The Buddy Holly Story actor Paul Mooney dies at 79: The comedian who worked with Dave Chappelle and starred in Bamboozled suffered a heart attack at his Oakland home
- Paul Mooney has passed away at the age of 79, it was revealed on Wednesday
- The star died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California
- He is best known for his work opposite Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story
Comedian Paul Mooney has passed away at the age of 79, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The star – who is best known for his work opposite Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story – died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California.
‘Comedic legend Paul Mooney has passed away,’ journalist Roland Martin shared on Twitter. ‘His cousin Rudy Ealy just called me from Paul’s phone and said he passed away two hours ago after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland. He was 79. We will pay tribute to him tonight on #RolandMartinUnfiltered.’
Sad loss for comedy: Comedian Paul Mooney has passed away at the age of 79, it was revealed on Wednesday. Seen in 2010
He was best known for his work as Negrodamus in Chappelle’s Show. And he also stood out as Sam Cooke in The Buddy Holly Story and Junebug in Bamboozled.
Paul – whose real name was Paul Gladney – grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana.
He was best known as a comedian, but was also a writer, social critic, and television and film actor.
Paul got his start as a writer for comedian Richard Pryor.
Then he was recognized for playing singer Sam Cooke in The Buddy Holly Story, a hit film from 1978 starring Gary Busey as Buddy.
Gone too soon: The star – who is best known for his work opposite Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story – died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California. Seen in 2007