Emmy award-winning comedy writer Kevin Rooney passed away in his home on July 19th after a long battle with diabetes and end-stage renal failure.
He was 71. Rooney wrote Jay Leno’s first comedy special, Jay Leno and the American Dream. He also worked on Leno’s “What’s my beef?” tirades for Late Night with David Letterman in the ’80s. “He was the greatest muse a comedian could ever have,” said Leno, who met Rooney at The Improv. “I got so much material just through conversations with Kevin.
The first time I saw him, I thought, ‘Oh boy, this guy is really good.’ It’s a real voice. There’s no gimmicks. He didn’t have a catch phrase.
There wasn’t a funny look. When times were rough, they throw out the catch phrase or funny look. Kevin didn’t have any of that.” Leno continued, “I don’t know anybody who thought they were better than Kevin Rooney.
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