
website. He guest-starred in another For Your Imagination-produced show,
called
Break a Leg, playing Adult-Sized
Gary Coleman. Oneal voiced Jeffron James in
Grand Theft Auto IV, on an in-game radio show,
Fizz!.
On September 19, 2011, Oneal was one of the many roasters at the
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen.
This would be his final television appearance before his death two
months later. A little more than halfway through the show in a small
interview, leading up to the commercial break, Oneal says "this should
be my last show ever." Oneal's final recorded interview was with
Jay Mohr on his "Mohr Stories" Podcast #17, uploaded October 27, 2011, shortly after news of his stroke.
Shortly after O'Neal's death, BSeen Media announced the release of his first album,
Mr. P, to be released February 7, 2012. It was recorded at the D.C. Improv.
[22] Although announced after his death, the album had been completed before his illness, with the comedian's full involvement.
[23] On Nov 6, 2012,
Better Than You, a 20 minute "digital single" of previously unreleased material was released on O'Neal's website and via iTunes.
[24]
Illness and death
On October 19, 2011, Oneal reported being unable to move his legs, the first signs of a
stroke. He was rushed to
Jersey City Medical Center, and later
Englewood Hospital
where doctors performed surgery to remove a blood clot. He lost his
ability to speak, and later his ability to move, for a time
communicating by eye movements, before losing that ability as well.
Doctors warned that if he survived, he would likely remain permanently
paralyzed and unable to speak.
[8]
Initially the family made efforts to keep news of Oneal's illness quiet. On October 26, 2011, it was announced to the public on
The Opie and Anthony Show that Oneal had suffered a stroke a week earlier.
[25][26] At 7:00 AM on November 29, 2011, he died from complications from his stroke.
[27] Oneal was diagnosed with
Type 2 diabetes while in his early twenties, and also struggled with weight issues for years.
[28][29]
He is survived by his longtime partner (whom he often referred to as
his wife) Vondecarlo Brown, mother Georgia, stepdaughter Aymilyon, and
sister Zinder.
[7]
Oneal's funeral was held on December 5 at Park Avenue Christian
Church in New York City, and was attended by notable comedians including
Chris Rock,
Colin Quinn,
Nick DiPaolo,
Artie Lange,
Jim Norton,
Dane Cook,
Wanda Sykes, and
Kevin Hart.
[8]
Reactions and tributes
On November 30, 2011, a dozen comedians gathered to eulogize Oneal on
The Opie and Anthony Show, a radio program that Oneal had appeared on over 100 times. These comedians were:
Jim Norton,
Bob Kelly,
Louis CK,
Joe Rogan,
Bill Burr,
Colin Quinn,
Amy Schumer,
Dave Attell,
Jim Florentine,
Russ Meneve,
Joe DeRosa, and
Kurt Metzger.
[30] The channel dedicated its programming that weekend to the comedian, by airing a 16-hour special entitled
A Tribute to Patrice O'Neal featuring some of his best appearances, along with memories from some of his fellow comedians.
[31]
Always known as a comedian's comedian, Oneal was one of the best loved acts by his peers. Many comics reacted via
Twitter.
[32] "The best comedian in the world has died," proclaimed
Norm Macdonald.
Dave Attell
tweeted "Patrice O. was and is one of the best comics I have ever had
the pleasure to watch perform." Ricky Gervais, a long time vocal fan of
Oneal's, said "One of my favourite stand up comedians. So sad. RIP."
Denis Leary
called him "one of the funniest men who ever walked this earth" and
Bill Burr concurred, saying he was "the most purely funny human being
I’ve ever met."
Doug Stanhope
remembered Oneal as "one of the best ever. Inspiring every time I heard
him on anything." Dozens of other comedians echoed similar sentiments
on Twitter.
[33][34] Comedian
Jon Stewart paid his respects through his "Moment of Zen" bit, in his show
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,
stating: "Sad News. Once again in comedy we lose somebody, who's too
funny, too soon." This statement was followed by a clip of Oneal's stand
up special
Elephant in the Room.
[35]
Many entertainers outside of the comedy community reacted as well. Director
Kevin Smith said, "I shared some air & some air time with the man on
O&A & he was always funny & thoughtful. He WILL be missed." Rapper
Talib Kweli said "Super funny and I had the pleasure of meeting the man. We will miss you."
The Roots drummer
Questlove
mourned "so grateful I got to see Patrice Oneal do his last NYC gig.
Man, this is so devastating. He truly was one of my favorite comics."
Nick Cannon called him "An amazing comedian and an even better person."
[33] Actor
Charlie Sheen
paid his respects through his blog, saying: "The entertainment world as
well as the world at large lost a brilliant man today. Patrice had that
rare "light" around him and inside of him. I only knew him for the few
days leading up the Roast. Yet I will forever be inspired by his
nobility, his grace and his epic talent. My tears today are for the
tremendous loss to his true friends and loving family."
[36]
Comedians
Nick DiPaolo and
Artie Lange
paid tribute to Oneal on their radio show by recounting stories of the
late comedian, "As a standup comic, guys like Nick and Patrice are like
Babe Ruth, and on a good day I'm maybe Robin Yount," said Lange.
Comedy Central aired Oneal's special
Elephant in the Room on November 30 in the wake of his death.
[37]
Comedian
Louis C.K. dedicated his comedy special
Live at the Beacon Theater to Oneal's memory. He later commented on Twitter that O'Neal had been his favorite living comedian.
[38]
Rolling Stone ran a four-page article about Oneal's career and passing in the February 16, 2012 issue.
[8]
In June 2012,
Jim Norton dedicated his 1 hour
EPIX comedy special
Please Be Offended to Oneal.
On September 23, 2012, during the
64th Primetime Emmy Awards, Oneal was remembered during the "
In Memoriam" tribute.
[39]
On November 26, 2012, at
Gotham Comedy Club in NYC, a benefit show for Oneal's family was held. The comedians who performed sets were:
Colin Quinn,
Artie Lange, Wil Sylvince, Danny Lobell, and
Keith Robinson.
[40]
On November 29, 2012, Bill Burr announced, via
Twitter, that there would be a memorial benefit show for Oneal's family on February 19, 2013. The comics who performed at
New York City Center were:
Colin Quinn,
Jim Norton,
Dave Attell,
Bill Burr,
Bob Kelly,
Rich Vos,
Keith Robinson,
Ian Edwards, Wil Sylvince, and Marina Franklin.
[41]
Comic style
Oneal's comedy has been described as conversational.
[42] Except during televised appearances, he seldom performed standing up, preferring a relaxed, philosophical delivery.
[43]
Oneal was also known as a provocateur, often inciting audience members to
call out, or even leave the club. "I've seen him give people money to leave," recalls
Gregg "Opie" Hughes.
[44]
At times he would encourage people to call out to the stage in order to
set up a punchline. "Ladies, how would you keep your man if you lost
your vagina?," Oneal would ask of his audience. When the women would
invariably reference oral and anal sex, the comedian would respond,
"See, I gave you the chance to talk and you qualified yourself as a
series of holes."
[42]
Discography
- Mr. P (2012)[45]
- Better Than You (2012) [download][46]
Filmography
Television
Film
To see more of who died in 2011
click here
J. Blackfoot ,[1] was an American soul singer, who was a member of The Soul Children
in the late 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently had a moderately
successful solo career died from cancer he was 65.. His biggest hit was "Taxi", which reached the
charts in both the US and UK in 1984.
