Richard John Colangelo (April 14, 1957 blank">DOB according to Jeni's Website and Social Security Death Index. - March 10 2007), better known by the stage name of Richard Jeni, Cohen, Sandy. Autopsy results, cause of death pending for comic Richard Jeni. _Associated Press. March 13 2007. was an American stand-up comedian and actor.
Grew up in Bensonhurst, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Graduated from NYC's Hunter College (a B.A. in political science, with honors)
Close friend of Paul Rodriguez (I).
First achieved national attention with his Showtime special "Richard Jeni:" Boy from New York City".
Following his death, his family later confirmed that Jeni committed suicide, and that Jeni had recently been diagnosed with "severe clinical depression coupled with bouts of insomnia and psychotic paranoia.
Was a frequent guest on "The Tonight Show" with both Johnny Carson (I) and Jay Leno. Leno attended his private wake at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, along with comedians Tim Allen (I), Richard Lewis (II), Elayne Boosler, Paul Provenza and close friend Paul Rodriguez (I).
In 2004, Jeni was ranked #57 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of all time; he served on the panel responsible for this ranking.
Gave his final performance in February of 2007, at a corporate dinner gig at the Rio in Las Vegas.
Jeni's girlfriend of three years, Amy Murphy, a television reporter and former WSVN-Fox 7 weather anchor, found him gravely shot in his West Hollywood apartment and called "911". He died later at Ceder-Sinai Hospital.
