A Sad Day for Boston Comedy. Barry Crimmins, Rest in Power
March 1, 2018 3:57 PM Subscribe
Barry Crimmins, the beloved cult comic and advocate for victims of childhood sexual abuse, died Wednesday of cancer at the age of 64. Barry Crimmins was a merciless satirist and social critic whose caustic wit channeled a fierce progressiveness that spared no one. He took great pleasure in biting the hand that feeds, which made him a fascinating, unpredictable performer and the kind of loose cannon that makes sponsors uneasy. Crimmins could never be counted on to play ball, and that likely hurt his finances, but made him the kind of principled artist other comedians emulated.
Barry was a driving force in the Boston comedy scene of the 1980's helping to launch the careers of Dana Gould, Louis CK, Steven Wright, Denis Leary, Kevin Meaney, Bobcat Goldthwait and dozens more.
His influence in a new American comedy scene was unsurpassed, but it was outside of comedy that Crimmins made his biggest impact. As chronicled in Bobcat Goldthwait’s fascinating documentary about him, Call Me Lucky, Crimmins suffered horrific sexual abuse as a child. With the proliferation of the internet in the early ’90s, Crimmins was one of the first to notice pedophiles lurking in and starting their own chatrooms, which internet service providers like AOL—then going by its birth name, America Online—failed to stop. In his blistering testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July of 1995, Crimmins called the nascent internet a “Pedophile Superstore.”
In January of this year, Crimmins tweeted that he had cancer and that his prognosis was not good. He tweeted: ‘OK, I've told my mom (she's 93!) so can be more specific. I have cancer. My prognosis isn't good. My care (kicked in Jan 1) attitude and emotional state are all fine though. Prayers appreciated- statements of your stance on spirituality or lack thereof are not. Love to all!’
And he added: ‘Most importantly, I have Helen and she, despite all of her own health challenges, has been my champion. I love her so much and she makes it clear with her every act that she feels the same about me. We're OK, we two. We really are.
The comedian’s death was announced Thursday on Twitter by his wife Helen, who wrote, “Barry passed peacefully yesterday with Bobcat and I. He would want everyone to know that he cared deeply about mankind and wants you to carry on the good fight. Peace.”
Barry was a driving force in the Boston comedy scene of the 1980's helping to launch the careers of Dana Gould, Louis CK, Steven Wright, Denis Leary, Kevin Meaney, Bobcat Goldthwait and dozens more.
His influence in a new American comedy scene was unsurpassed, but it was outside of comedy that Crimmins made his biggest impact. As chronicled in Bobcat Goldthwait’s fascinating documentary about him, Call Me Lucky, Crimmins suffered horrific sexual abuse as a child. With the proliferation of the internet in the early ’90s, Crimmins was one of the first to notice pedophiles lurking in and starting their own chatrooms, which internet service providers like AOL—then going by its birth name, America Online—failed to stop. In his blistering testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in July of 1995, Crimmins called the nascent internet a “Pedophile Superstore.”
In January of this year, Crimmins tweeted that he had cancer and that his prognosis was not good. He tweeted: ‘OK, I've told my mom (she's 93!) so can be more specific. I have cancer. My prognosis isn't good. My care (kicked in Jan 1) attitude and emotional state are all fine though. Prayers appreciated- statements of your stance on spirituality or lack thereof are not. Love to all!’
And he added: ‘Most importantly, I have Helen and she, despite all of her own health challenges, has been my champion. I love her so much and she makes it clear with her every act that she feels the same about me. We're OK, we two. We really are.
The comedian’s death was announced Thursday on Twitter by his wife Helen, who wrote, “Barry passed peacefully yesterday with Bobcat and I. He would want everyone to know that he cared deeply about mankind and wants you to carry on the good fight. Peace.”
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posted by jim in austin at 4:31 PM on March 1, 2018
posted by jim in austin at 4:31 PM on March 1, 2018
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damn, didn't realize that he used to live in the same suburb [Lakewood, OH] where I currently reside. Here's the local article on him.
posted by fizzix at 4:51 PM on March 1, 2018
damn, didn't realize that he used to live in the same suburb [Lakewood, OH] where I currently reside. Here's the local article on him.
posted by fizzix at 4:51 PM on March 1, 2018
Call Me Lucky is an amazing film. Barry was an amazing guy. I cannot imagine what his family is going through. Such a loss.
posted by helpthebear at 4:51 PM on March 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by helpthebear at 4:51 PM on March 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by stagewhisper at 5:13 PM on March 1, 2018
posted by stagewhisper at 5:13 PM on March 1, 2018
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posted by the return of the thin white sock at 5:30 PM on March 1, 2018
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 5:30 PM on March 1, 2018
Shit.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:21 PM on March 1, 2018
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:21 PM on March 1, 2018
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Can recommend his Reply All episode.
posted by little onion at 6:57 PM on March 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Can recommend his Reply All episode.
posted by little onion at 6:57 PM on March 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:19 PM on March 1, 2018
posted by JoeXIII007 at 8:19 PM on March 1, 2018
Oh, no. No, no, no.
I first saw Barry Crimmins in 2016, after seeing Call Me Lucky. He did a show at the Stress Factory in New Brunswick, NJ. It was not well-attended and I thought he might be cranky because of it, but he put on a wonderful, intimate show - more of a conversation than a show. He was hilarious, but also a compelling voice bringing attention to childhood sexual abuse.
I got to talk to him a little after the show and he seemed like just the coolest, sharpest guy.
After seeing him, I followed him on Twitter and often retweeted his tweets requesting that the Pope excommunicate him.
I'm really quite sad to know that he is gone. Moreso than I would've thought.
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posted by rachaelfaith at 9:48 PM on March 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I first saw Barry Crimmins in 2016, after seeing Call Me Lucky. He did a show at the Stress Factory in New Brunswick, NJ. It was not well-attended and I thought he might be cranky because of it, but he put on a wonderful, intimate show - more of a conversation than a show. He was hilarious, but also a compelling voice bringing attention to childhood sexual abuse.
I got to talk to him a little after the show and he seemed like just the coolest, sharpest guy.
After seeing him, I followed him on Twitter and often retweeted his tweets requesting that the Pope excommunicate him.
I'm really quite sad to know that he is gone. Moreso than I would've thought.
.
posted by rachaelfaith at 9:48 PM on March 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Barry's wife, Helen, has Stage IV non-Hodgkins B Cell Lymphoma and there is still an active GoGundMe for anyone who'd like to help her out.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 4:46 AM on March 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 4:46 AM on March 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I saw him open for Billy Bragg at a Needle Exchange Benefit in San Francisco in the 90s. He, Billy, and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy all came out for an encore and did Groove Is In The Heart, with Barry on the woodblocks or cowbell or something. That was my introduction to him and I have enjoyed his work ever since. I listen to a few comedy podcasts and standups speak of him with reverence.
It's worth seeking out his album Kill the Messenger to understand the unwavering passion he brought to his quest for decency and peace.
A big loss.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:05 AM on March 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's worth seeking out his album Kill the Messenger to understand the unwavering passion he brought to his quest for decency and peace.
A big loss.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:05 AM on March 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
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