Kevin Barnett: All About the Late Comedian, Who Died at 32
The comedy world is mourning the loss of Kevin Barnett.
In a tweet Tuesday morning, Last Podcast Network, on which Barnett co-hosted the weekly podcast Roundtable of Gentlemen, confirmed his unexpected death this week. He was 32.
“Dear Last Podcast family, it’s with a heavy heart we inform you of the passing of Kevin Barnett,” the podcast network tweeted. “The joy he brought to our lives is the greatest gift we have ever received. Remind your friends you love them because you never know when you’ll see them again. We love you KB.”
According to Deadline, which first reported the news, Barnett died while vacationing in Mexico, and his cause of death is currently unknown.
Here’s what we know about the late comic.
He comes from a big family.
Barnett was from Florida and attended Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, according to his Instagram.
High school. Bout to play this band concert then steal everybody bitch and talk to them about anime.
A post shared by Kevin Barnett (@fatboybarnett) on Nov 22, 2018 at 11:14am PST
In December 2017, he shared a photo of his extended family posing in a stairwell.
“#TBT my family far too big,” he captioned the post. “This about half my cousins on my moms side. Can’t even fit all them … in one stairwell. Much to my shock, when I got to Maryland for thanksgiving, my one cousin was taller than me. I was like, ‘Goddamn Orlando, what happened? You taller than me now what the hell is going on?!’ He just said, ‘My name’ Anthony man.’ ”
A post shared by Kevin Barnett (@fatboybarnett) on Dec 21, 2017 at 10:05am PST
He helped create the Fox sitcom Rel.
Together with Lil Rel Howery and Josh Rabinowitz, Barnett created the sitcom Rel. Loosely based on Howery’s life, it revolves around a Chicago nurse whose life is turned upside down when he discovers his wife is having an affair with his own barber. It premiered last fall on Fox.
Howery, 39, paid tribute to his late costar and friend on Instagram.
“I was trying to figure out what to say but I can’t,” he wrote. “I’m truly heartbroken by this and just really hurt as the hours pass…So gifted and so dope and a true friend!!!! I don’t know what else to say this is crazy to me!!!!”
A post shared by Lil Rel Howery (@comedianlilrel) on Jan 22, 2019 at 5:21pm PST
Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment also issued a statement on Barnett’s death, saying, “Our hearts are broken, as are those of everyone at Rel, at the news of Kevin Barnett’s passing. He was an incredibly funny, wildly talented man who had so much more to do and so many more stories to tell. We send our thoughts and prayers to his friends and family during this difficult time.”
He also wrote for several shows.
Barnett was a writer on Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show, Fox’s Unhitched, NBC’s The Carmichael Show and Comedy Central’s Broad City.
A post shared by @ abbijacobson on Jan 22, 2019 at 8:55pm PST
He was close with Broad City stars and co-creators Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.
“I don’t even know what to say, but I feel like those of you who don’t know or didn’t know Kevin Barnett, should know how wonderful he was,” Jacobson, 34, wrote on Instagram. “One of the sweetest, kindest, most genuine, hardworking, hilarious people I’ve ever met. Kevin was a big part of Broad City and we were so lucky to not just know him as a friend, but also get to create with him. What an extreme loss. We love you Kev.”
