Mitch Hedberg | |
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Born |
Mitchell Lee Hedberg February 24, 1968 Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States |
Died | March 30, 2005 Livingston, New Jersey, United States |
(aged 37)
Cause of death | Drug overdose |
Nationality | American |
Spouse(s) | Lynn Shawcroft (1999–2005; his death) |
Website | mitchhedberg |
Comedy career | |
Medium |
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Years active | 1989–2005 |
Genres | |
Subject(s) |
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Notable works and roles |
Strategic Grill Locations Mitch All Together Do You Believe in Gosh? |
Mitchell Lee "Mitch" Hedberg (February 24, 1968 – March 30, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor and unconventional comedic delivery (including deadpan delivery). His comedy typically featured short, sometimes one-line jokes mixed with absurd elements and non sequiturs.
Hedberg's comedy and onstage persona gained him a cult following, with audience members sometimes shouting out the punchlines to his jokes before he could finish them.
Hedberg was born February 24, 1968, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the son of Mary (née Schimscha) and Arne Hedberg. Hedberg graduated from Harding High School in Saint Paul.
Hedberg began his stand-up career in Florida, and after a period of honing his skills, he moved to Seattle and began to tour. He soon appeared on MTV's Comikaze, followed by a 1996 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman that brought him his big break. He won the 1997 grand prize at the Seattle Comedy Competition. The next year he appeared in an episode of Fox's series That '70s Show.
In 1999, he completed his own independent feature film, Los Enchiladas!, which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. He recorded three comedy CDs: Strategic Grill Locations, Mitch All Together, and Do You Believe in Gosh?, the last released posthumously. He also appeared at the Montreal Just for Laughs comedy festival in 1998, 2001, and 2004.