Mitch Hedberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitch Hedberg |
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| Birth name | Mitchell Lee Hedberg |
| Born | February 24, 1968 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | March 30, 2005 (aged 37) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up |
| Years active | 1989–2005 |
| Genres |
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| Subject(s) |
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| Spouse |
Lynn Shawcroft
(m. 1999) |
| Notable works and roles | Strategic Grill Locations Mitch All Together Do You Believe in Gosh? |
Mitchell Lee Hedberg (born February 24, 1968 – died March 30, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian. He was famous for his unique style of humor. This included "surreal humor," which means jokes that are strange or dream-like. He also used a "deadpan" delivery, which means he told jokes with a very serious face, making them even funnier.
Mitch Hedberg's comedy often had short jokes, sometimes just one line long. These jokes often included absurd ideas or "non sequiturs," which are statements that don't logically follow what was said before. His funny style and calm way of performing made him very popular. Many fans loved his jokes so much that they sometimes shouted out the punchlines before he could finish!
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Early Life and School
Mitch Hedberg was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on February 24, 1968. His parents were Arne and Mary Hedberg. He had a mixed background, with family from Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Germany.
He went to Harding High School in Saint Paul. Mitch wasn't very interested in school. He even said that he barely managed to graduate.
Mitch's Comedy Career
Mitch Hedberg started his comedy journey in Florida. After practicing and getting better at his jokes, he moved to Seattle. From there, he began to travel and perform in different places.
His big break came in 1996 when he appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. This TV show helped him become much more well-known. The next year, he won a big prize at the Seattle Comedy Competition. In 1998, he even appeared on an episode of the TV show That '70s Show.
In 1999, Mitch made his own movie called Los Enchiladas!. He did many jobs for this film: he wrote it, directed it, produced it, and also starred in it! He also recorded three comedy albums. These were Strategic Grill Locations, Mitch All Together, and Do You Believe in Gosh?. The last album was released after he passed away. Mitch performed at the famous Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal three times.
As his fame grew, Mitch appeared on the Letterman show many more times. He even signed a big deal with Fox for his own TV show. Time magazine called him "the next Seinfeld," who is another very famous comedian. Many other well-known comedians, like George Carlin and Dave Chappelle, were also fans of Mitch's work.
His Unique Comedy Style
Mitch Hedberg's stand-up comedy was special because of how he spoke and acted on stage. He had a unique way of talking, and his jokes often came out quickly. His comedy was mostly based on "wordplay," which means using words in clever or funny ways.
His act usually had short jokes, sometimes just one or two lines. He also had longer routines where almost every line was a punchline. If a joke didn't get enough laughs, Mitch would sometimes add a funny comment. He might say something like, "that joke's dumb, I'm aware of that." He even joked about editing his recordings to make it sound like a failed joke was a big hit!
After Mitch's death, an album called Do You Believe in Gosh? was released in 2008. It had material he recorded in January 2005. His wife, Lynn, said that this performance was meant to be part of a new CD.
Personal Life
Mitch Hedberg was married to another comedian, Lynn Shawcroft. They got married in 1999.
Passing Away
Mitch Hedberg passed away on March 30, 2005. He was found in his hotel room in Livingston, New Jersey. His death was announced on April 1. Because of the date, some fans thought it might be an April Fools' Day joke at first.
His funeral was held in Woodbury, Minnesota.
Comedy Albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Strategic Grill Locations |
| 2003 | Mitch All Together |
| 2008 | Do You Believe in Gosh? |
| 2016 | The Complete Vinyl Collection |
Movies Mitch Was In
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Los Enchiladas! | Lee (He also wrote and directed this movie) |
| 2000 | Almost Famous | Eagles Road Manager |
| 2005 | Lords of Dogtown | Urethane Wheels Guy |
TV Show Appearances
| Year | Title | What He Did |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Comedy Product | Himself |
| 1998 | That '70s Show | Played Frank (a chef) in one episode |
| Premium Blend | Appeared as Himself | |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself (2 episodes) | |
| 1999 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Appeared as Himself in two episodes |
| Comedy Central Presents | Appeared as Himself | |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself (2 episodes) | |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Appeared as Himself | |
| Home Movies | Did voices for two episodes | |
| 2000 | Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself |
| 2001 | Ed | Played Dave in one episode |
| Just for Laughs in Montreal | Appeared as Himself | |
| Late Friday | Appeared as Himself | |
| Home Movies | Did voices for two episodes | |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself (2 episodes) | |
| 2002 | Saddle Rash | Did various voices |
| Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself | |
| 2003 | Late Show with David Letterman | Appeared as Himself |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Appeared as Himself | |
| Crank Yankers | Appeared as Himself | |
| 2004 | Shorties Watchin' Shorties | Appeared as Himself in two episodes |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Appeared as Himself |
See also
In Spanish: Mitch Hedberg para niños
