Ralphie May at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in November, 2014 for his new Netflix special out Feb. 27, 2015 “Unruly.” CREDIT: Netflix

Posted Friday, October 6, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

Stand-up comic Ralphie May died today of cardiac arrest at age 45.

According to TMZ, he passed this morning after performing at Harrah’s on Thursday night in Las Vegas. He had been suffering from pneumonia as well.

May came in second during the inaugural season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2003 but ultimately became far more successful than the winner Dat Phan.

His brand of humor had a politically incorrect edge but never seeped into hostility.

“I’m even handed,” he explained in a 2015 interview. “I just point out the stupidity we all do. The people I make fun of most are white people. They’re the dumbest ones. They really are.”

funny cat

He and his wife split a couple of years ago and the custody/divorce wasn't easy going. He was a super funny guy. But you typically don't come back from cardiac arrest. Its mortality rate is almost 100%, unlike a heart attack which is treatable a lot of times. It's sad that his children won't know their father in the coming important events and years of their lives.