Joe Bodolai Dies: Apparent Suicide For Former 'SNL' Writer

Former "Saturday Night Live" writer Joe Bodolai has died in an apparent suicide, TMZ reports. His body was found in a Los Angeles hotel room by a cleaning crew, with a mix of anti-freeze and Gatorade nearby.

UPDATE 3:03 PM: The AP reports that the LA coroner's office officially ruled the death a suicide.

Bodolai, a writer on "SNL" for the 1981-1982 season and a producer on the Canadian hit sketch show "Kids in the Hall," kept a blog called "Say It Ain't So, Joe," where he posted a long final note on December 23rd. In his short section of "Things I Regret," he included, "My inability to conquer my alcoholism" and "That I am no longer able to withstand any more of life's pain."

The section of things he is proud of, however, paints a picture of an impressive and happy life, both professional and personal. Proud of his two grown sons ("graceful, intelligent, strong, handsome, creative and loving young men"), and his wife Bianca ("If there is a loving god, she was my blessing"), Bodolai listed his resistance to the Vietnam War and campaigning for Robert Kennedy amongst his proudest personal moments.

Professionally, he was most proud of writing for "SNL" and producing videos with Andy Warhol; being asked by Lorne Michaels to produce "Kids in the Hall"; helping bring Major League Baseball to Toronto; creating a comedy show on Canadian television that he felt would help the nation compete creatively; and writing the first draft of "Wayne's World" with Mike Myers.

About his time with "Kids In The Hall," he wrote:

Lorne asking me to produce Kids in the Hall. Long story here. He didn’t tell me that HBO was going to cancel the show after the first season. I kept it alive. Honest to god. The cast and crew had no idea what I did and I didn’t either. It would not have gone to season two had I not become the me I loved. Thinking on my feet in the breakfast meeting in the HBO boardroom with Bridget Potter. The Kids have no idea. Ask John Blanchard, who was there but probably will not get what I did. I saved his job too. I f*ckin' kicked ass.

On the 22nd, Bodolai wrote on Facebook, "I'm alone this year and am volunteering serving Christmas dinner to the homeless. Perhaps I will be one, but I love all of you and if I make it to next year let's make it a morally, spiritually, better and funnier year."

Bodolai finished his blog entry by writing, "I don't need replies or comments or anything. I need to feel the good that I did and whatever good I have ever done for you is enough for me. May you all have the happy lives you deserve. Thank you all for being in my life. Love, Joe."

You can hear one of his last interviews here

For more, click over to TMZ.

Comments

[Ginnie DAgostino Gibson]

09:44 AM on 12/30/2011

testing

[MsG7]

09:40 AM on 12/30/2011

I know some people don't believe in God, but I do....and I won't force my beliefs (about suicide) on anyone....but....let me say that I've been there....thoughts of suicide, depressed, the meds, self-hatred, the doctors, the therapy....the works......but once I deeply got to know God (and I'm very serious)...I am no longer depressed....and whenever I get down, I turn to Him....and I'm good again...I'm never down to the point of wanting to die anymore...I have a good cry..and I move on....and that was years ago....

Mental disease runs in my family, but no one has ever committed suicide so I fight hard to stay sane. I pray every day for God to keep my mind.....I'm so glad and so blessed to still be here, no matter how bad it can get.....Suicide is a selfish act...leaving family and friends a wreck and a mess...For this gentleman, there had to be another way...at least for his kids.

[dangerouslysane]

10:32 AM on 12/30/2011

While it's good that you have found some meaning and fulfillment in your journey in this life, you have a ways to go. There's a nasty implication in your judging a suicide as being selfish. Blaming the victim is a way of avoiding a sober examination of the issues that may have led him to this sad end.

At least your God allows for shame. And while you claim you're not about to force your beliefs about suicide on anyone, you go ahead and make an assertion about suicide as a selfish act a few lines later.

Shame on you.

[sendslpmail]

12:15 PM on 12/30/2011

dangerouslysane, no, shame on you.

