Comedian Patrice O'Neal Dead at 41

Comedian Patrice O'Neal has died at 41 after suffering a serious stroke in October, according to widely published reports.

O'Neal died Monday, according to the hosts of the "Opie and Anthony" radio show, on which the comic was a regular.

"Yes it's true that our pal Patrice O'Neal has passed away," the show's Opie tweeted Tuesday morning. "The funniest and best thinker I've ever known PERIOD."

Last month, fellow comic Jim Norton broke the news on the radio show that his friend had suffered a stroke.

"We don't know how he is," Norton said. "We don't know how he's going to be. I didn't want to (reveal) this myself. I wish we had more news for you."

O'Neal was also a featured comic on Comedy Central's highly rated "Roast for Charlie Sheen," on which he was the target of savage health-related jokes.

"Patrice O'Neal: Elephant in the Room," the comedian's first hour-long special, aired on Comedy Central in February. A CD and a DVD of the performance were released by the network that same month.

A representative for O'Neal refused comment.

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