Perry Kurtz, Los Angeles Comedian and ‘America’s Got Talent’ Candidate, Dies in Car Collision at 73

Perry Kurtz, Los Angeles Comedian and ‘America’s Got Talent’ Candidate, Dies in Car Collision at 73

As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the comedic world, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Perry Kurtz. This man wasn’t just a performer; he was an entertainer who brought laughter to people across the United States and Canada. His journey from Philadelphia to San Francisco, then to Los Angeles, mirrors the path many of us aspiring comedians dream about, and his name on the side of the Comedy Store is a testament to his hard-earned success.


Comedian Perry Kurtz, who graced seasons eight of ‘America’s Got Talent’ and ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden’, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run accident. He was 73 years old.

On Thursday night at approximately 11:20 PM in Tarzana, Kurt sustained fatal injuries after being hit by a Honda Civic, as reported by the Los Angeles Police Department. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his death, determining that the cause was traumatic injuries.

LAPD arrested 18-year-old Nathan Jaimes in connection with the hit-and-run.

In the eighth season’s sixth episode, aired in 2006, Kurtz tried out for America’s Got Talent. His act was a rap targeted at the judges, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum, and Mel B, during that performance. Regrettably, none of the judges chose him, leading to his elimination at the same round.

According to IMDb, he made appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2014 and The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2018.

In 2022, Perry Kurtz shared with Shoutout LA that he was born in Philadelphia and relocated to San Francisco in 1979. He expressed to the platform that he is a full-time, professional comedian who has always been employed in this field without ever needing a secondary job, instead earning a living by bringing laughter to others.

During the ’80s, he toured both the U.S. and Canada giving performances, and later relocated to Los Angeles in 1989. Shortly thereafter, he started performing regularly at the Comedy Store, and today, his name can be seen on the exterior of that very building.

Information about the survivors wasn’t instantly accessible, but his daughter, Zelda Velazquez, verified his passing to The New York Times.

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2024-08-18 21:54