Advertisement

Louis C.K. Pays Tribute to the Late Kevin Meaney

Louis C.K. Pays Tribute to the Late Kevin Meaney

Louis C.K. paid a heartfelt tribute to the late comedian Kevin Meaney, who died on Friday at the age of 60, with a remembrance sent to subscribers of his email list on Sunday.

In the note, C.K. touted comedian Barry Crimmins’ new stand-up special on his website, and recalled coming up in the Boston comedy scene. He wrote that Crimmins and Meaney “were two guys from upstate New York who came to Boston and, among other guys, were the ones who made all of this happen.” He went on to say that Meaney “was the gravity that pulled me into the scene.”

“Kevin was the most naturally funny comedian I ever saw,” C.K. wrote. “Every word he said was insanely hilarious. He had a funny voice, face and rhythm to his speech. But he had a childish courage that was goddamn inspiring. Whenever Kevin would bomb, and sometimes he would, he would start to sing a song ‘I don’t care! I don’t care! My jokes don’t go over I don’t care! I don’t care! I don’t care! IIII DOOON’T CAAARE!” I don’t care! I don’t care!’ and he would sing this song, in Ethyl Mirman’s voice, for sometimes 30 minutes. The crowd would be FURIOUS. I and any other comedian in the room would be literally on the floor, laughing, crying, gasping for air.”

C.K. recalled when Meaney was invited to do a set on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” the first of more than a dozen appearances Meaney would go on to have on the show. “We were so proud of him,” he said.

“I loved every comedian in Boston,” C.K. went on. “I really did. I still do. But Barry, for me, created the idea that comedy could be great and mean something. And Kevin used to hurt my stomach and he made me believe there was NOTHING you couldn’t do on stage if you have the SKILL. He was outrageous and obnoxious stupid and childish and it all worked because he was blindingly good and musical and smooth and perfect and joyful in every show he did.

“Where Barry taught us that there was a smart, profound integrity to be mined in comedy – that you could speak truth and be funny. That Standup was an art, that it was a form of literature and political and social insurgence and still be just goddamn funnny and sound like that guy you love listening to at the end of the bar you go to after work. Kevin taught us that you can reach down into your very babyhood and just be as silly and insane as you want, that you can smash the structure and just talk like your mother and sing Wayne Newton and scream and sing and if you carry that off with confidence and skill, the audience will follow you everywhere.”

After the tribute, C.K. added that he found out about Meaney’s death through Crimmins, also a good friend of the late comedian. Describing himself as “shocked and heartbroken,” C.K. said he and Crimmins thought about delaying the release of Crimmins’ special. C.K. decided, however, to release it on time, as Crimmins said Meaney was excited about the special. “He was excited for Barry and for people to finally see his friend in all his glory,” C.K. concluded.

Related stories

Kevin Meaney, Actor and Stand-Up Comedian, Dies at 60

Louis C.K., 'Americans' Stars Get Silly But John Landgraf Gets Serious at Center for Communications Tribute

Louis C.K., Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld Set for 10th Anniversary of Stand Up For Heroes

Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter