Patrice O'Neal obituary: stand-up comic and actor dies at 41

Patrice O’Neal dies at 41; stand-up comic and actor

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By From Los Angeles Times staff and wire reports

Nov. 30, 2011 12 AM PT

Patrice O’Neal, 41, a veteran stand-up comic who gained a wider following through TV and radio and helped roast Charlie Sheen in September, died Tuesday from complications of a stroke he suffered last month. O’Neal’s manager, Jonathan Brandstein, said he died at a New York-area hospital.

O’Neal grew up in Boston and started his stand-up career there. He appeared on Conan O’Brien and David Letterman’s late-night TV shows and was a frequent guest on the “Opie & Anthony” radio show on Sirius XM.

His performance was a highlight of the Comedy Central roast of Sheen, who had been fired from the hit CBS comedy “Two and a Half Men.”

O’Neal had half-hour specials on Showtime and HBO and was the host of “Web Junk 20” on VH1. He also acted in the TV series “Arrested Development,” “Chappelle’s Show” and “The Office.”

O’Neal, who was 6 feet 5, weighed about 300 pounds and had diabetes, suffered a stroke Oct. 19.

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Patrice O’Neal dies at 41; stand-up comic and actor

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