Comedian Ralphie May dead of cardiac arrest at age 45

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Saturday, October 7, 2017
Comedian Ralphie May dies of cardiac arrest at age 45
Comedian Ralphie May has died of cardiac arrest, his manager confirms. He was 45 years old.

LAS VEGAS -- A spokeswoman for Ralphie May says the comedian has died. He was 45.

In a statement Friday, publicist Stacey Pokluda says May died of cardiac arrest. She said he had been fighting pneumonia, which caused him to cancel a few appearances in the past month.

His body was found Friday morning at a private residence in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the round-faced May was named casino comedian of the year at the Global Gaming Expo. He was booked through the rest of 2017 at Harrah's Las Vegas.

May, a Tennessee native who was raised in Arkansas, parlayed a second-place finish on TV's "Last Comic Standing" in 2003 into TV and club appearances.

His publicist said May's survivors include his wife, Lahna Turner, and children April June and August James.

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