Standup comic Robert Schimmel passed away Friday after a week-long battle with injuries sustained in an Aug. 26 car accident, his rep confirms to E! News. He was 60.
Known for is his raunchy HBO specials, as well as countless, equally explicit appearances on Howard Stern’s radio show (as was his style), Schimmel was well loved by his peers in the comedy realm.
While traveling in Arizona last Thursday, Schimmel’s 19-year-old daughter Aliyah swerved to avoid an oncoming car, causing the vehicle containing herself and her father to flip multiple times. Aliyah survived the accident and is currently in stable condition.
No stranger to health woes (or tragedy), Schimmel lost his son Derek to cancer at age 11, then won his own a battle with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma back in in 2000. The comic was currently awaiting a liver transplant, after learning in January that he’d contracted cirrhosis from a Hepatitis C-infected blood transfusion. No word on whether the diseased liver played into his untimely death.
The comedy community was rocked by Schimmel’s sudden passing Friday, and took to various social media outlets to say a sad so long to their friend.
“Robert Schimmel was one of the funniest and nicest guys in comedy,” Jimmy Kimmel tweeted Friday night, noting that he hoped he’d be given “bad information” regarding the loss. Added his friend Dane Cook: “Robert Schimmel was one the first people in comedy to call when my folks were fighting cancer. No ego no bs no small talk just inspiration.”
“I’m so sad about Robert Schimmel dying,” wrote fellow funnyman Penn Jillette. “I’ve been checking the news for 3 hours hoping it wasn’t true. He was very funny and wonderful.”
Onetime Fear Factor host Joe Rogan also tweeted his disbelief, saying: “If this has been confirmed, it’s terrible news. He was one of the nicest guys in comedy. F——–k. I loved that dude. He was SUCH a nice guy, and f–king hilarious.”
Schimmel’s brother Jeff Schimmel also took to his Facebook page, confirming the death with an emotional tribute to his sibling:
“ROBERT SCHIMMEL. Son, Brother, Father, Grandfather, Comedian, Generous Man. I have always loved you, admired you, and was proud to be your biggest fan. I will never forget a single moment. R.I.P.”
Schimmel is survived by his six children.
