‘Beloved’ America’s Got Talent star Perry Kurtz dies in ‘hit-and-run’ crash
Perry Kurtz has died 11 years after he auditioned for America’s Got Talent. He rapped about judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B, but received three ‘no’ votes and was sent home. Known as a “beloved” comedian in the LA area, America’s Got Talent star 73-year-old Perry Kurtz has died after a suspected hit-and-run […]
Perry Kurtz has died 11 years after he auditioned for America’s Got Talent. He rapped about judges Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B, but received three ‘no’ votes and was sent home.
Known as a “beloved” comedian in the LA area, America’s Got Talent star 73-year-old Perry Kurtz has died after a suspected hit-and-run incident on Thursday, August 15, leaving behind a 19-year-old daughter.
‘Beloved’ AGT comedian dies
Perry Kurtz is a “beloved” America’s Got Talent contestant who sadly died on August 14. The Los Angeles-based comedian was also known for appearing on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ Perry was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Tarzana, Los Angeles, after a collision around 11.20pm on Thursday, when a gray Honda Civic struck the car he was in.
The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene, while police have reportedly arrested a suspect on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.
Kurtz rapped about Howard Stern
Kurtz was a successful comedian from way before he auditioned for AGT. He started his career in the 1970s, when he headlined some of the biggest comedy clubs in LA and New York.
The hilarious star became a consistent headliner at Dangerfields, and played the Comedy Store, the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, the Hollywood Pantages Theater and other well-known spots.
He had a close relationship with and opened for the late actor, Robin Williams, before he passed in 2014. Just a year before, in 2013, Kurtz decided to audition for AGT and rap about the judges.
He received three no’s after rapping about Howard Stern, Mel B and Heidi Klum on season 8, but Stern was not present. Kurtz introduced himself as an “ex male stripper who made a lot of money”.
It started with puppet shows
Kurtz’s successful career started with puppet playground shows as a 10-year-old cub scout. Then after he graduated in 1972, he went into creating art for the likes of Pepsi, Levi Strauss and Sprite.
After two years, he decided to pack the artwork in and become a comedian. Kurtz entered a talent show in New Jersey, taking a $250 prize for singing a parody of Eleanor Rigby as Jerry Lewis.
He took a comedy workshop and lived on his savings until 1979. It wasn’t long before Kurtz began to show up in comedy gigs everywhere, moving to San Francisco to become a paid regular.
Kurtz was married for over 20 years, has four kids over 30 and one daughter, Bella, who practiced stand-up comedy with him at the age of eight.
One daughter, Sarah, has launched a fundraiser in his honor.