{"id":5131,"date":"2026-01-05T17:17:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T17:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/?p=5131"},"modified":"2026-01-05T17:17:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T17:17:34","slug":"comedian-and-former-late-show-host-john-mulrooney-passes-away-at-67","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/comedian-and-former-late-show-host-john-mulrooney-passes-away-at-67\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedian and Former \u2018Late Show\u2019 Host John Mulrooney Passes Away at 67"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

John Mulrooney, the Brooklyn-born comedian, radio personality, and former Late Show<\/em> host, has died suddenly at 67, leaving the entertainment world reeling. Reports from Albany\u2019s Times Union<\/em> confirm he passed away at his home in Coxsackie, New York, on December 29, 2025. The cause of death has not yet been released, and friends describe his passing as completely unexpected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulrooney\u2019s career spanned nearly every corner of comedy and broadcasting. He emerged in the 1980s performing at iconic clubs like Dangerfield\u2019s and Sheepshead Bay, quickly earning a reputation for his sharp wit and commanding stage presence. By 1987, he stepped into the spotlight on television, temporarily replacing Joan Rivers as host of The Late Show<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Mulrooney appeared on countless shows, including Comic Strip Live<\/em>, An Evening at the Improv<\/em>, Great Balls of Fire!<\/em>, and Andrew Dice Clay and His Gang Live! The Valentine\u2019s Day Massacre<\/em>. He competed on Star Search<\/em> and The New Hollywood Squares<\/em>, guest-starred on Ellen<\/em> and The Good Life<\/em>, and hosted Fox\u2019s King of the Mountain<\/em> and The Pat Sajak Show<\/em>. He even created and starred in the Comedy Central sitcom Midtown North<\/em>, proving his talent extended beyond stand-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Later, Mulrooney returned to New York and became a radio powerhouse. He hosted The John and Abbey Show<\/em> on 105.1 \u201cThe Buzz\u201d and co-hosted the wildly popular Wolf and Mulrooney in the Morning<\/em> alongside Bob \u201cThe Wolf\u201d Wohlfeld on WPYX. His unmistakable voice became a staple across iHeartRadio and WPDH, shaping East Coast airwaves for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in his later years, Mulrooney never stopped performing. Just months before his passing, he shared the stage with Colin Quinn and Aidan O\u2019Kelley at the Craic Comedy Fest in Astoria, demonstrating the energy and charisma that made him unforgettable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tributes poured in instantly. Adam Sandler, reflecting on their early days in comedy during a 2024 Joe Rogan<\/em> podcast episode, called Mulrooney \u201ca force of nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember Mulrooney would just destroy a room,\u201d Sandler said. \u201cHe dominated the stage, and then they\u2019d bring you up\u2014and you realize you\u2019re in the presence of someone truly special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of show business, Mulrooney dedicated 14 years to public service as a police officer from 2010 to 2024. He often performed comedy for first responders and at community fundraisers, blending humor with heartfelt support for those who serve. He was also a recreational pilot, demonstrating his adventurous spirit in every part of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His obituary paints a picture of a man who lived fully and generously: \u201cBeloved stand-up comedian, dedicated public servant, and proud patriot whose life was defined by service, laughter, and unwavering devotion to the people he loved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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John Mulrooney \/ Facebook<\/kbd><\/sub><\/mark><\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Steven Van Zandt, a longtime friend and fellow radio host, shared his disbelief with the Times Union<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo talk to him just two weeks ago\u2026 he was planning for Christmas, looking forward to 2026. It\u2019s all so unexpected. It\u2019s still sinking in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulrooney\u2019s impact extended far beyond comedy clubs and radio studios. He became a beloved presence for communities across the country, using humor to connect, uplift, and bring people together. His laughter, stories, and spirit continue to resonate with everyone who had the privilege to know him or experience his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Mulrooney leaves behind a legacy of joy, inspiration, and service\u2014proof that comedy can touch lives far beyond the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering Mulrooney? Share your favorite moments or jokes that brought a smile to your day\u2014let\u2019s celebrate the laughter he gave the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

John Mulrooney, the Brooklyn-born comedian, radio personality, and former Late Show host, has died suddenly at 67, leaving the entertainment…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5131"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5135,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions\/5135"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}