Ricarlo Flanagan.Photo: courtesy KMR Talent
Ricarlo Flanagan — a rapper, actor and comedian whose credits includeShameless,InsecureandLast Comic Standing— has died at the age of 41.
Flanagan died over the weekend after contractingCOVID-19several weeks ago, his agent, Stu Golfman of KMR Talent, tells PEOPLE.
In aGoFundMe campaignset up to raise money to “get him home to his family in Cleveland, Ohio,” Flanagan is described as a “loving son, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend with many amazing talents.”
“He brought laughter to every room he walked in,” the fundraiser’s description reads.
Flanagan’s first foray into the world of comedy happened in 2007, when he discovered a flyer on a telephone pole in Ann Arbor, Michigan, advertising for comedy classes. After attending one class, Flanagan was hooked and began pursuing a career in stand-up comedy.
In 2015, Flanagan became a semifinalist on the ninth season ofLast Comic Standing.
Ricarlo Flanagan onLast Comic Standing.Ben Cohen/NBCU
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The comic went on to appear in comedies such asThe Mick,The Carmichael Show,Insecure,The Neighborhood, andKidding. He also held recurring roles on Showtime’sShamelessand the Disney XD showWalk the Prank.
Prior to his death, the comic had landed his first film role in theAubrey Plaza-starring thrillerEmily the Criminal.
On Sept. 27, Flanagan shared on his Instagram that a fourth album, titledBoth Sides Of The Brain,would be released in the following month.
Three days later, Flanagantweeted about COVID-19, writing at the time, “This covid is no joke. I don’t wish this on anybody.”
In the wake of his death, Flanagan’s fellow comics have taken to social media to pay their respects.
“Ricarlo Flanagan wasone of the kindest people I knew. Knew, in past tense,” comedian and YouTuber Steve Hofstetter wrote on Facebook. “Please take this seriously. Please get vaccinated. Please wear a mask. This isn’t about ‘freedom’. This is about not wanting to lose people.”
“This really sucks,” stand-up comic Jeff Horste wrote. “One of the most sincere, supportive, and funniest humans I’ll ever know. Life isn’t fair. Tell your friends you love them.”
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
