Comic Robert Schimmel dies after car crash
Howard Stern radio show regular
Last Updated: Saturday, September 4, 2010 | 4:50 PM ET
CBC News
Comedian Robert Schimmel, a frequent guest on Howard Stern's radio show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, has died a week after being injured in a car accident.
Schimmel was also a regular at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival and had performed there in July.
'Robert Schimmel was one of the funniest and nicest guys in comedy.'—Tweet by Jimmy Kimmel
Howard Bragman, Schimmel's representative, confirmed Saturday that the 60-year-old performer died Friday night at a hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.
His fellow comedians tweeted their condolences.
“Robert Schimmel was one of the funniest and nicest guys in comedy," posted Jimmy Kimmel.
"[He] was one of the first people in comedy to call when my folks were fighting cancer. No ego, no BS, no small talk, just inspiration," said a tweet on Saturday afternoon by Dane Cook.
On Aug. 26, the standup comic was a passenger in a car driven by his daughter, Aliyah, when she swerved to avoid another car, causing the Schimmel vehicle to roll several times.
Schimmel's 11-year-old son was also in the car but was released from hospital the same day. Bragman said 19-year-old Aliyah was in hospital in stable condition.
Born in New York's Bronx district, Schimmel was a resident of Scottsdale, Ariz. He had six children with two former wives, but one child died of cancer at age 11.
Schimmel's life was marked by health problems. He suffered a heart attack in 1998 and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2000.
He chronicled his battle with the disease in a 2008 memoir: Cancer on Five Dollars a Day* (*chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life.
Earlier this year, he revealed he had cirrhosis of the liver caused by a blood transfusion tainted with hepatitis C he received while in the air force.
The comedian's brother, Jeff Schimmel, posted on Facebook: "Son, Brother, Father, Grandfather, Comedian, Generous Man. I have always loved you, admired you, and was proud to be your biggest fan. I will never forget a single moment. R.I.P."
With files from The Associated PressShare Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed in an artillery attack. more »
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico, organization says
- Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
- In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground. more »
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
