Comic kills self; suffered from depression

[Judy Doom]

Comic Who Shot Himself Was Mentally Ill

Coroner Says Richard Jeni Suffered Suicidal Depression

AP

LOS ANGELES (June 29) -- Comedian Richard Jeni, who shot himself to death in March, had a history of mental illness and was hospitalized late last year for suicidal depression, according to a coroner's report obtained Thursday. Jeni, 49, died at a hospital after shooting himself in the head at his Hollywood home on March 10, authorities have said.

His girlfriend heard him talking to himself about a week earlier, saying "'just squeeze the trigger,"' according to a police report cited by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

She was making breakfast downstairs when Jeni shot himself in the mouth with a .38-caliber Colt Detective Special handgun, according to the report.

Jeni, whose birth name was Richard John Colangelo, had not made any previous suicide attempts and left no note, the report said.

However, the report said Jeni was involuntarily hospitalized on Dec. 28 after he showed up in a hospital emergency room with suicidal depression and indicated he would jump off of a building.

Days after his death, Jeni's family disclosed the comic was mentally ill and said in a statement that he had been diagnosed earlier this year with "severe clinical depression coupled with bouts of psychotic paranoia."

According to the coroner's report, Jeni's girlfriend said he had problems with "insomnia, paranoia and high blood pressure due to stresses of his work schedule."

---It's so damn strange that comics, of all people, suffer from depression.

[misscat]

That was very sad, he was one of my favorite comics too. I dont think it's that uncommon for people in show business to commit suicide, its a high pressure business that requires a strong ego and ability to withstand rejection.

Cat

[wifezilla]

I loved the Platypus Man. I am glad the family was open about what really happened.

[liveoak]

The gf should have called someone when she heard him muttering "just pull the trigger." Geez!

[hollywoodfreaks]

I don't know if it is that strange that comics suffer from depression...I think a lot of comedians go into comedy *because* of their depression...it's a way to escape it, to turn it on its head and make fun and light of all the shit that comes with life. There are many comedians rumored to have depression or manic-depression...Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, and Ben Stiller being the first three that come to mind.

[lemonflavor]

Tina Fey said that most comedians do what they do to get their anger out. There are exceptions of course, she gave one from the show Saturday Night Live.