10 Comedians Who Still Performed When They Knew They Were Dying

10 Comedians Who Still Performed When They Knew They Were Dying

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at comics that best defined the saying, “Dying is easy, comedy is hard.”

Graham Chapman

All six Monty Python members were created equal. As King Arthur and Brian, though, Graham Chapman took center stage. He’d sadly be the first Python to leave this world after a malignant tumor was discovered on a tonsil. Even with chemo and surgeries, the cancer spread to a point beyond containment. While dealing with his health crisis, Chapman found the strength to appear on the 20th anniversary special for “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” Although Chapman didn’t participate in a new sketch that was ultimately scrapped, he sat alongside his fellow Pythons in a cupboard that Steve Martin opened. It’s brief and Chapman’s weak physical state is evident, but he got one last laugh prior to passing in October 1989, a month before the special aired.


Sean Lock

TV audiences came to know this English standup best as a team captain on the comedy panel show “8 Out of 10 Cats.” He’d also appear on “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown” until his passing in August 2021. After overcoming skin cancer in the 90s, Sean Lock received an advanced lung cancer diagnosis during his final years. Although some knew what he was going through, Lock otherwise kept his condition private while still working. His final episode aired in February 2022, six months after his death. Fellow captain/comedian Jon Richardson recalled being up “upset” throughout the episode’s taping, knowing how sick Lock was. At the same time, Richardson was in awe of how “effortlessly hilarious” Lock remained to the end.


Madeline Kahn

Best remembered for her uproarious work in Mel Brooks comedies, even scoring an Oscar nomination for “Blazing Saddles,” Madeline Kahn brought the laughs well into the late 90s. This comedic actress was a regular on the sitcom “Cosby” when she received an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 1998. Kahn continued to play neighbor Pauline Fox, marrying her partner John Hansbury behind the scenes. After receiving treatment for almost a year, Kahn went public with her condition a month before dying in December 1999. Her final episode, “One for the Books,” aired on December 22. It was followed by a tribute episode entitled “​​Loving Madeline.” The next year, “Cosby” was canceled… the show that is. Despite the sitcom’s titular star’s downfall, Kahn is forever a comedy legend.

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks gained a following with his dark sense of humor. Some didn’t realize just how grim his comedy could be. Hicks started touching upon death, saying any performance could be his final curtain. Unbeknownst to audiences, Hicks wasn’t kidding. In 1993, Hicks learned that he had pancreatic cancer, which reached his liver. David Letterman didn’t know Hicks was undergoing chemo when he performed on his show that October. Due to the set’s edgy content, Hicks’ appearance was removed. Letterman regretted this after Hicks died in February 1994, eventually airing his routine in 2009. Shortly before his death, Hicks worked on a TV pilot called “The Counts of the Netherworld.” He also finished recording the posthumously released comedy albums “Arizona Bay” and “Rant in E-Minor.”


The Amazing Johnathan

Mixing comedy and magic, the Amazing Johnathan (Edward Szeles) was a natural fit for Las Vegas, where he regularly started performing in 2001. In 2007, news broke that Johnathan had been diagnosed with a heart condition. Despite his heart issues, Johnathan remained a Vegas staple until 2012, going on tour the following year. He returned to Vegas in 2014, but with his health declining, Johnathan announced his retirement. Johnathan thought he wouldn’t live longer than another year. To his surprise, Jonathan overcame the odds, returning to the stage and serving as the subject of two documentaries. Although he lived with his condition for over two decades, Jonathan couldn’t make it magically disappear. He took his final bow in February 2022.

Louie Anderson

Popping up in 80s comedies like “Coming to America” and creating 90s shows like “Life with Louie,” this standup comedian’s career spanned almost four decades. Louie Anderson’s most acclaimed work came late in the game with his Emmy-winning performance as Zach Galifianakis’ mom on “Baskets.” Anderson appeared in other shows and movies during this time, even reprising his role as Maurice in “Coming 2 America.” Tragically, this would be his last film performance. Few knew that Anderson had been living with cancer for nearly ten years until January 2022, when he was checked into a hospital. After another three days, Anderson’s non-Hodgkin lymphoma took its toll. His voiceover work in the animated series “Tig n' Seek” would be his final farewell.


Gilbert Gottfried

Has there ever been a more recognizable voice in comedy than Gilbert Gottfried’s? In any case, Gottfried could make the phonebook sound funny, although he usually had better material to work with. A one-of-a-kind talent, Gottfried also unfortunately lived with a rare genetic muscle disorder called type II myotonic dystrophy. While it’s unclear when Gottfried was diagnosed with this incurable disease, his family described it as a “long illness.” Gottfried never took an extended break from the spotlight, leaving fans shocked when he suddenly died in April 2022. Hours before being rushed to the hospital, he recorded an episode of “Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast.” Gottfried also left behind several posthumous performances, including a voiceover role in “Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match.”

Norm Macdonald

One of the funniest comedians to sit behind the “Weekend Update” desk, this master of deadpan left “SNL” on a controversial note. That didn’t stop Norm Macdonald from reigning as a unique voice across stage, film, and television. Neither did a multiple myeloma diagnosis, which he received in 2013. Facing it privately, Macdonald was seemingly out of the woods until his health took a turn for the worse in 2020. In June of that year, he made a comedy special with some of his friends, which would be posthumously released under the title “Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special.” While receiving chemo in summer 2021, a hospitalized Macdonald recorded his lines for Season 3 of “The Orville.” It’d be among his final acting roles, passing in September.


Gilda Radner

A standout among the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, Gilda Radner seemed destined to have a long career upon graduating from “SNL.” Just five years after exiting the sketch comedy series, though, Radner became overwhelmed with mysterious medical problems. It wasn’t until 1986 that she was officially diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. Upon entering remission, Radner made a surprise guest spot on “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” in 1988. Although she was still receiving treatment, Radner seemed poisoned for a comeback. Talks of an HBO show arose and Radner was set to host “SNL,” although a WGA strike halted production. Unfortunately, this would’ve been one of her last performances. Radner’s cancer soon resurfaced, leading to her untimely death in May 1989.


Andy Kaufman

Arguably the most influential anti-comedian who ever lived, Andy Kaufman was beyond unpredictable. When he received a lung cancer diagnosis between late 1983 and early 1984, some weren’t sure if Kaufman was serious. Watching him perform, though, audiences could sense he wasn’t in the best health. Kaufman nevertheless performed as long as he could. He also promoted projects like the film “My Breakfast with Blassie,” attending the L.A. premiere with a mohawk due to his radiation therapy. This was Kaufman’s last public appearance before his death two months later in May 1984. Some still weren’t convinced that Kaufman was gone and even decades later, some like to believe he’s playing an elaborate prank. Whatever you think, nobody can deny Kaufman’s commitment to his craft.


Which comedian do you miss the most? Let us know in the comments.