Kenny DeForest is being remembered as a rising star in the comedy world. The late 37-year-old’s comedy career was tragically cut short after he suffered from a fatal e-bike accident in Brooklyn and died on December 13, 2023. To learn more about Kenny’s life and career, keep reading.
Kenny DeForest Was a Comedian
Seth Meyers described Kenny as a “universally beloved comedian who died tragically, and much too young” in a tweet following his death. The talk show host continued in his tribute, “His relaxed, confident delivery always stood out. As you can see from his debut late night set on [Late Night with Seth Meyers], he wasn’t afraid to tackle controversial topics, but never just to be edgy — always in service of an original angle and a great joke. It’s a shame we won’t get to see what he comes up with next.”
Kenny DeForest was a universally beloved comedian who died tragically, and much too young. His relaxed, confident delivery always stood out. As you can see from his debut late night set on LNSM, he wasn’t afraid to tackle controversial topics, but never just to be edgy- always in…
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) December 14, 2023
Kenny Was Also an Actor and a Writer
Kenny was known for his appearances on multiple late night talk shows and other television series. In addition to LNSM, the New York-based comedian also appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and landed roles in Comedy Central’s Tales From the Trip and the HBO drama series Crashing.
According to Kenny’s IMDb profile, he was credited as a writer for the show Straight Up, Stand Up and was the self-host of Live @ the Apt. He also landed a role in the short film Fate (A Dating App).
Kenny Was From Missouri
According to his IMDb page, Kenny was born in April 1986 in Springfield, Missouri.
Kenny Underwent Neurological Surgery Before His Death
Kenny’s friend and fellow comedian Ryan Beck explained that his family and friends initially believed that Kenny suffered from a hit-and-run car accident. However, they later learned that this wasn’t the case. Ryan created a GoFundMe page in order to help Kenny’s family pay the high costs of his medical bills after his bike crash.
“On Friday December 8, our dear friend Kenny DeForest was in an e-bike accident,” the GodFundMe profile reads. “Kenny underwent neurological surgery to remove a piece of his skull and relieve pressure from a brain bleed at Kings County Hospital.”
Kenny Died Days After His e-Bike Accident
Days later, Ryan told Deadline in a statement, “We’ve learned more information today from an EMS report. Kenny was on an e-bike and crashed. I spoke with crossing guards at the area today, and am still in search of more information. There is no police report because it was not a hit and run as first understood.”
After Kenny died, Ryan confirmed the news in a separate statement, according to the outlet. “Kenny died on Wednesday December 13 at Kings County Hospital surrounded by his parents, family, and friends. Kenny’s final moments included some of his favorite songs, stories of his childhood and memories of his extensive positivity and joy for life. He was a tremendous person and comedian. All of us in the New York comedy scene are truly devastated.”