[sendslpmail]

12:13 PM on 12/30/2011

MsG7, I thank God for you, and may he get all of the glory from your courageous story. I can honestly say that I was a hot mess before I allowed myself to surrender to the loving arms of our Father God. Since I asked him to give me his spirit and give me a clean heart, I have seen him work in my life in so many ways. I have discovered that he is not only a savior, but a provider, a healer, a protector, a defender, a vindicator and so much more. He is all that plus some! It is a new and wonderful journey each day. I find myself at peace even when it appears that things are falling to pieces. My worst day with Jesus is a billion times infinity to the billion power better than my best day without him. I am praying that you will continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May his continued blessings and favor be upon your life. For I konw the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) By the way, you are fanned!

[MsG7]

02:24 PM on 12/30/2011

Sendslpmail......Hi, and thank God for you too. It's good to see such God-positive posts such as yours. Lord knows I've gotten some God-hate mail whenever I post. Your comments have encouraged me. God knows how to bring His family together...I like when you said...... "My worst day with Jesus is a billion times infinity to the billion power better than my best day without him."....wow...that's profound...I feel the same way...I kept this and I'm going to share with my friends...Thanks for the scripture and you're fanned as well....smile...{~I~}....Happy New Year!

[Free Your Mind]

09:24 AM on 12/30/2011

Very sad. Seems like he could not appreciate himself, even though he accomplished a lot. Current times can be very depressing though, we can observe of escalation of lies, deceit, treason, materialism at all levels in public sphere. Starting with the hypocrisy about 9/11 events and JFK assassination - which Joe Bodolai mentions on his blog, to killing OBL, Ghaddafi and erosion of civil liberties...

[IamYourDrillThrall]

09:08 AM on 12/30/2011

A friend of mine committed suicide in 2011. He had tried 2 other times before and failed (slashing his own throat, and then stabbing himself in the stomach...both bizarre and awful.) He bought a tank of some kind of gas off the internet, then inhaled it until he died.

Some people just don't want to live any more.

I felt badly for my friend's 3 grown children, as I do for Joe's sons.

[kristi72272]

10:31 AM on 12/30/2011

my husband committed in 07 by slashing his throat a very violent way to do it , thanks for posting now i know he isint the only one who either tried or completed by doing it that way .

[IamYourDrillThrall]

08:45 AM on 01/04/2012

My heart goes out to you. Must have been a rough holiday season...take care of yourself.

[epsusan]

08:59 AM on 12/30/2011

Much compassion and Love to the family who are going through their sorrow. Love and Peace to all who suffer from alcoholism and depression. May God help them and show them the way to a better life. May we all reach out to those in need and show them love, respect , and reach out to pull them off the cliff. There is hope for all. Please call out to God who loves us all.
Susan

[bathroomonkey7]

07:20 AM on 12/30/2011

Wow! I talked with this guy on Twitter. Man, this is a depressing story. RIP Joe.

[pbrunda]

07:13 AM on 12/30/2011

Depression can be hereditary. My friends, be aware and honest and seek help. Inform your families of problems with it. Be aware of the warning signs of depression and of suicide for your sake and the sake of those you love and who love you. Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is a medical condition which can be treated in various ways. If the treatment being received is not effective enough, there are other options to try that will help.
And be aware of the impact of suicide on those who survive. Forever.

[pbrunda]

07:13 AM on 12/30/2011

I asked my father if I could wait for him at the cemetary, not wanting him to be alone. I told him that I wouldn't intrude, but would be there if he needed me. He agreed, surprisingly. As I watched, tears streamed down my face and the feeling of helplessness ate away at me. All I could think was, "All you had to do was call, he would have been there for you. We all would have been there for you and all the pain our family was going through could have been avoided. Why didn't you just call?"
As my father finally kissed the coffin, gently ran his hand lovingly over it and turned to walk away, I gathered myself and met him and gave him a hug. Weaker than I had ever seen him, he said through his tears, "Why didn't he call? Why didn't he know how very much we loved him?" "I don't know", I replied.
I still don't know. But in the years which have passed, I have heard too many families ask the same questions.

