Ralphie May

Ralph Duren "Ralphie" May (February 17, 1972 – October 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor.

Early life

May was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on February 17, 1972, but raised in Clarksville, Arkansas.

When he was 16, May broke 42 of his bones in an automobile accident. At 17, he won a contest to open for Sam Kinison, whom he considered his idol. Kinison suggested that May move to Houston to further develop his comedy routine. May graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

Career

In 2003, May was chosen to participate in the first season of Last Comic Standing. He finished in second place in the competition, with Dat Phan winning first place. Afterwards, May appeared in comedy shows, such as The Wayne Brady Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2005, he was the only white comedian on The Big Black Comedy Show, which also featured Mo'Nique, Rodman, and Vince Morris.

In 2005, May released his comedy album Just Correct. He later recorded four Comedy Central specials: Girth of a Nation (2006), Prime Cut (2007), Austin-tatious (2008), and Too Big To Ignore (2012), as well as two Netflix specials titled Unruly (2015) and Imperfectly Yours (2015). He appeared in For Da Love of Money. May also performed at the "Gathering of the Juggalos 2012."

Personal life and death

On July 3, 2005, May married comedienne Lahna Turner. The couple had two children: a daughter and a son.

In October 2015, Turner filed for divorce and sought joint custody of their children.

May suffered from obesity throughout his life. His weight increased to 800 pounds (360 kg), following a car accident at age 16. He participated on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and had gastric bypass surgery in 2004, which lowered his weight by 350 pounds (160 kg). A bout with viral pneumonia on a cruise in October 2011 caused May to lose 40 pounds.

On October 6, 2017, May died of cardiac arrest after battling pneumonia for several weeks. He was 45 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Filmography

• 2002: For Da Love of Money
• 2003: Just Correct
• 2005: Big Black Comedy: Vol. 2
• 2005: Big Black Comedy: Vol. 4
• 2006: Girth of a Nation
• 2007: Prime Cut
• 2007: Bangin' With Ralphie May
• 2008: The Best of Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen
• 2008: Austin-Tatious
• 2012: Too Big to Ignore
• 2013: Imperfectly Yours
• 2013: Squidbillies
• 2015: Unruly

Discography

• 2005: Just Correct
• 2006: Girth of a Nation
• 2007: Prime Cut
• 2008: Austin-Tatious
• 2012: Too Big to Ignore
• 2013: Imperfectly Yours
• 2015: Unruly