Comedian Kenny DeForest Dead at 37

Stand-up comedian Kenny DeForest, who had performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Late Show with James Corden, died at the age of 37 on Wednesday after being struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle near his Brooklyn home on Dec. 8. 

DeForest, who had also appeared on Pete Holmes's HBO series Crashing and Comedy Central’s Tales From The Trip, had previously undergone neurological surgery following the accident, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his friend Ryan Beck. Doctors at Brooklyn's Kings County Hospital had attempted to remove a piece of his skull to relieve pressure from a brain bleed.

However, Beck updated the page on Dec. 13 with the tragic news of Deforest's passing.

"Kenny DeForest is and was a truly positive influence on all the lives he touched," he wrote. "Kenny died on Wednesday December 13th at Kings County Hospital surrounded by his parents, family, and friends. Kenny's final moments included some of his favorite songs, stories of his childhood, and memories of his extensive positivity and joy for life."

Late Night likewise posted a tribute to DeForest on Thursday after news began to spread.

"Kenny DeForest was a universally beloved comedian who died tragically, and much too young," the late night show posted on X. "His relaxed, confident delivery always stood out. As you can see from his debut late night set on LNSM, he wasn’t afraid to tackle controversial topics, but never just to be edgy—always in service of an original angle and a great joke. It’s a shame we won’t get to see what he comes up with next."

Kenny DeForest was a universally beloved comedian who died tragically, and much too young. His relaxed, confident delivery always stood out. As you can see from his debut late night set on LNSM, he wasn’t afraid to tackle controversial topics, but never just to be edgy- always in…

— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) December 14, 2023

The comedian had most recently recorded a stand-up special, Kenny DeForest—Don’t You Know Who I Am?, which was shot at The Gutter in Brooklyn and released in August. You can watch the special below.