Mitchell Lee Hedberg
Mitchell Lee Hedberg (February 24, 1968 – March 29, 2005) was an American comedian known for his surreal humor, distinctive voice, and unconventional delivery.Hedberg’s comedy typically featured short (sometimes one-line) jokes and observational comedy, mixed with surreal elements and non sequiturs.Hedberg's comedy and on-stage persona gained him a cult following, with audience members sometimes shouting out the punchlines to his jokes before he could finish them.
Mitch was born in 1968 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of Arnold and Mary Hedberg.He attended Harding High School in Saint Paul and married fellow comedian Lynn Shawcroft in 1999.
Hedberg began his career in 1989 playing open mic nights in southern Florida. Two years later, in 1991, he moved to Seattle, where, due to his continued efforts, his popularity increased. Hedberg did encounter some degree of difficulty: apparently he suffered from intense fear of public speaking, which sometimes led him to perform with his eyes closed.
He first achieved national exposure in 1996, performing at the prestigious Just for Laughs Montreal International Comedy Festival, which aired on Comedy Central. Hedberg appeared twice on The Late Show with David Letterman and became one of the show's most successful American comedians. His eyes were closed during the Just for Laughs festival portion that was taped and aired on CBC and the Comedy Network.
Hedberg was known to be a drug user, having referenced it in many of his jokes (“I used to do drugs.I still do, but I used to, too.”).On March 30, 2005, Hedberg was found dead in a hotel room Livingston, New Jersey.The coroner reported the cause of his death to be multiple drug toxicity from a cocaine and heroin ‘speedball’.His funeral was held at St. Ambrose of Woodbury Church in Minnesota.
Some jokes:
Mitch was born in 1968 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of Arnold and Mary Hedberg.He attended Harding High School in Saint Paul and married fellow comedian Lynn Shawcroft in 1999.
Hedberg began his career in 1989 playing open mic nights in southern Florida. Two years later, in 1991, he moved to Seattle, where, due to his continued efforts, his popularity increased. Hedberg did encounter some degree of difficulty: apparently he suffered from intense fear of public speaking, which sometimes led him to perform with his eyes closed.
He first achieved national exposure in 1996, performing at the prestigious Just for Laughs Montreal International Comedy Festival, which aired on Comedy Central. Hedberg appeared twice on The Late Show with David Letterman and became one of the show's most successful American comedians. His eyes were closed during the Just for Laughs festival portion that was taped and aired on CBC and the Comedy Network.
Hedberg was known to be a drug user, having referenced it in many of his jokes (“I used to do drugs.I still do, but I used to, too.”).On March 30, 2005, Hedberg was found dead in a hotel room Livingston, New Jersey.The coroner reported the cause of his death to be multiple drug toxicity from a cocaine and heroin ‘speedball’.His funeral was held at St. Ambrose of Woodbury Church in Minnesota.
Some jokes:
- "I was in a casino, minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, 'You're gonna have to move. You're blocking a fire exit.' As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit. Unless you're a table."
- "I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
- "I like an escalator because an escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. There would never be an 'Escalator Out of Order' sign. Only an 'Escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.'"
- "You know, I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later.'"
- "One time, this guy handed me a picture of him, he said,'Here's a picture of me when I was younger.' Every picture is of you when you were younger. 'Here's a picture of me when I'm older.' 'You son-of-a-bitch! How'd you pull that off? Lemme see that camera... what's it look like?'"
