Eddie Murphy, Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart are three of the many comedians invited to participate in an upcoming tribute for the late Paul Mooney. Adding to the guest list, Mooney's sons, Dwayne and Daryl, are also set to appear. The special showcase is set to take place on May 27 at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, California.
For decades, The Laugh Factory has welcomed some of the best comedians in the world. Over the years, Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle and several other superstars have appeared at the Los Angeles location. Mooney is well-known for his presence at the popular comedy club. In fact, he appeared on stage when the club first opened in 1979.
Mooney was able to hone his comedic talents at the Laugh Factory and take them around the world. In addition to working with Pryor, Mooney has worked on Sanford and Son, Good Times, Saturday Night Live and The Chappelle Show. More recently, the accomplished comedian appeared in Meet The Blacks with Mike Epps and Good Hair with Chris Rock.
After decades of working in Hollywood, Mooney reportedly passed away from a heart attack in Oakland, California on May 19. In the wake of his death, a number of stars paid tribute to the late comedian.
"Paul Mooney [was] a comedy giant. I recall listening to his Race album in college and how formative it was. Yeah, the jokes [were amazing], but more so, [I loved] the freedom. He spoke freely and fearlessly about feelings and experiences others found difficult to express. May he be truly free now. Rest, sir," Ava DuVernay tweeted.
"I was lucky enough to open for Paul Mooney several times. It was a master class. It was like a Malcolm X speech that had been punched up by Redd Foxx. Then, in the middle of everything, he’d go off on a tangent about Jane Fonda. He was one of the greats. Rest in Peace, Mr. Mooney," W. Kamau Bell added.
Mooney was just 79 years old at the time of his passing.
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