A hit-and-run tragedy that took place on Thursday night resulted in the death of stand-up comedian Perry Kurtz, who had previously featured on the American version of America’s Got Talent. The man was 73 years old.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported an automobile accident early on Friday morning, and Kurtz’s manager confirmed the comedian’s death. The Los Angeles Police Department received a complaint at approximately 11:20 p.m., reporting the death of a male pedestrian in a hit-and-run event near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Corbin Avenue in the Tarzana area. When he arrived, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that he had passed away.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Nathon Jaimes, 18, on suspicion of committing the felony offence of hit-and-run causing death. Before making the arrest, the police reportedly spotted the wrecked grey Honda Civic of the suspect within a half-mile of the location where the incident occurred.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the comedian’s manager, Dante Rusciolelli, expressed his regret at Kurtz’s passing. Rusciolelli stated, “This news personally devastated Golden Artists Entertainment and me.” In addition to being a customer, Perry has been a mutual friend of mine since 1987. We are going to miss him terribly because he was a consistent presence in the comedy scene in Los Angeles for such a long time. Our prayers surround him with his relatives.
In the eighth season of America’s Got Talent, which aired in 2013, Kurtz was one of the contestants who appeared. During the performance, Kurtz introduced himself as “an ex-male stripper” in a video clip that he uploaded to his personal YouTube account. He then launches into a funny rap act, during which he makes references to the judges, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, and Mel B.
Despite the judges’ prompt decision to disqualify him, Kurtz intimated in his YouTube statement that his failure was unavoidable. “Howard had prewritten mean jokes, to which I heckled him back and got laughs from the crowd,” he explained to reporters. “After they handed me strange music, a mic stand, and cut off my mic to two-thirds of the audience when I began to sing, they informed the audience to boo me,” he explained to reporters. Now we are watching reality television.
The comic has been on several different television shows, including We the People, The Gong Show, America’s Funniest People, and The Late Late Show with James Corden. He also won a round of Let’s Make a Deal.
Kurtz had a history of stripping, having worked as a male strip show MC in San Francisco during the late 1970s. During his career, Kurtz engaged in a wide range of activities, including the sale of mattresses, the booking of regular corporate appearances, and the instruction of comedy workshops to hopeful young comedians.
He was a regular at Dangerfield’s, the Pantages, and the Comedy Store in Los Angeles throughout the 1980s, according to TMZ. He was also a regular at the Comedy Store.
