I don’t want to make Greg’s death about me, so I’m conflicted about even saying anything, but if by any chance you don’t already know, Greg was one of the best comedians working. He was fearless and frighteningly brilliant. He was insanely and unnecessarily kind. He inspired me to be a better, smarter, and harder working comedian. He made the job of comedian an honorable profession. He wasn’t just doing comedy so he could get in movies or whatever. After watching him work you thought about the world differently. After watching him perform I always felt stronger as a person but weaker as a comedian. I’m at a loss for what to say or do with regards to his passing but I encourage you to cherish his work. My heart is broken.
Consistently the funniest among the funniest at Comedy Central Roasts, an unmistakably New York wit that hit you in all the right places, and one of my favorite comedians since Tough Crowd, where he appeared with a bunch of other comedians that deserve a lot more praise than they get.
Dude was genuinely funny. He went to law school (and did his undergrad at Columbia) only to quit practicing after a year. I can’t fathom how much hard work it takes to make it as a comedian; don’t particularly want to after hearing the stories. He had this whole life at his fingertips - great education, big legal career, raise a family in New York, achieve all these dreams after 8 years of hellish studying. And he turns it all down for something completely different. Why? Some people don’t realize what they want out of life until they have that degree, but by then you’re in a track. Get into college at 18, choose a major a year later, then five years down the line you’re a completely different person. It takes ridiculous balls to face the unknown and pursue a dream in life after realizing your old one wasn’t for you. (Probably took a few extra to tell his parents he’d quit the firm.) But I can’t imagine Greg Giraldo, Attorney at Law would’ve had half the fun, stories or laughs that Greg Giraldo, Stand Up Comedian did, or that he’d live life even half as fully in twice the time. If there’s an afterlife, I’d ask him whether he would go back to the day he quit the practice and do it all again. I won’t try to guess the answer but I’m hoping my hunch is right.
