Robert Schimmel DEAD: Comedian, 'Howard Stern' Guest Dies After Crash

PHOENIX (AP) -- Standup comic Robert Schimmel, a frequent guest on Howard Stern's radio show, has died after suffering serious injuries in a car accident. He was 60.

Schimmel's spokesman, Howard Bragman, said Schimmel died Friday evening in a Phoenix hospital.

Schimmel was a passenger Aug. 26 in a car driven by his 19-year-old daughter Aliyah. Bragman said Aliyah Schimmel swerved to avoid another car and the vehicle she was driving rolled to the side of the freeway. Bragman said she is hospitalized in stable condition.

Robert Schimmel lived in Scottsdale. The 60-year-old comedian has been a frequent guest on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and on Howard Stern's radio show. His 2008 memoir, "Cancer on $5 a Day," chronicles his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Schimmel starred in a Fox sitcom that was picked up in 2000 but had to be canceled after he learned he had cancer and needed to begin chemotherapy immediately, according to his website.

The site says Schimmel more recently had a Showtime special called "Life Since Then" and was integrating his life's experiences with comedy to not only make audiences laugh but raise cancer awareness and hope.

The site also says the comedian learned a lot about "life, attitude and laughter" following his cancer fight and the loss of a child. He also had two failed marriages.

Comments

[whoobie]

02:23 PM on 09/11/2010

He was a fighter, and offered a lot of hope, a beautiful attribute.­..

[hisdroogness]

11:49 AM on 09/07/2010

I was lucky to have met Robert several times including the day he found out his friend Richard Jeni shot himself I was there talking to him when he got the call. I felt so terrible because in 20 min Robert had to go on stage and here he is finding out by phone that his friend shot himself. But as only Rob could do he went on stage and I believe he was the funniest he has ever been I was laughing so hard I actually mumbled for Rob to stop (as usual I was in the first table) as I was in agony from laughter. Robert was one of the most pleasant and friendly people I have had the fortune to meet and love. Robert was an incredibly nice person to know. I am very sad to know of his passing. I am now left with no living comic heroes. Bill Hicks-Pete­r Cook- Graham Chapman-Ge­orge Carlin- Vivian Stanshall just to name a few!! Ok Rik Mayalloh and I did meet the nicest man ever Michael Palin wow what a very nice bloke!!!

[Sam E Razar]

03:42 AM on 09/07/2010

This is so sad but in Bob Schimmel form, it mirrors a bit he used to do about teaching his daughter how to drive. A good man, he will be remembered

[tonewheel]

04:08 PM on 09/06/2010

"So we're at the Vet...."

[truthsayer1000f]

02:53 PM on 09/06/2010

I'm sure that Mr. Schimmel is out there somewhere loving the irony of surviving the cancer only to meet his demise at a freak accident. He was one of my favorite guests on the Stern show and this tradgedy only reinforces my belief that it is only the good who die young.

I hope his daughter can recover from this and know that it wasn't her fault.

[tonewheel]

03:58 PM on 09/06/2010

And a heart attack. He was a wonderful, cleaver and very caring guy.

[kauthon]

12:37 PM on 09/06/2010

The guy was awesome. RIP Schimmel.

[bluesraves]

11:23 AM on 09/06/2010

Goodbye Robert & tks for the laughs & the warnings of what NOT to do...

[SeeknDestroy Again]

11:03 AM on 09/06/2010

Rest peacefully­.

God bless you and yours, Bob.

[Horus45]

10:20 AM on 09/06/2010

This man actually BEAT Cancer, and then this happens.
What a tragedy!

[Whinger]

08:58 AM on 09/06/2010

So long Robert, there was lots of fun and laughter, we will always remember the good times!

[JT212]

08:48 AM on 09/06/2010

Very sad news - RIP.

Extremely funny comic.

[Brian Gorrell]

08:47 AM on 09/06/2010

Wow, sad.
He was so funny.

[dgoose50]

08:28 AM on 09/06/2010

He was one of my favorites .I will miss him.He saw the humor in everything and was tough until the end.

[mscherae]

08:10 AM on 09/06/2010

They should end this article differentl­y. The last line says, "he also had two failed marriages.­" He was a great artist and deserves a little more respect.

[Yulia Dyulicheva]

07:00 AM on 09/06/2010

It is terrible tragedy that Robert George "Bob" Schimmel has passed away. You can help remember him by contributi­ng to his memorial website at http://rob­ertgeorgeb­obschimmel­.people2re­member.com­/