R.I.P. Taylor Negron

Via Yahoo News:

Sources are confirming that comedian Taylor Negron has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.  Chuck Negron, Taylor’s cousin, of the ’70s band Three Dog Night, released an online video with the sad news today saying, “I want to inform you that my cousin Taylor Negron just passed away. His mother, his brother Alex and my brother Rene and his wife Julie were all there with him. May he rest in peace.”

Negron was born in Glendale, CA on August 1, 1957, the son of Lucy (née Rosario) and Conrad Negron, Sr., a former mayor of Indian Wells, CA.  He studied with Lee Strasberg and even had a private comedy seminar with Lucille Ball. Negron interned for Ball when she was 68 years old and he was 19.  Negron told KCET, “I learned from Lucy that you never get what you really want and you have to be flexible.”

Further adding what he learned about comedy from her, “What I learned from her was what she learned from Buster Keaton – know your props, know what you’re doing, know where the exit is, know the entrances, know where the camera is. Get there early. Know everyone on the set. Do not pull any funny business. Be a professional.” Negron started stand-up when he was in high school, getting a spot at the Comedy Store and began cutting his as an extra in movies. He made his full film acting debut in 1982’s soap satire Young Doctors in Love  as a love-struck, pill-popping, dancing intern.

He was also renowned for playing Mr. Pizza Guy in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Rodney Dangerfield’s son-in-law in Easy Money.  In a KCET interview, Negron said, “I became the alternative everyman in movies.”

This is very sad news, this guy was a great character actor and was awesome in any role he was in.  Rest in Peace, brother.