Standup comedian John Pinette tragically passed away this weekend at the age of 50, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Pinette was found dead Saturday afternoon in a Pittsburgh hotel room, where he had been staying for a family function. His death was due to natural causes, as he had been suffering from liver and heart disease. Pinette, whose weight was often the subject of his self-deprecating standup, had recently lost 200 pounds due to a weight loss regimen.
John Pinette began doing standup in the 1980s and was also known for his work as an impressionist and actor. He performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and released multiple albums and specials, including 2011’s Still Hungry, which debuted on Comedy Central. Pinette’s acting credits include movies like Junior, The Punisher, and Duets, playing the carjack victim in the final episode of Seinfeld, and portraying Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray on Broadway.
