Comedians React to Greg Giraldo's Death

Greg Giraldo died earlier today after having suffered what was reported to be an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

The early report of Giraldo's death came thru a post by Jim Norton on Twitter. Michael Ian Black posted a reaction, a few websites started posting the news, and eventually Punchline Magazine posted confirmation and a statement from Giraldo's management.

Reactions to the news have been a pretty tight mix of sadness and shock. For a while Giraldo occupied both the first and second slots of trending topics on Twitter, where a very sincere and gentle tone has taken over the typically harsh and ironic exchanges.

• There are no words 2 express what a shame it is 2 lose Greg Giraldo. His smart humor was unparalleled & he will be missed for yrs to come. ‑Lisa Lampanelli
• RIP Greg Giraldo. Belly-laugh hilarious, prolific, good & kind. A thousand oys can't express ‑Sarah Silverman
• I spent an afternoon with Greg Giraldo this summer and he gave me so much life perspective and humor in one long conversation. RIP. Fuck. ‑Joe Randazzo
• W/ Greg Giraldo's passing we lose one of the funniest smartest men there ever was, we should all be as good. Thoughts are w/his family. ‑Al Madrigal
• Dammit, Greg Giraldo - Our pain… should be from laughing with you like usual, NOT this. Goodbye, my brilliant friend. ‑Paul Provenza
• Greg Giraldo is the reason Comedy Central gave me a special. One of the nicest funniest dudes of all time. Just awful. RIP and thanks sir. ‑Josh Sneed
• I lost one of my best friends today. @greggiraldo. ‑Tom Papa
• Crying today at the loss of Greg Giraldo. Rest in peace. ‑Wendy Liebman
• Rest In Peace, my sweet friend, Greg Giraldo. So brilliant. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. Love all the people. ‑Andy Kindler
• Goodbye, Greggy. RIP. So sad. Really sad. Giraldo was a great guy, a great comic, a loving dad. It's just awful. My heart hurts. ‑Marc Maron
• Greg giraldo was a good guy. The kind of you're always glad to see. Also a funny comic and person. He died today. Goodbye friend. ‑Louis C.K.

Some of the reactions went more easily, and just as sincerely, to anger.

• Regarding #ripgreggiraldo Hey God- Go Fuck Yourself. ‑Dan Dion

And Giraldo's history with substance abuse reminded a few people to show concern for friends dealing with similar issues. It's no secret that drugs are a tool for a lot of comedians. Humor definitely asks for a certain brightness, and that heat can burn.

• Greg Giraldo RIP. Be careful with scripts, don't mix with alcohol and fully research pills online before you take anything. ‑Andy Milonakis
• So sad about Greg Giraldo. He was nice and funny. A rare combination in comedy. Hope this helps comics sober up. ‑Jamie Kilstein

Two especially moving posts came from Patton Oswalt. His anger confronting the senselessness, and his vulnerability pushing thru:

• Really, Universe? Greg Giraldo? Fuck off.
• Just went way out of my way not to drive past Laugh Factory. If I see Giraldo's name on that marquee, gonna lose it.

It's no mean poetic detail that Giraldo's last two tweets rhyme so bluntly with the news. His final tweet was an announcement of his shows at the Stress Factory, an engagement he wasn't able to finish; the tweet just before that, a reaction to the news of Robert Schimmel's death.

Gilbert Gottfried got right to work trying to earn the groans for a joke told too soon:

I can't imagine Giraldo would mind one bit.