Shameless Actor Alum Ricarlo Flanagan Dies at 41 After Contracting COVID

Ricarlo Flanagan, a former cast member of "Last Comic Standing," died at the age of 41 after developing COVID-19. Stu Golfman, his agent, confirmed his death on Monday night. According to Golfman, Flanagan died over the weekend from a respiratory illness. While he did not provide any other information concerning his passing, he stated that he was grieved by it.

“Sadly, this pandemic has taken the life of an extremely talented performer and even nicer human being. Ricarlo will be greatly missed,” he said. “Ricarlo was truly one of the nicest people on the planet, a wonderful performer and we are heartbroken by the news of his passing,” he continued.

Flanagan's friends have started a GoFundMe campaign to help him get back to his family in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as provide support to the mourning family. Flanagan is described as "a wonderful son, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend with many amazing qualities" by the campaign.

The description read, "The news of a loved one's death is never easy to hear, let alone if you are far away from the individual." "Unfortunately, our beloved friend went away unexpectedly, and he was far from his family." Ricarlo Flanagan was a wonderful son, grandson, cousin, nephew, and friend who possessed a wide range of abilities. Every place he entered was filled with laughter."

In 2007, the “Shameless” actor and comedian stumbled across an advertisement for comedy lessons on a telephone pole in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and decided to try it out. He decided to pursue a career in stand-up comedy after just taking one class.

In 2015, he rose to stardom as a semifinalist on Season 9 of "Last Comic Standing." He went on to star in comedies including "The Mick," "The Carmichael Show," "Kidding," and "The Neighborhood," as well as recurring appearances on "Shameless" and Disney XD's "Walk the Prank."

Flanagan won his first film role on "Emily the Criminal," which also starred Aubrey Plaza, just before his death. His fourth album, "Both Sides of the Brain," will be published in October, he announced on Instagram on Sept. 27.

Prior to his death, the comedian had secured his first film part in Emily the Criminal, a thriller starring Aubrey Plaza.

In addition to his career on television, Flanagan was a rapper known as Father Flanagan. Death of Davinchi was his debut album, which he followed up with An Opus Inspired By Andre Martin in 2019 and Hope Your Proud in 2020.

Flanagan announced on Instagram on Sept. 27 that his fourth album, Both Sides Of The Brain, would be released the following month.

Flanagan tweeted about COVID-19 three days later, noting at the time, "This covid is no joke. I don't wish this on anybody."

In addition to performing, Flanagan was a comedian who wrote jokes for Last Comic Standing and co-wrote The Park, a short film released in 2014. He also released his own comedy CD in 2013, named Man Law.

Flanagan was a musician and rapper in addition to his acting career. He had previously published three rap albums under the stage name Father Flanagan over the preceding decade: Death of Davinchi, An Opus Inspired by Andre Martin, and Hope Your Proud.

According to Deadline, his upcoming fourth rap album, Both Sides of the Brain, is set to be published on Tuesday.