David Rakoff, 1964-2012
Humor writer/essayist David Rakoff has died from cancer, confirmed by his brother, comedian Simon Rakoff, via Facebook. He was 47.
In addition to his three books – Fraud, Don’t Get Too Comfortable, and Half Empty – Rakoff was a regular contributor to This American Life, and in May appeared in the This American Life Live stage show where he spoke about life after being diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and losing use of his left arm to the disease.
His moving performance can be heard in the episode “Invisible Made Visible”, via the This American Life website.
Edit – The New York Times posted a full obituary Friday morning: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/11/books/david-rakoff-award-winning-humorist-dies-at-47.html
About the Author
Sharilyn Johnson Called "one of the city’s most discriminating comedy critics” by NOW Magazine, Sharilyn has been covering comedy since 1998. She served as the comedy reporter for Winnipeg's Uptown Magazine for five years, and was the host of the radio show Laugh Tracks for three seasons. Her work has also appeared in the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press, The Apiary, and on CBC Radio's national comedy program LOL.
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aw, that’s terrible. so sad. :(
I hope and pray he had faith in Jesus Christ?
Very sad. I saw him on Letterman years ago and enjoyed it.
P.S. Fuck off Stan, you moron.
Really Jon?
Well, he was jewish, and jewish identity was a very central part of his written work.
Yes, really Jon. Fuck off Stan, and enjoy the eternal unconscious nothingness that comes after death.