[pbrunda]

07:13 AM on 12/30/2011

Many years ago, I stood in the background after everyone except my father had left the gravesite of my uncle., and watched him sob. Pop wasn't one for crying, and being the middle child of 11 had buried other siblings, but this brought him to his knees. Pop had gone to see my uncle a few days before upon being contacted by my aunt and informed of his deep state of depression. They talked and my uncle promised Pop that he would see him at the family 4th of july party a few days later. They spoke on the phone and Pop told him he would be there immediately if my uncle needed him. He never called. Instead of a party, we had a funeral. My uncle shot himself in the head after laying out momentos for his wife, 2 daughters, and young grandson. Upon recieving a call from my cousin, Pop and another one of his brothers rushed there. After the police finished their work and the body was removed, the 2 brothers, not wanting to put the family through more cleaned up the splattered remains in the room.

[IamYourDrillThrall]

09:15 AM on 12/30/2011

I am so sorry for your loss....

[pbrunda]

09:38 AM on 12/30/2011

Thank you for your thoughts. Sorry it didnt come posted in the right order. Perhaps I should have emphasized "Many years ago" more because of the advances made in the treatment of depression and the lessening of the stigma attached to it. However the key is awareness early on of family history (we have it on both sides of my family - a great aunt received shock treatments years ago regularly), and warning signs, and openness to address the issue. Too many times the seriousness is downplayed, not out of a lack of care, but a lack of knowledge.
My point could have been better made, I guess without the story, but the vision of my father saying goodbye, was the personification of the grief so many feel, and his question a clear indication of the uncertainty that still pervades our understanding of the subject.

[MsG7]

09:22 AM on 12/30/2011

@pbrunda...wow...your story touched my heart...sorry about your loss...but may I say something, please don't take offense...You have a noticeable skill...Storytelling - Writing....You write very well...ever think about writing?....ok enough of that...I hope and pray that God continues to comfort you and your family.

[pbrunda]

10:07 AM on 12/30/2011

No offense taken. Thank you for the kind words. I do some writing but not much to be shared with others. Maybe some day. It's food for thought.
Thanks for your thoughts.

[HouseOfMirrors]

06:12 AM on 12/30/2011

I hope this poor guy did not accidentally mistake the anti-freeze for Gatorade...

[Hanover Fiste]

02:52 AM on 12/30/2011

He probably looked at what happened to Victoria Jackson and went for the preemptive strike.

[ladybost74]

02:41 AM on 12/30/2011

People who kill themselves are selfish...sorry but its true. what about his children, his family. there is always help there is always a better way

[MsG7]

09:23 AM on 12/30/2011

@ladybost74...I agree.

[AutumnBowling]

12:18 PM on 12/30/2011

I've never been to that point. And when you tell people that he is selfish for committing suicide, I doubt that you would have any experience with that sort of pain. Sure it hurt his family, but it also relieved him of his pain, no longer suffering. I guess putting down a dog with newborn puppies is selfish too even if she is having a hard time breathing and suffering.

[chocolateandcheese]

01:03 AM on 12/30/2011

This man has brought me so much joy. I wish he'd known how much joy he brought us all. This is sad in so many ways...a true tragedy.

[thudula]

11:13 PM on 12/29/2011

YOU MISSED IT, POVERTY KILLs. Ask your RELIGIOUS or SOCIAL ORGANIZATION to
Open a "DAYTIME WALK-IN SHELTER" for un-HOUSED HOMELESS ex-HOMEOWNERs and un-HOUSED HOMELESS ex-EMPLOYEEs. The address can be used by UNHOUSED HOMELESS to apply for BENEFITs. Chairs are all that is needed. Info at www.whitehouse.gov

[Siara]

09:42 PM on 12/29/2011

I'm very sorry to hear. Suicides can mess families up for generations. (the "where did we go wrong" syndrome). I hope his family doesn't suffer this way. The death is tragic enough.