Ralph Duren May (1972 - 2017)

Born 17 Feb 1972 in Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Died 6 Oct 2017 at age 45 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, United States

Biography

Ralph May is Notable.

Ralph Duren May, better known as Ralphie May, was an American stand-up comedian and actor.

Ralphie May was Ralph Duren May born 17 Feb 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to parents Charles Winston and Sue Ann (nee Sykes) May, the youngest of 4 children. Raised in Clarksville, Arkansas, Ralphie May struggled with obesity throughout his life, but refused to let his weight define him, describing himself as "not a fat comedian but a comedian who happens to be fat." At the age of 17, Ralphie May won contest to open for Sam Kinison, and later moved to Houston, Texas where he attended San Jacinto Community College - South Campus.

Ralphie May's comedy career took flight in 2003 during his appearance on the first season of Last Comic Standing. FInishing second place in the competition, May had accumulated a following, which spawned his appearances on TV shows like The Late Show with Craig Kilborn, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Jimmy Kimmel Show as well as a number of comedy specials like Girth of a Nation, Unruly and Imperfectly Yours for DVD and Netflix. May also performed for USO tours in Japan, Germany, Italy and Iraq, as well as appearances with notables such as Penn & Teller, John Pinette, Arsenio Hall, Cesar Milan, Jay Mohr, Joe Rogan.

On 4 Oct 2017, Ralphie May was presented with the Casino Comedian of the Year Award and just two days later, on 6 Oct 2017, May went into cardiac arrest after battling pneumonia for several weeks. May passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 45, where he had been in residence at Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Sources

See also:

• Harrison, Eric. “Comedian Ralphie May Returns to the Roost.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. January 18, 2008, p.11W.
• Wikipedia: Ralphie May
• Ralphie Duren May (February 17, 1972 - October 6, 2017)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #184048246