Celebs

Comic Ralphie May dies at 45

Ralphie May performs Aug. 18, 2017. Tom Gilbert / Tulsa World via AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A spokeswoman for Ralphie May says the comedian has died. He was 45.

In a statement Friday, publicist Stacey Pokluda says May died of cardiac arrest. She said he had been fighting pneumonia, which caused him to cancel a few appearances in the past month.

His body was found Friday morning at a private residence in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the round-faced May was named casino comedian of the year at the Global Gaming Expo. He was booked through the rest of 2017 at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

May, a Tennessee native who was raised in Arkansas, parlayed a second-place finish on TV’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2003 into TV and club appearances.

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His publicist said May’s survivors include his wife, Lahna Turner, and children April June and August James.