Comedian Patrice O’Neal died Monday at the age of 41 after suffering a stroke in late October, the hosts of the “Opie and Anthony” radio show announced.
“Yes it’s true that our pal Patrice O’Neal has passed away. The funniest and best thinker I’ve ever known PERIOD,” the radio hosts tweeted.
Fans of the comedian began paying tribute on Twitter — with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, actor Charlie Sheen and “Saturday Night Live” comedian Seth Meyers tweeting about their friend.
“RIP Patrice” quickly became a top trending item on the micro-blogging website after news of O’Neal’s death broke.
The comic had been a regular guest on the “Opie and Anthony” SiriusXM radio show, and had also performed on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
He also appeared on “The Office” as Lonny Collins, an intimidating dock worker from the warehouse, who tried to organize workers to form a union.
O’Neal was also one of the celebrities who took the stage for the “Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen” that aired in September.
“The entertainment world as well as the world at large lost a brilliant man today. Patrice had that rare ‘light’ around him and inside of him,” Sheen tweeted in tribute.
“I will forever be inspired by his nobility, his grace and his epic talent,” Sheen added.
“RIP Patrice O’Neal. A day spent watching clips of him on-line is a day well spent,” Meyers tweeted, while Russell tweeted “RIP Patrice.”
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