Richard Jeni

Richard Jeni (April 14, 1957 – March 10, 2007), born Richard John Colangelo, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in an Italian-American Roman Catholic family, Jeni earned a bachelor's degree in comparative politics from Hunter College. After working in public relations, he decided to pursue stand-up comedy in 1982. Jeni gained recognition through Showtime stand-up specials and frequent appearances on The Tonight Show. He made his debut on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1988 and later appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno more times than any other stand-up comedian. In 1989, he won Comedy USA's Best Nightclub Comedian award.