Richard Jeni’s Family Confirms Comedian ‘Took His Own Life’

LOS ANGELES (March 13, 2007) — Autopsy results are still pending in the death of comedian Richard Jeni, but his family has come forward confirming the star ?did take his own life.?The family of Jeni said he was seeing a specialist and released a statement aimed at quashing rumors about why Jeni would commit suicide.“He had just enjoyed one of his most financially rewarding years to date,? the family said in their statement. ?He was consistently creating new material for his busy touring schedule, and during the last week of his life, he had meetings scheduled with Chris Albrecht, Chairman and CEO of HBO, to discuss future projects following his last HBO special. In actuality, the past few years had been more prolific than ever. As his agents can attest, prior to his illness, Richard only missed one engagement in over twenty years, and that was due to weather.?Jeni?s family revealed the comic was suffering from ?severe clinical depression, coupled with bouts of psychotic paranoia.??One only needs to have a family member or friend with a mental illness to understand that there is nothing rational, predictable, or fair about these diseases. Mental illness is as serious as any physical affliction and can be just as devastating,? they wrote.In lieu of flowers, the family has asked ?donations be made to Mental Health America (www.nmha.org) where a memorial fund has been set up in his name.?A private memorial will be held for Jeni?s friends in Los Angeles later this month.