Actor and comedian Ricarlo Flanagan has passed away at the age of 41 following a battle with COVID-19.
The star, who has appeared on shows such as Last Comic Standing and Shameless, died over the weekend, according to his agent Stu Golfman.
Family Is Trying to Get Him Home
“Ricarlo was truly one of the nicest people on the planet, a wonderful performer and we are heartbroken by the news of his passing,” Golfman says in a statement, according to People.
Since his passing less than a week ago, Flanagan’s loved ones created a GoFundMe campaign to get him home to Cleveland, Ohio.
“The news of a loved one’s death is never something easy to hear, let alone if you are far away from the individual. Our dear friend has suddenly passed away and sadly was far from his family,” the description of the campaign stated.
“Ricarlo Flanagan was a loving son, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend with many amazing talents. He brought laughter to every room he walked in. We would like to get him home to his family in Cleveland, Ohio, so his family can put him to rest.”
The GoFundMe page has already raised over $18,000 and is continuing to grow by the hour.
Friends Are Paying Tribute
While it’s unclear exactly when Flanagan tested positive for COVID-19, his final tweet on October 1 did address his health battle.
“This covid is no joke. I don’t wish this on anybody,” he wrote at the time.
And, following the news of his passing, some of Flanagan’s comedy pals have shared tributes on social media.
“Ricarlo Flanagan was one of the kindest people I knew. Knew, in past tense. This is the last thing Ricarlo tweeted before he died,” comedian Steve Hofstetter shared.
“Please take this seriously. Please get vaccinated. Please wear a mask. This isn’t about ‘freedom’. This is about not wanting to lose people.”
“This really sucks. One of the most sincere, supportive, and funniest humans I’ll ever know. Life isn’t fair. Tell your friends you love them,” comic Jeff Horste wrote.
Legacy of Comedy
Flanagan started his comedy career back in 2007 and by 2015 was a semifinalist on Season 9 of Last Comic Standing.
He had a recurring role in Shameless back in 2017 as Davey, but has also appeared in shows such as Insecure, The Mick, and The Neighborhood.
