Ralphie May, real name Ralph Duren May, is a famous American comedian and actor who entertained millions of fans with his funny stories and jokes.
He is one of the most successful and prolific stand-up comedians of his generation, with many exceptional works across various media platforms.
He is also a frequent guest on popular television shows and podcasts, and has appeared in several films and documentaries.
File
- Full name: Ralphie O. May
- Date of birth: February 17, 1972
- Age: 45 years old (at time of death)
- male
- Birthplace: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Stand-up comedian and actor
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Parents: Sue Ann May and Charles May
- Siblings: Three siblings
- Spouse: Lahna Turner (d. 2005; div. 2017)
- Children: April, June, May and August James May
- Relationship status: Divorced at the time of his death
- Net worth: 4 million USD
Early Life & Education
Ralphie May was born on February 17, 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and grew up in Clarksville, Arkansas.
He was the youngest of four children of Sue Ann May and Charles May, both civil servants. He had a difficult childhood, facing bullying, poverty, and domestic violence.
He also suffered a serious car accident at age 16, which left him with 42 broken bones and left him in a coma for several days.
He discovered his talent for comedy early and used humor as a coping mechanism. He was inspired by comedians such as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Sam Kinison.
He began performing at local clubs and events when he was 17 years old and won a contest to open for his idol, Kinison. Kinison encouraged him to pursue a career in comedy and advised him to move to Houston, Texas to hone his skills.
He graduated from Clarksville High School in 1990 and then attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he majored in drama and communications.
He dropped out after a year and moved to Houston to enter the comedy scene there. He then moved to Los Angeles, California to continue developing his career.
Personal life
Ralphie May married comedian Lahna Turner in 2005 after dating for four years. They have two children: a daughter named April June May and a son named August James May.
They also collaborated on several comedy projects, such as a podcast called Perfect 10 and a movie called Teacher of the Year.
However, their marriage was not without problems as they faced problems such as infidelity, addiction, and financial troubles.
They filed for divorce in 2015 but were not finalized before his death. They also had a bitter custody battle and accused each other of abuse and neglect.
Career
Ralphie May has had a long and successful career as a stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to fame in 2003 when he participated in the first season of the reality show Last Comic Standing and finished in second place.
He then appeared in several comedy shows, such as The Wayne Brady Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
He has also recorded four comedy specials for Comedy Central and two films for Netflix, with titles such as Girth of a Nation, Prime Cut, Austin-tacious, Too Big to Ignore, Imperfect Yours and Unruly.
He also performs at venues and festivals, such as the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Gathering of the Juggalos and the USO Tour.
He also ventured into acting and appeared in several films and documentaries such as For Da Love of Money, Gas, The Best and the Brightest, The Escort, and The Life of Lucky Cucumber.
He also voices characters in films and animated shows such as Squidbillies, Family Guy and The Simpsons.
Prize
Ralphie May has won several awards and honors for his acting and comedy. Some of them are:
- Casino Comedian of the Year (2012)
- Comedian of the Year (2013)
- Best Comedy Album for Unruly (2016)
- Best Comedy Special for Unruly (2016)
Death
Ralphie May died of cardiac arrest on October 6, 2017, at the age of 45. He was found unconscious in his hotel room in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was performing at Harrah’s Casino.
He was taken to hospital but could not be revived. He had been battling pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism for several weeks before his death. He also had a history of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
His death left his family, friends, fans and comedians in mourning. He was cremated and his ashes divided among family members. His memorial service was held at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tennessee on November 9, 2017.
Argumentative
Ralphie May is known for his sharp and controversial humor, often touching on race, religion, politics and sexuality.
He is not afraid to offend or challenge his audience and sometimes faces backlash and criticism for his jokes. Some of the controversies he has been involved in are:
- In 2005, he was banned from performing at the Stardome Comedy Club in Birmingham, Alabama, after making jokes about the Ku Klux Klan and the Confederate flag.
- In 2011, he was sued by his former manager, JP Williams, for breach of contract and fraud. Williams claimed that May owed him millions of dollars in commissions and expenses and fired him without cause. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2013.
- In 2014, comedian Carlos Mencia accused him of plagiarism, claiming that May stole some of his jokes and used them in his Netflix special, Unruly. May denied the allegations and said he had never seen Mencia’s comedies.
- In 2016, he was criticized by several Native American activists and comedians who said he made racist and insensitive jokes about their culture and history. in his Netflix special, Unruly. May defended his jokes, saying he respected and admired Native Americans.
Social Media
- Instagram: @ralphie_may
- Twitter: @Ralphie_May
Filming
- Because Da Loves money
- Gas
- The best and brightest
- The life of a lucky cucumber
- to escort
- I Am A Comic
- Like us
- Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy
Net value
Ralphie May has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
He earned his wealth from comedy specials, tours, television appearances, and movie roles.
