Brian Damage
03-12-2007, 10:07 PM
HOLLYWOOD - Talk-show king Jay Leno has paid tribute to tragic comedian Richard Jeni after the comic was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday.
Jeni appeared on Leno's Tonight Show more than any other guest, and the TV host admits he was stunned to hear of the funnyman's suspected suicide.
In a statement, Leno says, "I was totally shocked. He was a great comic... a great guy.
"He had an everyman kind of appeal, he was a kid from New York and his comedy was that of a kid from New York... He just made me laugh.
"Whenever I watched Richard, I'd go, 'Man, I wish I had his material.'"
Jeni appeared on Leno's Tonight Show more than any other guest, and the TV host admits he was stunned to hear of the funnyman's suspected suicide.
In a statement, Leno says, "I was totally shocked. He was a great comic... a great guy.
"He had an everyman kind of appeal, he was a kid from New York and his comedy was that of a kid from New York... He just made me laugh.
"Whenever I watched Richard, I'd go, 'Man, I wish I had his material.'"