comedian Brody Stevens, RIP
Very sad news. The Blast is reporting that comedian Brody Stevens has died by apparent suicide. He was 48. A brilliant comedian who we often associated with Zach Galifianakis in the early days, he was perhaps best known as Officer Foltz in The Hangover but we know him as the host of one of our most unforgettable SXSW day parties in 2011.
To quote Wikipedia:
Stevens first tried stand-up in Los Angeles, before moving to Seattle, where he began developing an act, in addition to co-creating and co-starring in a public-access television show with Teina Manu called Brody and Teina that garnered a cult following. His career continued for a three-year stint in New York City, before he found a permanent home in the Los Angeles comedy scene.
Stevens has appeared on the television shows Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Friday, Premium Blend, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Test with Jillian Barberie, Late World with Zach, The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Attack of the Show!, Childrens Hospital, Tosh.0, TMZ on TV, Fox NFL Sunday, Conan, Comedy Bang! Bang!, The Burn with Jeff Ross, Kroll Show, The Ben Show and @midnight. He is also a regular panelist on Chelsea Lately.
On February 27, 2013, Stevens taped a live comedy set at The Royale Theater in Boston for the second season of Comedy Central’s The Half Hour. While in Boston, he also recorded a series of interviews with the other 16 comedians appearing on The Half Hour called Push & Believe. It was released on Comedy Central’s YouTube channel.
In 2011, Stevens starred in and produced a documentary comedy series for HBO called Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!. Zach Galifianakis was an executive producer on the project. It was released in 2012 as six 15-minute episodes on HBO’s digital platform HBO GO and received positive reviews. Following the popularity of his HBO program it was picked up by Comedy Central as Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!.[11] The footage shot by HBO, along with additional material shot by Comedy Central was released in 2013 as twelve 21-minute episodes.
Stevens is also an experienced audience warm-up and has done warm-up on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, Late World with Zach, The Man Show, Chelsea Lately, The Burn with Jeff Ross, The Jeselnik Offensive, Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness, Who Gets the Last Laugh?, @midnight and Why? with Hannibal Buress.
Stevens has also appeared in the films Road to Park City, I Am Comic, Jesus Is Magic, The Hangover, Due Date and The Hangover Part II.
Brody, you will be missed. Rest in peace. Read tributes from fellow comedians — including Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Nick Kroll, Kumail Nanjiani, and more — below.
If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE. I never get to see Brody Stevens again I can’t stand this. #RIPBrodyStevens #818ForLife pic.twitter.com/n1jQhXdOIz
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 22, 2019
Another singular force of nature gone. RIP Brody Stevens.
— marc maron (@marcmaron) February 22, 2019
Brody Stevens was such a kind, hilarious, fucking weird dude. So, so funny. What a shame. Just awful.
— Adam Scott (@mradamscott) February 22, 2019
RIP to truly one of the best stand-ups, Steven Brody Stevens. You might not know of Brody, but he likely had an influence on your favorite comic. This was my favorite thing he did: https://t.co/2Ffiq3fD12
— Nikki Glaser (@NikkiGlaser) February 22, 2019
Everyone loved Brody Stevens.
— Kristen Schaal (@kristenschaaled) February 22, 2019
RIP Brody Stevens. Such a heartbreak. It’s too sad, and just hits so damn close to home. Depression is real and winter is brutal in the soul. If you’re leaning in too hard to your dark, please call a friend. Here’s a great story about Brody (thread) https://t.co/VMBaqNTBtw
— themocollins (@THEMOCOLLINS) February 22, 2019
Brody Stevens ditching “material” was like Dylan going electric! Man I’m gonna miss hearing him running through Valley high school names, or regurgitating his resume, and making it funnier than any joke.
— Neil Hamburger (@NeilHamburger) February 22, 2019
It feels so pathetic to do this on twitter but i don't know where else to. This is so sad , a real loss of a strange and genuine talent and sweet man. fuck im knocked for a loop. Brody Stevens was one of a kind.
— Moshe Kasher (@moshekasher) February 22, 2019
I love you so much Brody Stevens. Nobody has been nicer in comedy than you. My heart is shattered. pic.twitter.com/sOl9PLpxsd
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) February 22, 2019
Brody Stevens was a force of fucking nature. This is so fucking stupid.
— Joel Kim Booster (@ihatejoelkim) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/weismanjake/status/1099077767323254784
https://twitter.com/mattingebretson/status/1099081488904028160
Brody Stevens was as much of an iconic character a living comedian can be. I can't believe he's gone. We will be talking about him forever. If you didn't know who he was.. read this. https://t.co/VpWPs1KATv
— Seth Herzog (@Thezog) February 22, 2019
Brody Stevens was and always will be comedy legend. RIP.
"But I could have told you, Vincent/This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you" Don Mclean
— Doug Stanhope (@DougStanhope) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/jonahray/status/1099088694126886912
https://twitter.com/Bro_Pair/status/1099078761088114688
Brody Stevens was one of the most unique voices in comedy, literally! His cadence was a trademark and his crowd work was one of a kind. This one is hitting extra hard. Having started in LA, he was always a constant and I loved watching him anywhere, time. RIP Brody.
— Eli Olsberg (@EliOlsberg) February 22, 2019
RIP Steven Brody Stevens. Great friend. Amazing comic. Incredible loss. @BrodyismeFriend
— H. Michael Kre (@howardkremer) February 22, 2019
This is how I want to think about Brody Stevens. Having fun and making the best of impossible situations. Which he did ALL THE TIME. https://t.co/CKhlIGz67L
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 22, 2019
#RIPBrodyStevens he was so funny and weird and vulnerable and wild and kind. Every time he was onstage it was an adventure. Here’s some comics talking about what made him so special. https://t.co/wbUNaZgJ2f
— nick kroll (@nickkroll) February 22, 2019
Thank you Brody for sharing your Comedy and positive energy with us for so many years. You made late nights so much fun, pushing boundaries, being different, and never doing the same show twice. Joke writing, crowd work, drums, baseball. We love you forever Brody. #brodystevens pic.twitter.com/IYvo0wmWrt
— The Comedy Store (@TheComedyStore) February 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/1099086710498123777
— esther povitsky (@littleesther) February 22, 2019
I have always been in awe of @BrodyismeFriend. An absolute inspiration & a true original. If you haven’t, watch “Enjoy It!” by @DFLEISCHERCAMP. A glimpse into the wild & kind of magic of Brody. Incapable of conformity. https://t.co/0te7pPpezS
— Kate Berlant (@kateberlant) February 22, 2019
just hearing this terribly sad news. brody was hilarious and a unique person and comic. he was a friend of mine for years. past few years hadnt talked as much as used to. last texted with him a month ago. rip brody. condolences to his sister, mom, the 818, & fastball community. https://t.co/qvIdjIs32W
— Judah Friedlander (@JudahWorldChamp) February 22, 2019
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1‑800‑273‑TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat
If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Site. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
