Mitch Hedberg

Mitchell Lee Hedberg (February 24, 1968 – March 30, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian. He was known for his one-liner comedy, characterized by surreal humor and his distinctive deadpan delivery, as well as his unconventional stage presence. Hedberg rose to prominence through repeated appearances on Late Show with David Letterman, and was dubbed "the next Seinfeld" by Time. Throughout his career, he recorded three stand-up comedy albums, Strategic Grill Locations (1999), Mitch All Together (2003), and the posthumous Do You Believe in Gosh? (2008). He also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the independent film Los Enchiladas! (1999), making further cameo appearances in Almost Famous (2000) and Lords of Dogtown (2005). Hedberg struggled with substance abuse throughout his adult life, and died of an accidental overdose on March 30, 2005, at the age of 37. Because news of his death broke just before April Fools' Day, many initially believed reports of Hedberg's death were a hoax. He retained a cult following after his death, with Rolling Stone ranking him No. 20 on its 2017 list of the "50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time".