We lost a really talented comedian and friend Patrice O’Neal. He passed away after suffering a stroke. First met Patrice he was a doorman at the Comedy Connection in Boston.  He was about 6’5 and build more like an NFL lineman the a comedian he got you attention. He worked his way up until he was one of the top comedians in the country.He did not take the easy way with his comedy. He instead went for an honest and sometime outrageous observations. Patrice used to stay with comedian Greg Carey and I on a fifth floor walk up when he first started working in NYC. Can remember laughing with him
about the fact that if you live on the fifth floor you
better remember everything you need because you are only
making one trip up them dam stairs.I proud to say we booked
Patrice at the Emerson Majestic Theater years ago at the Boston Comedy Festival and
We all had such a great time. I will miss him.  Here is what they wrote about him in Reuters.

Stand-up comic Patrice O’Neal dead at 41

(Reuters) – Stand-up comedian Patrice O’Neal died on Tuesday at the age of 41 following a stroke last month, his agent said.

“It is with terrible sadness we must report that Patrice O’Neal has passed away this morning…due to the complications of the stroke he suffered on October 19,” O’Neal’s agent Matt Frost said in a statement.

“Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius,” Frost added.

O’Neal, who appeared on Comedy Central celebrity roasts and on Conan O’Brien’s and David Letterman’s late night TV shows, was also a frequent guest on the “Opie & Anthony” radio show on Sirius XM.

“Yes it’s true that our pal Patrice O’Neal has passed away. The funniest and best thinker I’ve known. PERIOD,” the Sirius XM hosts said in a Twitter message.

The “Opie & Anthony” show also broke news last month that the stand-up comic, who was diabetic, had suffered a stroke last month.

Frost said O’Neal’s mother Georgia was at his side when he died. O’Neal is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo, his step daughter Aymilyon and sister Zinder.

“The family wishes to thank all of the fans and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and support for Patrice these past weeks. We ask that you please respect the family’s request for privacy at this difficult time,” the statement added.

O’Neal took part along with other celebrities in Comedy Central’s roast of actor Charlie Sheen in September.

He also appeared in the Comedy Central special “Elephant in the Room,” and had guest roles in TV shows including “The Office” and “Arrested Development”.

Film appearances included “In the Cut,” “25th Hour” and “Head of State.”

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Chris Michaud)