The Secret Behind Richard Jeni's Suicide
On Tuesday the family of late comedian Richard Jeni came forward and revealed he suffered from two secret illnesses: severe clinical depression and psychotic paranoia.
The family made the shocking revelation on Jeni’s website, claiming the beloved comedian had been diagnosed earlier this year.
Jeni was making breakfast on Saturday morning with his girlfriend when he went to the bathroom and took his own life.
Famous friend Chris Rock talked about the passing of Richard on the “David Letterman Show” Monday night.
“He was like the least pretentious guy I knew in L.A.,” Rock said.
And as Jeni’s family reports, no one saw it coming.
“He was not down or blue, he was ill. If you knew Richard, you could understand, this was as much a shock to those close to him as it is to his fans and colleagues,” the family’s statement reads.
“The greatest compliment you could say about a comedian's act is ‘I wish I had it,’” Jay Leno continued. “And whenever I watched Richard, I’d go, ‘Man, I wish I had that material.’”
Jeni’s family’s only request for his loyal fans is to “take time to remember the joy and laughter Richard brought to the countless people he touched during his much too short life.”
Click on an image to view the Richard Jeni photo gallery!
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It’s so sad to hear about his death. I had no idea, like almost everyone else, that he’d been so tormented by depression and paranoia. I think I know how he must have felt. I myself have suffered from severe depression and self-hate for years, and I survived a very brutal suicide attempt. I wish he would have survived, but he’ll never really die, because noone will ever forget him or his true gift for making people laugh and forget their problems. Go easy bro, your pain is gone now. Sincere regards, the world will miss you.
February 18, 2008