“Hangover” actor and stand-up comedian, Brody Stevens, was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Feb. 22.
The Blast reported that sources close to the investigation said that LAPD was dispatched to Stevens’s home shortly after 1 p.m. Audio obtained by the media outlet of the emergency dispatchers revealed that the actor is believed to have committed suicide by hanging.
Stevens’s representative called him inspirational and a friend to many of the people working in comedy.
“Brody was an inspiring voice who was a friend to many in the comedy community,” Stevens’s representative told the Blast.
“He pushed creative boundaries and his passion for his work and his love of baseball were contagious.”
Stevens had a long battle with mental problems, and he was very open about his struggles with bipolar disorder on his documentary, “Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!”
Stevens created the documentary along with his friend, Zach Galifianakis, in order to document his life. It aired first on HBO GO in 2012 and switched to Comedy Central the following year.
In an interview with Stevens in 2018, the “Hangover” actor also talked about Kanye West and mental health.
“I’ve been there,” Stevens said, in regards to taking medicine for his issues. “With medication, you have to be careful.”
Stevens was taken to the hospital in 2011 after he experienced a bipolar episode, where he tweeted that he had stopped taking anti-anxiety medication.
According to the Blast, Stevens confided in a friend that he took himself off the anti-anxiety drugs because they dulled his creativity in creating comedy.
According to Sarah Silverman, a fellow comedian, when Stevens used the medication, it felt like a heavy blanket lying on top of him, reported PEOPLE.
‘Hangover’ And Comedy
Stevens was born in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles and often participated with comedy clubs in the area, such as the Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory, according to Hollywood Life.
He served as part of the studio audience warm-up act for many talk shows from 2008 to 2014, including for Chelsea Handler‘s late night “E! talk show Chelsea Lately,” “The Best Damn Sports Show Period,” and “MTV’s Ridiculousness.” He was also a warm-up act for the comedian Chris D’Elia’s Netflix special, “Incorrigible.”
In 2009, he starred in the original “Hangover” movie with Bradley Cooper, playing Officer Foltz. In 2011, he took the role of the Kingsley Guy in “Hangover 2.”
‘He Will Be Missed’
He was very much loved in the comedy community in Los Angeles, and many comedians shared their condolences via social media. Patton Oswald took to Twitter and wrote about how important it is to talk to someone who is feeling depressed or suicidal.
If you are depressed or feeling suicidal please please please please please reach out to ANYONE. I never get to see Brody Stevens again I can’t stand this. #RIPBrodyStevens #818ForLife pic.twitter.com/n1jQhXdOIz
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 22, 2019
The Comedy Store thanked Stevens on Twitter for sharing his positive energy.
“Thank you Brody for sharing your Comedy and positive energy with us for so many years. You made late nights so much fun, pushing boundaries, being different, and never doing the same show twice. Joke writing, crowd work, drums, baseball. We love you forever Brody.”
Thank you Brody for sharing your Comedy and positive energy with us for so many years. You made late nights so much fun, pushing boundaries, being different, and never doing the same show twice. Joke writing, crowd work, drums, baseball. We love you forever Brody. #brodystevens pic.twitter.com/IYvo0wmWrt
— The Comedy Store (@TheComedyStore) February 22, 2019
Tom Green, another comedian, shared his memories of the late “Hangover” actor.
“Very saddened to hear about the death of my friend, the hilarious stand up comic, Steven Brody Stevens. A frequent guest on my talk shows and mainstay on the Hollywood stand up scene. Rest in peace @BrodyismeFriend You are a legend. Make em laugh up there.”
Very saddened to hear about the death of my friend, the hilarious stand up comic, Steven Brody Stevens. A frequent guest on my talk shows and mainstay on the Hollywood stand up scene. Rest in peace @BrodyismeFriend You are a legend. Make em laugh up there. pic.twitter.com/uNe75Yu1f8
— Tom Green (@tomgreenlive) February 22, 2019
Suicide Statistics and Prevention
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and in 2017, 47,173 Americans died by suicide, while 1.3 million people attempted suicide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the report Vital Signs: Trends in State Suicide Rates on June 8, 2018, revealing that suicide rates have increased by 30 percent since 1999. However, the report points out that there are a variety of factors other than mental health conditions that lead to suicide.
“Suicide rates increased significantly across most states during 1999–2016. Various circumstances contributed to suicides among persons with and without known mental health conditions,” the report stated.
If you or someone you know is showing signs that they might be suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 800-273-TALK. You can also text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
