Mitch Hedberg

Mitch Hedberg (February 24, 1968 - March 30, 2005), born Mitchell Lee Hedberg, was an American stand-up comedian. He was known for his one-liner comedy, characterized by surreal humor and his distinctive deadpan delivery, as well as his unconventional stage presence. Hedberg rose to prominence through repeated appearances on Late Show with David Letterman, and was dubbed "the next Seinfeld" by Time.

Hedberg was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, attended Harding Senior High School, and graduated in 1986 before moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he worked in restaurant kitchens. He began his stand-up career in Florida, then moved to Seattle and began to tour, appearing on MTV's Comikaze before a 1996 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman that brought him his big break. He won the 1997 grand prize at the Seattle Comedy Competition. Throughout his career he recorded three stand-up comedy albums, Strategic Grill Locations (1999), Mitch All Together (2003), and the posthumous Do You Believe in Gosh? (2008). He also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the independent film Los Enchiladas! (1999), making cameo appearances in Almost Famous (2000) and Lords of Dogtown (2005).

His stand-up was characterized by short, surreal one-liners and absurd observations about everyday life, delivered in a low-energy, deadpan drawl, often while wearing sunglasses with long hair covering his face. His comedy was frequently compared to that of Steven Wright, though Hedberg rejected the comparison. He struggled with substance abuse throughout his adult life and died of an accidental overdose on March 30, 2005, at the age of 37. He has retained a cult following, with Rolling Stone ranking him No. 20 on its 2017 list of the "50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time".