Charlie Barnett (comedian)

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Charlie Barnett (born September 23, 1954 in Bluefield , West Virginia , † March 16, 1996 in New York City ) was an American comedian and actor . He died of AIDS at the age of 41 . A number of well-known comedians name Barnett as one of their greatest role models, including Dave Chappelle .

life and career

Charlie Barnett was one of the few artists who managed to fill the Central Fountain in Washington Square Park

Born in 1954 in Bluefield , West Virginia , Barnett made his breakthrough as a comedian in the late 1970s and early 1980s. During this time he was already drawing attention to himself as a street artist with his sometimes quite vulgar comedy and was particularly successful in New York . He appeared in the countless parks of the metropolis, where he gained considerable fame through his appearances in Washington Square Park , when he entertained hundreds of people with his live shows. Charlie Barnett was one of the few artists who managed to fill the Central Fountain in Washington Square Park, which was actually a fountain, but was also used as an amphitheater when the water was turned off. In September 1980, Barnett auditioned for Saturday Night Live , with the then SNL producer Jean Doumanian , who was supposed to take up her position in November of the same year, wanted to hire him for the show. But shortly before signing the contract, he canceled Barnett at short notice and brought the then unknown Eddie Murphy into the team, who was soon dismissed by Doumanian's successor Dick Ebersol , who had also founded the show in the 1970s. He finally had his first notable appearance in film and television in 1983, when he was seen in the film Die Chaotenclique at the side of Max Gail , Mr. T or Adam Baldwin . In the following year he took on a major role in the popular television series Miami Vice , in which he was seen in six or seven episodes until 1987 as Neville "Noogie" Lamont .

Another successful period followed in 1985 (an episode of TJ Hooker and a supporting role each in the films Two Smells Buddy and Beer ) and 1986 (engagements in the films Be Strong, Cassie! And Charlie Barnett's Terms of Enrollment ). After he devoted himself almost exclusively to his work as a comedian again, he was used in the film Mondo New York in 1988 , where he could be seen, among other things, in his traditional place in the Central Fountain in Washington Square Park. Even after that, Barnett was almost exclusively active as a comedian and was also seen in an episode of the comedy show Def Comedy Jam in 1993 . His last notable appearance in the film and television business was in the film They Bite , which was released the year he died. He had the role of Larry . On March 16, 1996, Barnett, who grew up with his grandmother and moved to Boston at the age of eleven and then moved to New York at the age of 19, died of AIDS . According to various sources, he contracted the incurable disease due to used needles infected with the HI virus, which he used while consuming drugs. After his death, a number of African American comedians, including well-known artist Dave Chappelle , named Barnett as one of their greatest role models, who had an equally big influence on their careers. After his death, Barnett's remains were cremated and the ashes given to his mother.

Filmography

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Other sources also assume the year 1979
personal data
SURNAME Barnett, Charlie
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American comedian and actor
DATE OF BIRTH September 23, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Bluefield , West Virginia
DATE OF DEATH March 16, 1996
Place of death New York City