Tributes Pour in After Comedian John Mulrooney’s Death at 67

Michelle Stein
John Mulrooney
Everett Collection

What To Know

  • Comedian and actor John Mulrooney died suddenly at age 67.
  • Mulrooney was renowned for hosting Fox’s Comic Strip Live, performing at major comedy clubs, and appearing on television and radio shows.
  • Tributes from fans and fellow comedians highlighted his sharp wit, influence on the comedy community.

Stand-up comedian John Mulrooney is dead at 67, and tributes poured in on social media in the wake of his death.

On Monday, December 29, the comic and actor from Brooklyn died “suddenly” in his home in Coxsackie, New York, the Albany Times-Union reported. A cause of death has not been revealed.

Mulrooney was best known for hosting Comic Strip Live on Fox and performing stand-up at the Improv, the Laugh Factory, and Dangerfield’s. He also appeared on the PBS show Comedy Tonight and took over briefly as host of The Late Show in 1987 after Joan Rivers was fired. Additionally, Mulrooney served as a guest host for The Pat Sajak Show on CBS.

In addition to comedy and hosting, Mulrooney had acting credits in TV shows like 1st and Ten, Ryder P.I., Midtown North, Ellen, Hardball, and The Good Life. He also appeared in the film Great Balls of Fire (1989). In recent years, he hosted New York radio shows in New York City, Albany, and Cleveland, as well as for iHeartRadio.

As news of Mulrooney’s death spread on social media, fans and colleagues shared tributes for the late comedian.

Radio broadcaster Tim Tyrrell wrote via X, “I’m in shock at the news that John Mulrooney passed away. We met over thirty years ago at Mix 105 radio in New York City, and instantly clicked. Through the years, we have done shows for iHeart, Sirius, Howard 101, and many podcasts. He was an amazing and loyal friend. So many comics, performers, and writers looked to John for advice, and he was always willing to help anyone. Rest in peace, Johnny.”

Another person shared via X, “Farewell to John Mulrooney, sharp-witted comedian, monologist, presenter, and specialist in finding the comic in the most banal things.”

A different X user commented, “Loved your humor, rest easy 🙏.”

 

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Someone else on Instagram wrote, “R.I.P. John Mulrooney, For those who followed comedy in the ’80s and ’90s, this guy was IT! Watching him on Comic Strip Live as the host made many of us start comedy. He had incredible NYC quick wit and charm. Sending our love and support to his family, his comic community, his brothers and sisters on the force and the millions of people who he made laugh.”

Meanwhile, stand-up comedian Andrew Dice Clay wrote via Instagram, in part, “Remember the first time I saw John Mulrooney … Pips Comedy Club in Brooklyn. Same club I started at about a year and a half after I started my career. John, I am sad to say, passed away last night.

He added, “Crowd work was his thing long before it became a thing. The owners, Marty and Seth, told me to watch him. He was really amazing at it. He was the last comedian to come out of that club that everybody thought would become a really, really big star!”