In the week after news of Big Mouth star and writer Jak Knight’s sudden passing at 28 broke throughout the world, authorities have now determined the cause of the comedian’s death.
At this point, it’s well-known that underneath the laughs and the seemingly constant jovial attitudes they’re showing the world, many comedians are actually haunted by some serious darkness. And while this can sometimes refer to a life-threatening physical issue they don’t want anyone to know about, it’s sadly more common for them to suffer mentally .
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And while that silent turmoil and its potentially tragic consequences are hardly unique to any one part of the entertainment industry , it’s hard not to be reminded of that Robin Williams quote suggesting that the saddest people try to make others happy to protect them from the feelings they’re experiencing.
Unfortunately, this discussion has attained some new relevance in the case of Jak Knight now that the facts behind his death have come in.
Be advised that this article contains discussions of suicide and if this issue is overwhelming your life, please call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 to immediately speak to a mental health professional
Fans of ‘Big Mouth,’ may recall that Jak Knight played the recurring character Devon, but that only scratches the surface of his involvement in the show.
According to Vanity Fair , he also served as a writer and story editor on all five of the animated series’ seasons.
He also wrote for Black-ish and American Dad! before co-creating the series Bust Down , which premiered on Peacock in March.
But between these writing credits, Knight also made a name for himself as a celebrated stand-up comedian.
As Hacks star Hannah Einbinder wrote in an Instagram story, “At 28 he was smarter, funnier and more insightful than most comedians ever are in their entire lives. Jak you were so beautiful. I’m so sorry.”
These sentiments were echoed by Fire Island star and writer Joel Kim Booster, who said, “A singular talent, actually funny and a genuinely kind person, a rare combo. I just can’t believe this at all.”
On July 14, Knight was found dead in a Los Angeles embankment after having apparently suffered a gunshot wound.
But as shocking and mysterious as this fate appeared at the time, a representative from his family encouraged others to refrain from probing into the gory details.
As they wrote in a statement obtained by Vanity Fair , “Knight’s loved ones ask that their privacy please be respected during this extremely difficult time.”
But in the time since, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has been able to conduct an autopsy.
And as People reported, their findings were that the gunshot wound Knight suffered was the result of suicide rather than the actions of another person.
Such news has only deepened the shock and sorrow that his friends and family experienced when the sad news first broke.
h/t: Vanity Fair
If this issue discussed in this article is overwhelming your life, please call 988 or 1-800-273-8255 to immediately speak to a mental health professional