The comedy community has been coming unglued as news of the apparent overdose deaths of comedian Enrico Colangeli and his girlfriend Fuquan Johnson continue to spread. Johnson and Colangeli were best known for their popular podcast, The Comedy Button, and were both veterans of The Groundlings improv and sketch comedy school. The podcast launched in 2016 and over the past two years has become a staple of the Los Angeles comedy community.
You may never have heard of Fuquan Johnson and Enrico Colangeli, but the two comics may be bigger names to you than comic co-stars such as Jim Carrey and Andy Dick. Johnson and Colangeli were found dead in a hotel room in the Pelican Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA on March 26, 2013. The cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose; cocaine and heroin were found in their system. The pair had performed at various comedy venues and had often talked about the positive impact drugs had had on their lives and careers: “We decided to be entertainers because it was a good place to meet chicks,” Johnson said. “It’s a great way to get chicks
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA (CBSLA) — The Ha Ha Comedy Club’s marquee on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood has an unusually solemn message: “Rest In Peace Fuquan Johnson and Enrico Colangeli.”
The club referred to both standup comedians, who were regulars on the local comedy scene, as legends in an Instagram post.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 15: Fuquan Johnson is seen in Los Angeles, California on May 15, 2018. (Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/gotpap/Bauer-Griffin)
The comedy community in Los Angeles is in grief after Johnson, 43, and Colangeli, 48, were found dead in a house near the Venice Beach canals on Saturday, allegedly from a drug overdose. Natalie Williamson, 33, of Los Angeles, was another victim who was found dead.
The fourth person discovered in the house was comedian and model Kate Quigley, who is also a frequent performer on the LA comedy scene. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but she is likely to survive since she is presently recuperating.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 15: Kate Quigley is seen in Los Angeles, California on May 15, 2018. (Image courtesy of GP/Star Max/GC Images)
“We appreciate all of the good thoughts and prayers for our daughter,” Quigley’s parents said in a statement. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time so that we may focus on Kate’s health and well-being.”
The incident was originally reported by TMZ, who said that the gang overdosed after consuming cocaine laced with fentanyl.
“It just takes a little amount of fentanyl to produce a severe overdose,” says Dr. Michael Daignault.
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Dr. Daignault, an emergency department physician at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, claims to have seen far too many patients who have taken fentanyl-laced medications.
“This is always a source of worry for us since fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin on the street. The ER doctor says it’s a lot stronger than other drugs.
Several high-profile fatalities have been connected to fentanyl, including Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019 and music icon Prince, who died in 2016 after an accidental fentanyl overdose.
“I believe we’ll see a lot more of this unintentional overdose,” Dr. Daignault said. “People who are seeking to use conventional party drugs like cocaine will be shocked to learn that it is laced with fentanyl, and they will get into trouble.”
Johnson, Colangeli, and Williamson have yet to be given an official cause of death.
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The Ha Ha Comedy stated on its website that Johnson and Colangeli will “make everyone laugh in heaven,” and that a tribute for them would be held on September 15.
