Comedian Ian Cognito Dies On Stage During His Performance

Source: Peter Dazeley / Getty

60-year old comic Ian Cognito died on stage during his stand up show in front of hundreds of fans who all thought it was apart of his act. According to reports, Cognito sat down on a stool while breathing heavily, before falling silent for five minutes, and the crowd at the The Attic bar in Bicester thought it was a joke, so they continued to laugh.

Veteran stand-up comedian Ian Cognito has died on-stage – literally. The audience thought it was part of the act. Died with his boots on. That’s commitment to comedy. I’ll never forget his kindness when I started out & how god damn funny he was.

— Jimmy Carr (@jimmycarr) April 12, 2019

South Central Ambulance Service arrived shortly after and the veteran comedian was pronounced dead on the scene. Sources say that Cognito had not been feeling well before the gig started, but insisted on going on stage anyway. Fans of the late comic took to social to express their condolences.

I’d heard so many stories before I met him. I got to a gig & the promoter said “Ian’s here & is in the dressing room”. I didn’t know which Ian he meant, opened the door & a man was pissing in the sink and smiling at me. I remember thinking to myself “I think this is Ian Cognito”

— James Acaster (@JamesAcaster) April 12, 2019

RIP Ian Cognito. Always absolutely lovely to me. A proper comedy legend.

— Jim Smallman (@jimsmallman) April 12, 2019

Don’t normally do public tributes but Ian Cognito was really nice to me when I was new & said there should be more women in comedy. He then said earnestly he had a big opportunity for me. “Have you ever gigged…..in Barnsley?”

— Fern Brady is in Australia (@FernBrady) April 12, 2019

Rest in peace, legend.

from Bossip http://bit.ly/2ItVxU9