Ralphie May was an American comedian and actor, best known after putting on a series of great performances during the first edition of the NBC reality TV talent show. Last Comic Standing.
Despite growing up in a strained family environment, as a result of the “hate” that reigned between his parents, the comedian was able to grow beyond the negative effects into a man who made others laugh. Unfortunately, the demons that were with him after his parents got married also attacked his, resulting in a rocky relationship between Ralphie May and his wife.
Who was Ralphie May?
May, who has managed to build a comedy career to his larger than life lifestyle, was born on February 17, 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The youngest of his parents’ four children, he grew up with his siblings in Clarksville, Arkansas.
In a 2012 interview with the Arkansas Times, Ralphie May spoke about growing up in Clarksville, Arkansas, saying things were just as difficult for her as they were for many other people in the state. His florist mother, he said, and his father hated each other and took it from Ralphie and his siblings.
May spoke in several interviews about his grandmother helping him and his siblings while they were growing up. According to him, she kept them above their means and also made sure they were well cared for in terms of clean clothes and shoes.
In 2003, he was selected to take part in the first season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing , finishing second in the competition behind Dat Phan. He later transitioned from a second spot on the reality television show to television and club appearances, including on ABC ‘s The Wayne Brady Show and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno .
In 2005, he appeared on The Big Black Comedy Show along with Mo’Nique, Rodman and Vince Morris and was the only white comedian to appear on the show. That same year, Ralphie May released his debut comedy album, Just Right . He recorded four Comedy Central specials from 2006 to 2008 and later in 2012. Also in 2012 he performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.
The following year he recorded a Netflix special, With Imperfect Greetings and followed it up in 2015 with Unruly. Two years later, May published his memoir, This Might Be A Little Difficult.
He has featured in a number of other works such as For The Love Of Money, A Nation’s Scale, Inside Amy Schumer, Unruly, The Best Of Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, among others.
His wife – Lahna Turner
The late comedian was married to fellow actress Lahna Turner. They married on July 3, 2005 and had two children – a daughter named April June May and a son, August James May.
The couple started a podcast together called Perfect 10 in 2013, and in October 2015 their marriage was so sour that they filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. At the time of Raphie May’s death, the divorce was still ongoing.
How did he die?
Ralphie May suffered from being overweight all his life. At the age of 16, he was involved in a car accident that pinned him in one place, increasing his weight to 800 pounds (360 kg). In 2004, he lost 160 kg after participating in Celebrity Fit Club and VH1’s gastric bypass surgery.
In 2011, the comedian lost more weight, 40 pounds (18 kg), right after contracting viral pneumonia while on a cruise in October. The next month he contracted severe pneumonia again on a cruise ship and this resulted in a pulmonary embolism as a blood clot from his leg blocked one of his arteries.
On October 6, 2017, Raphie May died. His body was reportedly found on the morning of that date at a private residence in Las Vegas, where he was staying at Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. The comedian had performed there the previous night after several shows scheduled to take place at the venue later in the year were canceled to allow May to recover from pneumonia he had been battling for many weeks. According to his publicist, Stacey Pokluda, the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
It was reported that hours before he passed on, May was due to give a welcome session around midnight after his last appearance at Harrahs, but that was not possible as he showed signs of deteriorating health.
