Scott Kennedy

Not to be confused with the vocalist of the Scottish deathcore band Bleed from Within whose name is also Scott Kennedy.

Scott Kennedy (July 7, 1965 – March 14, 2013[1]) was an American comic, who appeared on Comedy Central. Openly gay, he co-founded the Gay Comedy Jam. For many years, he performed many times a year for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, both through the USO and as part of his own comedy troupe.

Kennedy was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico,[2] and raised there and in Hobbs. He attended New Mexico Military Institute and graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas, after his family moved there, and then studied psychology at the College of Santa Fe.[1][3] He got his start in comedy in 1986 at an open mic night at the Froggy Bottoms Comedy Club in Lubbock, where a friend had entered him in a comedy contest.[1][3][4][5] He moved to Houston and then in 1999 to Los Angeles. He had a successful stand-up career, performing at clubs throughout the country. He was featured performer at HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, and on Comedy Central was so successful on Premium Blend that he was given a half-hour special in 2004.[2][3]

Kennedy was openly gay, participating for example in Jason Stuart's 2004 improvised comedy film about gay dating, 10 Attitudes.[6] However, he was a footballer in high school and his burly "linebacker" or "lumberjack" looks often led audiences to be surprised when he revealed his sexual orientation at the end of a set.[4][7][8] In 1994, with his partner Kevin Maye, he co-founded the Gay Comedy Jam, which toured over 150 cities in the US and Canada; he was the "Oscar" character to Maye's "Felix".[8][9][10][11][12]

Beginning in the mid-2000s, Kennedy began touring extensively to entertain American troops on active duty, starting with USO tours in Afghanistan with Dave Attell.[2] He formed his own touring company, Comics Ready to Entertain, to go to more dangerous places than the USO was willing to send him to, performing up to five times a day on over 50 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.[7][13][14][15]

He was found dead on March 14, 2013.[1][7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "OBITUARY: Scott Kennedy brought laughter to troops overseas", The River Cities Daily Tribune, March 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 William Kerns, "Comedian Kennedy entertains servicemen, women in Afghanistan", Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, November 20, 2005.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Howie Nave, "From Johnny Carson to The Improv, here's John Henton ", Tahoe Daily Tribune, March 27, 2007.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Renee Westbrook, "Comedy for a cause: Scott Kennedy headlines fund-raising evening of laughs at UOP", The Record (Stockton, California), January 26, 2006 (online at Highbeam, subscription required).
  5. ↑ William Kerns, "Froggy Bottoms to celebrate 10th anniversary", Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, May 31, 1998.
  6. ↑ Mike Szymanski, "This time, Stuart's 'Attitude' is straighter than usual", Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, December 1, 2004, (online at Highbeam, subscription required).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Dave Holmes, "Scott Kennedy Death: Last Week America Lost a Real, Live Hero", Blogs, The Huffington Post, March 22, 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Gerald M. Gay, "The Score: Five shows Friday, from comedy to reggae", Arizona Daily Star, October 15, 2009 (online at Highbeam, subscription required).
  9. ↑ "Gay lifestyle has its humorous side", The Augusta Chronicle, June 27, 1997.
  10. ↑ "Attacking Life with Gay Abandon: Couple Takes Humor Out of the Closet on National 'Freedom Tour'", The Sacramento Bee, August 3, 1997.
  11. ↑ Hector Saldana, "'Gay Comedy Freedom Jam' to roll into town Monday", San Antonio Express News, February 24, 1995.
  12. ↑ "Gay Comedy Jam due Tuesday", San Antonio Express News, April 19, 1996.
  13. ↑ Sgt. David Hodge, "PHOTOS: Comedians entertain Soldiers at FOB Falcon", News Blaze, January 8, 2009.
  14. ↑ Spc. Terence Ewings, "Long Knives Receive Comic Relief in Iraq", Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs, March 8, 2009.
  15. ↑ "News: Comics come to Contingency Operating Base Basra", Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, Multi-National Division-South, June 12, 2009.

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