Scott Kennedy (comedian)

Scott Kennedy (July 7, 1965 – March 14, 2013)[1] was an American stand-up comedian.

Scott Kennedy
Kennedy in 2005
BornJuly 7, 1965
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 2013(2013-03-14) (aged 47)
MediumComedy, television, film
GenresObservational comedy
Partner(s)Kevin Maye

Early life and education

Kennedy was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico,[2] and raised in Hobbs. He attended New Mexico Military Institute and graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas, after his family moved there. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the College of Santa Fe.[3]

Career

He got his start in comedy in 1986 at an open mic night at the Froggy Bottoms Comedy Club in Lubbock, where a friend had entered him in a comedy contest.[1][3][4][5] He moved to Houston and then in 1999 to Los Angeles. He had a successful stand-up career, performing at clubs throughout the country. He was featured performer at HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, and on Comedy Central was so successful on Premium Blend that he was given a half-hour special in 2004.[2][3]

Kennedy was openly gay, and appeared in Jason Stuart's 2004 improvised comedy film about gay dating, 10 Attitudes.[6] In 1994, with his partner Kevin Maye, he co-founded the Gay Comedy Jam, which toured over 150 cities in the U.S. and Canada.[7][8][9][10][11]

In the mid-2000s, Kennedy began touring extensively to entertain American troops on active duty, starting with USO tours in Afghanistan with Dave Attell.[2] He formed his own touring company, Comics Ready to Entertain, to go to more dangerous places than the USO was willing to send him to, performing up to five times a day on over 50 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.[12][13][14]

Personal life

Kennedy was openly gay. He was found dead on March 14, 2013, evidently having died in his sleep.[12][15]

References
  1. "OBITUARY: Scott Kennedy brought laughter to troops overseas", The River Cities Daily Tribune, March 18, 2013.
  2. William Kerns, "Comedian Kennedy entertains servicemen, women in Afghanistan", Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, November 20, 2005.
  3. Howie Nave, "From Johnny Carson to The Improv, here's John Henton " Archived June 3, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Tahoe Daily Tribune, March 27, 2007.
  4. Renee Westbrook, "Comedy for a cause: Scott Kennedy headlines fund-raising evening of laughs at UOP", The Record (Stockton, California), January 26, 2006
  5. William Kerns, "Froggy Bottoms to celebrate 10th anniversary" Archived October 3, 1999, at the Wayback Machine, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, May 31, 1998.
  6. Mike Szymanski, "This time, Stuart's 'Attitude' is straighter than usual", Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, December 1, 2004.
  7. Gerald M. Gay, "The Score: Five shows Friday, from comedy to reggae", Arizona Daily Star, October 15, 2009.
  8. "Gay lifestyle has its humorous side", The Augusta Chronicle, June 27, 1997.
  9. "Attacking Life with Gay Abandon: Couple Takes Humor Out of the Closet on National 'Freedom Tour'", The Sacramento Bee, August 3, 1997.
  10. Hector Saldana, "'Gay Comedy Freedom Jam' to roll into town Monday", San Antonio Express News, February 24, 1995.
  11. "Gay Comedy Jam due Tuesday", San Antonio Express News, April 19, 1996.
  12. Dave Holmes, "Scott Kennedy Death: Last Week America Lost a Real, Live Hero", Blogs, HuffPost, March 22, 2013.
  13. Spc. Terence Ewings, "Long Knives Receive Comic Relief in Iraq", Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs, March 8, 2009.
  14. "News: Comics come to Contingency Operating Base Basra", Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, Multi-National Division-South, June 12, 2009.
  15. "It Gives Me the Willies: Remembering Scott Kennedy". www.out.com. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
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