Stand-up comedian Greg Giraldo, well known for his work on Comedy Central and as a judge on Last Comic Standing, has died at the age of 44 after being hospitalized for an accidental drug overdose on Saturday.
Reports initially said Giraldo was in stable but critical condition after paramedics found him unresponsive in his hotel room after performing at the Stress Factory in New Brunswick, N.J. Giraldo had overdosed on prescription medications. His representative said it was not a suicide attempt.
Reports TMZ: “A source close to Greg tells us, “Greg passed away today at the hospital in New Brunswick as a result of an accidental overdose. His family was by his side.”
Giraldo was a frequent contributor to Comedy Central’s televised celebrity roasts. This year he served as a judge for two episodes of Last Comic Standing. He released his second album, Midlife Vices, on Comedy Central Records in 2009.
His prolific body of comedy work spanned more than a decade, with frequent appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, as well as several headlining specials on Comedy Central.
(Image courtesy of WENN)