Ex-'SNL' player Charles Rocket a suicide

Monday, October 17, 2005; Posted: 12:00 p.m. EDT (16:00 GMT)

FARMINGTON, Connecticut (AP) -- Charles Rocket, a comedian and actor who appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and had roles in a variety of movies and television series, committed suicide, the state medical examiner has ruled.

Rocket, 56, whose real name was Charles Claverie, was found dead in a field near his home in Canterbury on October 7. His throat had been cut, the medical examiner said.

"An investigation determined there was no criminal aspect to this case," State Police Sgt. J. Paul Vance said Monday.

Rocket was a cast member on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" during the 1980-81 season, a tumultuous year that followed the departure of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" and founding producer Lorne Michaels. Rocket gained notoriety when he was fired from "SNL" for swearing on the air.

He went on to appear in numerous TV shows, including "Moonlighting" and "Max Headroom," and provided voices for cartoon series.

His movie credits included "Earth Girls are Easy," "Dumb and Dumber" and "Dances With Wolves," according to the Internet Movie Database.

Copyright ©2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CNN.com-October 17, 2005

RIP Charles :( he was great in Dumb and Dumber

How sad. He was great in his small part in Dances With Wolves.

How sad and shocking that is.

How sad. He was great in his small part in Dances With Wolves.

I had to look it up on Internet Movie Database (IMDB) to refresh my memory as to who he played. I didn't recognize the character's name (Lt. Elgin), but when I looked at the quote on the next page--"You bash that prisoner one more time, I'll put those shackles on you!"--I remembered. Yes, he was really good in a dramatic role, however small it was.

Sorry to say I was not watching SNL during the time he was on, so didn't see his comedic work or the incident which got him fired.

Just as an aside, a rhetorical question...how does someone commit suicide by slitting their own throat?! I can't imagine how that could be possible...

God, that's terrible. Rest in peace :(

this is very sad rip charles

RIP

Just as an aside, a rhetorical question...how does someone commit suicide by slitting their own throat?! I can't imagine how that could be possible...

That I would like to know. A similar discussion is taking place at the Moonlighting forum & that question has come up there also. There's also been no mention of a weapon found. If he did kill himself, it should have been found nearby. Something doesn't seem right about it that's for sure.:(

http://snlmm.com/arc/cast/CaRo1.jpg
R.I.P Charles

That I would like to know. A similar discussion is taking place at the Monnlighting forum & that question has come up there also. There's also been no mention of a weapon found. If he did kill himself, it should have been found nearby. Something doesn't seem right about it that's for sure.:(It's not a common method, but not unheard of. Given that there was over a week between the discovery of the body and the determination of suicide, I'd assume there was a thorough investigation and postmortem. I can't imagine the police came upon him and didn't immediately think homicide first, rather than accident or suicide. As for the weapon, if it had not been found with or near the body, I doubt they would have ruled it a suicide.

It's not a common method, but not unheard of. Given that there was over a week between the discovery of the body and the determination of suicide, I'd assume there was a thorough investigation and postmortem. I can't imagine the police came upon him and didn't immediately think homicide first, rather than accident or suicide. As for the weapon, if it had not been found with or near the body, I doubt they would have ruled it a suicide.


Sounds logical to me, Thanks.

He did work with fellow SNL alumn Jane Curtin when he guest starred on an episode of 3rd Rock From the Sun.

Oh my Gosh! :( May he Rest in Peace!