Quincy Jones (real name Quami Wallen;[1] born June 2, 1984) is an American stand-up comedian who rose to fame when his dying wish of recording a comedy special was granted.[2]

Early life

Jones graduated from Middle College High School in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle, Washington in 2002. He was inspired to become a stand up comedian by watching Chris Rock. He began performing comedy in 2006, and six years later moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy full-time.[1] He estimates that in one year, he performed stand up over 1,000 times.[3]

Diagnosis and comedy special

In August 2015, Jones was diagnosed with Stage IV mesothelioma and given one year to live. He began receiving treatment with chemotherapy. Friends set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to produce a stand-up special starring Jones, and his story went viral after he appeared on Ellen.[4][5][6] After successfully raising over $50,000, Jones filmed a comedy special at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on April 4, 2016, titled Burning the Light, and it aired on HBO on June 2.[1] Jones said in 2021 that he was planning a second special titled "Still Here" which he planned to record and release in 2021.

References

  1. ^ a b c "'I didn't want to be the cancer person': Dying comic's HBO special to air". The Seattle Times. May 31, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "Terminally Ill Comedian Quincy Jones Opens Up About Cancer Battle and HBO Special: 'I Can't See Myself Withering Away'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Owen, Rob (May 31, 2016). "Terminally ill comedian Quincy Jones stands up to his cancer in HBO special". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "Comedian Quincy Jones is laughing in face of cancer". The Boston Globe. March 22, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  5. ^ Moore, Jack (February 23, 2016). "A Comedian Dying of Cancer Is Raising Money to Film a Stand-Up Special". GQ. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  6. ^ "Terminally ill comedian Quincy Jones lands stand-up special at HBO". Los Angeles Times. March 21, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.


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