Comedian Ralphie May has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, officials said Friday.
Comedian Ralphie May performs at KROQ Presents Kevin & Bean’s April Foolishness at The Shrine Auditorium on April 4, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
He was 45.
The comic, who won second place during the first season of “Last Comic Standing,” was on a national tour, with dates scheduled in Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday, according to his website.
May had been battling pneumonia and he canceled some tour dates over the last month, a tweet sent out from his account indicated Friday.
He was found unresponsive at a private home in Las Vegas, and the preliminary cause of death was cardiac arrest.
Two days ago May won the Casino Comedian of the Year at the Global Gaming Expo, according to the tweet. He had performances scheduled for the rest of the year at his residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas.
May also appeared on “Celebrity Fit Club” and the “Dog Whisperer” and had two Netflix stand-up specials.
May is survived by his wife, Lahna Turner, and his children, April May June May and August James May, according to the tweet.
Several fellow comedians tweeted tributes after news broke of May’s death, including Marc Maron, Ken Jeong and Tom Green.
Comedy Central tweeted, “Thank you, Ralphie May. You were a world-class comedian.”