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COMEDY CENTRAL TO DEBUT DOCUMENTARY ON PATRICE O'NEAL THIS FRIDAY

By Mike Johnson on 2021-02-16 08:10:00

Comedy Central will debut a new documentary on comedian Patrice O'Neal Killing Is Easy this Friday at 10 PM EST.

O'Neal passed away in November 2011 at the age of 41 due to complications of a stroke suffered the previous month.

O'Neal had a short run on WWE Creative in 2000 after being offered a position based on his standup act.   He went on the road for WWE for a week and often joked about his short run during appearances on the Opie & Anthony radio show.  O'Neall once told the story of blowing off a meeting (and an offered contract) to do standup, which made Stephanie McMahon so angry she called and fired him, and then called back several times to fire him again and again because he was shrugging it off as a comedian who was used to jumping from gig to gig.

The official press release for the documentary:

PATRICE O’NEAL: KILLING IS EASY, A COMEDY CENTRAL ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY
BASED ON THE IRREVERENT COMEDIAN’S LIFE AND PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH ALL THINGS COMEDY TO WORLD PREMIERE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 AT 10:00 PM ET/PT ON COMEDY CENTRAL

Comedy Central in collaboration with All Things Comedy today announced the world premiere of Patrice O’Neal: Killing Is Easy, a new documentary based on the irreverent comedian’s life that explores the hilarious and controversial material he left behind. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio (Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh, Jerry Before Seinfeld), Patrice O’Neal: Killing is Easy is told through the eyes of the people who knew him best including Bill BurrKevin Hart and Colin Quinn who reflect on this true original, a man who never achieved the success that many believed he was due and whose untimely death at the age of 41 left many wondering what could have been.

The World Premiere of Patrice O’Neal: Killing Is Easy debuts on Friday, February 19 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. The title will be available post-premiere on the CC app, On Demand and Download to Own platforms.

“There’s no way to express what comedy lost with the passing of Patrice O’Neal,” said Bill Burr. “I feel fortunate to have known him and I’m hoping this documentary will introduce his work to a new generation because he was one of the greatest comedians ever.”

“I am so proud to have completed this documentary about Patrice’s life and legacy, which will ensure his memory and comedy is kept alive, and continuously introduced to future generations,” said Von Decarlo. “It also warms my heart to see him get his well-deserved, starring role in a film.”

O’Neal was your favorite comic’s favorite comic. After starting his stand-up career in Boston, he burst onto the flourishing New York comedy scene of the late 1990s with his unflinching explorations of race, gender, and other topics that are as relevant today as they were at the time. With a style that was provocative, combative and always hilarious, O’Neal strived for something even more meaningful than laughter: the Truth. As flawed as he was brilliant, his refusal to compromise led to clashes with his peers and the industry, and he struggled for acceptance throughout his career.

Patrice O’Neal was born in New York City, and 22 years later began his comedy career in Boston, Massachusetts where he grew up since he was one year old. After conquering the Boston comedy circuit in just under six years, O’Neal took his comedic gifts to New York City. Once there, Hollywood soon called. O’Neal had a string of TV guest star appearances on MTV’s Apt 2FAssy McGeeEdZ RockYes DearArrested DevelopmentChappelle’s Show and The Office. O’Neal was a regular on the FOX series The Jury, and he starred in the Comedy Central animated series Shorties Watching Shorties, along with Nick DiPaolo. He supplied the voice of Harold Jenkins on Noggin’s animated show O’Grady High and was featured as Jesus in Denis Leary’s Contest Searchlight.

O’Neal made his Def Comedy Jam debut in 2007 but had three prior half hour comedy specials with Showtime, Comedy Central, and HBO. He made several appearances on Late Night with Conan O’BrienThe Late Show with David Letterman and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. But of all the many television appearances, his self-proclaimed favorite was Comedy Central’s Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. O’Neal’s movie appearances include Head of StateIn the Cut25th Hour, and Furry Vengeance. In 2011, O’Neal released his first one-hour stand-up special Elephant in the Room on Comedy Central.

Patrice O’Neal: Killing Is Easy is executive produced by Bill Burr, Al Madrigal and Michael Bertolina of All Things Comedy, Von Decarlo, and Michael Bonfiglio who also serves as director (May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett BrothersDoc & DarrylYou Don’t Know Bo). Ryan Moran and Gabriella Yacyk are the Executives in Charge of Production for Comedy Central.

Gladys & Dude Productions represents the name and likeness of Patrice O’Neal, owned and operated by comedian Von Decarlo, and Patrice’s mother Georgia O’Neal.

About All Things Comedy

Founded by Bill Burr and Al Madrigal, All Things Comedy (ATC) is owned and operated by comedians, giving each comedian not only the opportunity to create the content they think is funny but to take ownership in the company that distributes it. Today, ATC is the leading comedy podcast network featuring shows hosted by some of the best comedians in the business. After experiencing rapid audience growth over the past five years, ATC has had success in creating digital series, as well as a development slate for television, original podcasts and feature distribution.

In 2020, ATC premiered several podcasts including The Bill Bert Podcast, featuring Bill Burr and Bert Kreischer; Gettin Better with Ron FunchesBreaking Bread with Tom Papa; and Laughing with Myself with Melissa Villaseñor.  Recent ATC-produced stand-up specials include the Netflix specials Bill Burr: Paper Tiger, Whitney Cummings: Can I Touch It?, and Ronnie Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America.  ATC produced the Comedy Central series, Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers, and three one-hour stand-up specials for the network.

For more on ATC visit the website, subscribe to the ATC YouTube page and follow ATC on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.

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