The iconoclast comedy vet fell ill mid-set on Thursday night
British Comedian Ian Cognito has died at the age of 60.
During a stand-up performance in England, at Atic in Bicester on Thursday night (April 11), the comedy veteran took a seat near the midpoint of his set and began to breathe heavily, according to BBC News. Believing it was part of his material, the crowd reportedly laughed, but after club owner Andrew Bird went to check on him onstage, it became clear to him that it was no joke.
Authorities later confirmed that Cognito, born Paul Barbieri, died at the scene, even after two off-duty nurses and a police officer performed chest compressions.
Following the news, droves of fans and fellow comics paid tribute to Cognito, stressing his commitment to the craft, and how he died in his element.
“Veteran stand-up comedian Ian Cognito has died on-stage — literally,” Jimmy Carr tweeted earlier today. “The audience thought it was part of the act. Died with his boots on. That’s commitment to comedy. I’ll never forget his kindness when I started out & how god damn funny he was.”
Read more tribute to Cognito here.
Ian Cognito has died.
— Rufus Hound (@RufusHound) April 12, 2019
That might not mean much to you if your knowledge of stand-up only extends to a screen but for anyone who ever sat down in a comedy club and saw him on a stage – this is a hard one.
Puck grew up and now Puck is dead.
We have lost one of the greats. Shit.
Fucking hell, Ian Cognito, an absolute firecracker of a man, he once stayed over at mine and when we woke up in the morning he was gone. It was a second floor flat and the front door was deadbolted. I asked him how he said he had no recollection. Sleep well friend xx #RIP
— Bethany Black twitch.tv/beffernieblack (@BeffernieBlack) April 12, 2019