Standup comedian and actor Rudy Moreno has died at a Los Angeles hospital at the age of 66, according to multiple media reports Saturday.
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Rudy Moreno,” Pasadena’s Ice House announced Saturday. “Rudy was indeed a comedy legend and an Ice House favorite. We love Rudy and will miss him dearly. The Show must go on though. Rudy wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Moreno was in an ICU unit battling pneumonia and receiving dialysis treatment, his agent Mark Scroggs told the entertainment website TMZ.
“My heart is truly broken,” actor Ken Jeong posted on X Saturday. “Rudy Moreno, the Godfather of Latino Comedy, was the first person to book me at the Ice House. In fact, the first time my wife ever saw me do standup was at the Ice House on Rudy’s show. All this ultimately led to me doing my Netflix special at the Ice House, thanks to Rudy Moreno constantly supporting me and letting me get stage time on all of his shows.
“There are countless comedians who owe their start to this man. And he was hilarious, the consummate comedian. I am laughing thinking of his East LA Santa bit right now. And he was an incredible actor, guitarist and singer as well. Just a brilliant artist. I am getting emotional as I type this, and I am sending all my love to his wife Arlene, his son Nathan, and the rest of his beautiful family. Love you so much, Rudy. I know you’re making heaven laugh,” Jeong continued.
Moreno, who was born in Los Angeles, was a frequent performer at LA- area comedy clubs who also appeared in a number of television shows, including “George Lopez,” “Monk,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Shield” and “Dave.”
He was also in the 2022 film “Father Stu” starring Mark Wahlberg.
