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Comedian Greg Giraldo died today, five days after he was hospitalized in New Jersey for a reported accidental overdose of prescription pills. He was 44. A Comedy Central mainstay, Giraldo also served as a judge on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and as a panalist on the network’s Marriage Ref. Giraldo was a graduate of Harvard Law School and worked as a lawyer for a year before becoming a comedian. His Facebook page is open for condolences.
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I’m sorry for his family’s loss. I’ve seen Greg on Comedy Central and I always found him very funny. That said, I can’t figure out how anyone can die from an accidental overdose of prescription pills. If the bottle says “take two tablets twice a day” and you pour half the contents in your hand and swallow them … is that an accident? I’ve seen this diagnosis many times and I must be missing something. I’d appreciate someone clarifying this for me. Again, I don’t mean to be rude but I just don’t get it. Thanks!
Perhaps the current atmosphere of “better living through chemistry” and Prescription drugs as a business, has allowed Docters and Patients to forget the danger. Prescription drug abuse is more rampant than ever. It is hard to imagine that after as many celebrity deaths we have had in recent years that people wouldn’t take a harder look at the dangers of abuse.
Greg was always enjoyable and his intelligent wit will be missed! I’m sure he would find humor in all the speculations.
I don’t know the specifics of his case, but a friend was labelled as a “prescription overdose” when her prescription meds collided with a herbal supplement and an anti-histamine. She ended up in a coma. Seems like phrase is used to distinquish legal vs illegal drug overdoses
Tom:
Combining prescription drugs can sometimes have devastating effects, even for people who are accustomed to combining those drugs. Combining opiates (like Vicodin or Darvon) with benzodiazapines (like Valium or Xanax) can be especially dangerous as the cumulative effect — especially when the ‘patient’ is sick, run-down or even just really tired — can be death arising from a chemically-depressed heart rate. So, it can happen…but it usually doesn’t in the absence of active alcoholism or drug addiction.
I went to school with Greg, but didn’t really know him that well and certainly had no contact with him since the late 90s. He was a bright, restless, sharp-witted guy and 44 is too young to go. It’s important to remember though, that “there is a solution.” There are more than 4,500 Twelve Step Meetings each week in Los Angeles and Alcoholics Anonymous is, as a matter of historical fact, the first American organization that publicly announced that it did not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual identity, handicap or mental illness. Whether you are an industry professional or merely a member of the “bridge and tunnel” crowd that drops in on this site from time to time, please join us if you feel that your life is unmanageable as a result of alcoholism and drug addiction. There are thousands of us in ‘The Biz’ and we really do live to serve.
RIP Greg.
Better pick up the slack at the next CC roast, Doug Ross!
RIP Greg – Another reminder of just how deadly the disease of addiction truly is. I hope that you are finally at peace Greg. You will surely be missed.
Wow…one of my favorite comedians! I’ve followed Greg since his days on Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. RIP.
Great guy, great comedian. He will be missed.
Such a tragedy. Very, very sad news.
Incredibly brilliant. Should have been more famous. Look at this short bit on the decline of education compared to Civil War times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWJSlQNm2g&feature=player_embedded
I agree. I have a prescription of Vicodin. I never take more than four a day. If I took four more at bedtime and died, is that accidental?
Great question, Tom.
Greg has struggled with substances in the past. ODing on drugs taken for recreation is still “accidental.” The only thing that would make it intentional is if he was intending to harm himself, which the article is saying he was not.
A very sad day for comedy. Greg was on a fast rise in recent months.
He was a father. He had children. I’m so sorry. This is very sad. He was extremely funny. My God.
As someone who suffered a massive herniated disc, my pain management specialist doctor had me taking 1 Vicodin ES (i.e. 1.5 regular vics) per hour when I was critical… I was hitting 15-20 a day of them!
Definitely, by today’s standards that is too much and a risk for liver damage, but it kept me from going under the knife and I am better today…
What if he was taking them to quell an extremely painful injury?
It is possible…
In any case, goodbye dear Greg and Rest In Peace!
You will be missed in so many ways…
I followed Greg since he started on louis black root of evil he was my favorite commic why did he ave to die
i only hope he is at peace now
RIP Greg. Condolences to his family
A true ‘comic’s comic’ who never enjoyed the mainstream recognition or success he deserved. He was smart, edgy, and always funny. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I worked with him on the ill-fated pilot Drive years and years ago. He was gentleman and willing to do whatever he needed to do to get the job done.
I’m glad, at always, the comment section at Deadline keeps it classy by having to question the “accidental” in his overdose, like this is some conspiracy we need to get to the bottom of.
RIP Greg Giraldo: a great person, as well as great comic, that will be missed
Travis, I too worked with Greg (on a separate pilot) and despite the show’s problems, he was an absolute pro throughout, great guy, one of the rare ones. RIP Greg, you were always a class act.
Greg Giraldo was such a talented and hilarious comic – he had that deadpan way of saying something so stupid, but keeping an ultra serious face…. it was impossible not to laugh out loud – and oddly, few comics have that talent, which combines good wit with patience, discipline, and calm
I’ll miss him terribly – I always thought that maybe, someday, Tough Crowd could be brought back, but even if it was, it won’t be the same without Greg Giraldo – it’s over for good now
May Greg rest in peace and God Bless him
I didn’t know he went to Harvard or Columbia law but I knew he was smart by how damned funny he was. I only consider a handful of people as truly funny or entertaining and greg was one of those to me, so yeah it’s a loss all around. Especially sorry for his kids, who gave up so much time with him so we could all laugh..rest easy greg we miss you already.
Rest in peace greg. You are in my mind forever and made a footprint in this struggle we call life.