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Comedian, actor, and TV writer Jak Knight has died at the age of 28. According to The Hollywood Reporter, an agency rep announced that Knight died Thursday night from undisclosed causes. “Knight’s loved ones ask that their privacy please be respected during this extremely difficult time,” the rep said. Knight’s career was on the rise. He had written for shows such as Netflix’s Big Mouth and ABC’s Black-ish. He also co-created and starred in the new Peacock series Bust Down, which centers on a group of friends working low-paying jobs in Gary, Indiana. Knight had just completed his first and final movie role in Chelsea Peretti’s First Time Female Director.
Comedian and Writer Jak Knight’s Short But Impressive Career
Knight got his start just short of the age of 20 when he wrote for the animated series Lucas Bros. Moving Co. He cited Dave Chapelle, who he would eventually open for, as an inspiration for his comedy career. The A.V. Club says Knight gained greater recognition when he was selected to do a set for Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup.
Along with being a writer for Big Mouth, Knight provided the voice for the character DeVon. Speaking of the experience on the know, Knight said, “Being a writer is amazing and just being in the room with some of the most brilliant people alive, and I get to sit across the table with people like Jordan Peele and Maya Rudolph. It’s surreal, but it’s a lot of work.”
Tributes Pour in For Jak Knight
Many are paying tribute to Knight after the young comedian’s death. Kumail Nanjiani took to Twitter to call Knight a “Hilarious comedian and a great guy.” Comedy Central tweeted, “Jak Knight was a hysterical and honest comedian. We will miss him tremendously.” A joint statement from Peacock and Universal Television reads, “We are devastated by the passing of Jak Knight. He was a brilliant comedian, visionary, and artist, and we were all lucky to experience his greatness. Our hearts are with Jak’s family, friends and community during this heartbreaking time.”
2022 has seen many substantial losses ranging from James Caan to Ray Liotta. But at such a young age and with what seemed to be a bright career in comedy ahead of him, Jak Knight’s death is particularly tragic. The Nerd Stash honors the comedian, and we offer condolences to his family.