Plumber, Scientist, Comedian, Mentor, Teacher, Friend, and occasional Dungeon Master
Larry Killingsworth was one of the first people I met when I started doing comedy in Denver, way back in 2003. He was running a little open mic at a dumpy bar in Thornton called Rooster’s, and I immediately thought of the dwarf Gimli from Lord of the Rings. I originally thought “well this guy can’t possible be funny”. And boy, was I wrong.
With a persona like no one I have seen, and jokes about astro-physics and dungeons-and-dragons, I saw Larry time after time kill in places that I thought would be impossible. Larry was always ready with his wide array of wit and wisdom, and could tailor his unique talents for any crowd, from dive bar week-night, to packed-house comedy club.
He was a mentor and teacher to many, and was always willing to talk shop with anyone who wanted to. He has given many comics, myself included, tag lines and different ways to look at material, and many times his suggestions were used. I don’t think there are too many comedians that haven’t been touched by Larry’s insight in one way or another.
He was a fixture on the Denver comedy scene for the many years I was involved, and although not everyone may have agreed with him, you couldn’t help but respect his commitment to the craft, and to the community.
Not only have we all lost a very dear friend, but the scene has lost a true champion.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/killingsworth-stand-up-comic/
Jason, thanks for starting this and I hope many many others will participate. I thought Larry a friend and mentor as well and wanted to share that he and I had a really strange and often not polite email exchange about my comedy at one point and while I thought him harsh, I realized he was sincere and his was always THE laugh I looked forward to hearing above all else in the audience. I came to enjoy and look forward to his emails.
And like Jason, I cherished those times when I saw him do material that no one else could possibly get away with and yet, it was always funny. He told jokes that could only come out of his mouth and by owning his material, he killed with it.
Jason, my friend, I remember our conversation about the exchange and how you helped me understand Larry a little bit better after that, and how Larry was always one of the first people to say “good stuff” to me when I got off the stage.
I am so so saddened by his passing and am among hundreds of people who will greatly miss him, but that is just my personal view. I think DENVER will miss him more then we can yet know. Often a man’s life is not appreciated until it has been taken from us and that is what Larry’s legacy will be. While we are all saddened now, I think the sadness will grow deeper and deeper the longer he is gone.
Last night I wore a tye-dyed t-shirt on stage and if no one but ME understood why, well, that is fine with me. It was in tribute to a REALLY good man. He was loved, funny, helpful, strange and more then anything else he was “just” LARRY, but more then that he will be missed as the giant he will always be to us all.
Thoughts On A Giant
yeah – I know exactly what you mean. I was joking with a fellow Denver comic that Larry was the only guy I knew who could turn the back room of a Conoco into a successful open mic show! He will be missed.
I remember when I first started comedy way back in 2003. (with Jason) Larry was a committed audience member and had a contagious laugh. I didn’t realize he was a comic (thought he was a stalker) until he gave me several tags that I still use today. I am sorry to hear about his passing and he will be missed.
Larry was truly one of a kind and will be missed by many!
Larry was also there when I first started doing comedy. I made my big debut at one of his rooms, got paid for the first time in one of his rooms and he took me to Greeley for one of his shows. Larry did that for many comics and thought nothing of it.
Larry was the best example of: “Don’t Judge a Book by it’s Cover” that I have ever encountered. I would love to sit in the back of a room and watch him take the stage; the audience would think one thing and Larry would blow them away with material about quantum physics.
To say Larry had a “unique look” would be like saying The Beatles were a little combo band out of Liverpool.
Hobbit, Drawf or “Teddy Acid Cuddles,The Care Bear that went to Woodstock and Never Came Back.” He embraced those refrences and turned them on their back because he knew he was more than that.
Larry had a laugh that could make people laugh when your material didn’t. I could always hear him and it would make me laugh.
I had the pleasure of working with Larry for many years. During that time we had a wonderful friendship. I feel very lucky to have had someone so gracious and thoughtful in my life. He was a man that truly loved comedy and strived to make Denver a better place for all of us and asked nothing in return. He touched many lives and was responsible for many careers. He lives on because of the comedy community that he helped create.
Tonight we are celebrating Larry’s life at The CigarBar (ie. ZooBar) on Colfax and Carr Sts. in Lakewood Colorado. We’ll start at 9pm