few minutes, she heard the sound of a gunshot, ran upstairs, discovered Jeni's condition, and called 9-1-1. Police and paramedics arrived and transported Jeni to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he died. His family later stated with certainty that the death was a suicide and that Jeni had recently been diagnosed with "severe clinical depression coupled with fits of psychotic paranoia." According to the coroner's report released in June 2007, Jeni had a history of schizophrenia and had been taking antidepressants and a sleeping aid. The report further indicated that his girlfriend heard him talking to himself about a week earlier, saying "just squeeze the trigger." Jeni's death was marked by many tributes, including thousands of messages on his website and YouTube as well as on the radio. On March 12, 2007, Jeni's death was mentioned on The Tonight Show by Jay Leno, with accompanying footage of Jeni's last appearance on the show. On March 16, Bill Maher, who had performed with Jeni as a young comic, dedicated the fifth episode of the fifth season of his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, to Jeni and discussed his death on Larry King Live. Filmography Bird (1988) as Morello The Mask (1994) as Charlie Schumaker Dad's Week Off (1997) as Bernie An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998) as Jerry Glover Chasing Robert (2007) as Rich the Bookie Television series Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995-2002) as Himself Platypus Man (1995) as himself Shorties Watchin' Shorties (2004) as himself HBO specials Richard Jeni: Platypus Man (1993) Richard Jeni: A Good Catholic Boy (1997) Richard Jeni: A Big Steaming Pile of Me (2005) Showtime specials Richard Jeni: Boy from New York City (1989) Richard Jeni: Crazy from The Heat (1991) Other works OfficeMax commercial (voice) (1995-1999) Certs commercial Coca-Cola commercial for concession stands at the movie theater 1997 References External links 1957 births 2007 deaths American male film actors American people of Italian descent American stand-up comedians Television personalities from New York City Hunter College alumni Male actors from New York (state) People from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn People with mood disorders Suicides by firearm in California Comedians from New York (state) 20th-century American comedians 21st-century American comedians 20th-century American male actors Burials in New York (state) 2007 suicides