Comedy legend Dick Capri, 93, was found dead at his home earlier this week after suffering from a medical incident. Capri’s son, Jeff, confirmed the comic’s passing, explaining that he had suffered from a fatal bleeding enlarged aorta, which doctors refused to operate on due to his advanced age. However, Capri spent his final weeks making the most of life and spending time with his family.
“The world is not as funny today as it was yesterday,” Jeff said about his father. Capri’s son explained that the family enjoyed dinner at Dick’s favorite restaurant on Christmas Day before he would be found dead the following morning. Furthermore, Alison Kaplan, Capri’s life partner, shared a post to Facebook, saying goodbye to Dick.
“I was hoping I could prolong this for a little bit, but unfortunately, once [word] started to get out, other people managed to post in front of the family,” she said. “Sometime in the middle of the night, December 26 this world became very lonely for me. For the last year, I’ve been dealing with a lot of very personal family issues And two very important … Loves of my life on hospice care. It has been a very traumatic year personally to say the least. Dick Capri, was truly one of the best.”
She continued “For the last 24 years of my life, this very good man loved me and showed me true love, kindness, generosity, and made it very apparent that it was he who he gave me a good sense of humor… I knew for sure about a month ago that we had a short time left together and we did whatever we could to make the time pass with dignity. I will miss you forever. My only regret is we didn’t have more time. I will always love you.”
The comedian’s official website outlines his professional accolades throughout his legendary career. “Dick Capri has taken the comedy world by storm and has left millions laughing in his comedic wake. In a career that has spanned two continents he has played every major entertainment medium including nightclubs, resorts, arenas, and theaters. Capri has even piled his trade on the Broadway stage and on national television. He has worked with such major stars as Tom Jones, Liza Minnelli, and Frank Sinatra,” it reads.
The “About Dick” section adds, “Capri broke into international prominence in 1973 when he toured with Englebert Humperdinck. He honed his comedy craft performing at such venues as Radio City Music Hall and the Minskoff Theater in New York, as well as in major resorts in Las Vegas and the Palladium in London. While in England he also performed on a television special broadcast over the BBC.”
“Capri made his Broadway debut in 1991 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, co-starring in the critically acclaimed Catskills On Broadway. The show played to sold-out houses for 14 months and later toured nationally, leaving audiences roaring with laughter night after night,” the description adds. “Capri had made several appearances on national television. He is part of Comedy Central’s highest-rated special, the comedically acclaimed New York Friars Club Roast In Honor Of Drew Cary. He also has had the privilege of performing for Presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush.”
Watch a standup comedy sketch of Capri’s from 1993:
Featured image credit: screenshot from embedded video.
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