Stand-up comedian John Mulrooney died suddenly at his home in Coxsackie, New York, on December 29, 2025. He was 67. The cause of death was not given.Mulrooney was also an actor, writer, radio and TV show host, and recreational pilot. Following his retirement from the entertainment industry, he also served as a law enforcement officer between 2010 and 2024.An obituary posted by his family on the Dignity Memorial website described John as:“A beloved stand-up comedian, dedicated public servant, and proud patriot whose life was defined by service, laughter and an unwavering devotion to the people he loved.”Tributes have been pouring in for John Mulrooney ever since the news of his demise surfaced online. For instance, fellow comedian Andrew Dice Clay took to Facebook on December 30 and wrote in a lengthy post accompanied by three images:“John was a great, great comedian. John was a pilot, a boxer, and he became a police officer for like the last 25 years on top of doing stand-up comedy. JOHN, you accomplished a lot!!! John, section 8 JOHN!!! XO.”Clay added that he was “sad” to learn that Mulrooney passed away on the same day as his own father’s birthday.Fans also joined in the tribute on X.One of them wrote, “RIP John Mulrooney.”Another added, “When I heard the news, I said, WTF??!!! Rest in peace, @JohnMulrooney18, it was a treat getting to know you!”A third wrote, “Worked with him at PYX106, we did mornings, a warm spiritual & hilarious friend... I am in shock. Wolf is, too. Love to all family & friends. John was all about making PEOPLE laugh! Light a candle for him, he loved candles.”Others continued to mourn the loss.“Loved your humor, rest easy,” a fan wrote.“Shocking,” another individual commented.About John MulrooneyBorn on August 27, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York City, and raised in Holy Cross parish in Flatbush, NY, John Mulrooney belonged to a “large, loving, and boisterous” Irish immigrant family.His career as a stand-up comedian began at the Pips Comedy Club in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, where he also met and befriended Andrew Dice Clay. Mulrooney went on to perform at other prominent venues including The Improv, the Comic Strip, and the Laugh Factory.As a television host, he worked on HBO, Showtime, A&E, and Comedy Central and on shows such as Comedy Tonight, The Late Show on Fox in 1987, Great Balls of Fire and Comic Strip Live from 1989-90. He was also a guest host on The Pay Sajak Show on CBS.His acting credits include The Good Life and Ryder P.I. Additionally, John was a comedian and writer on Star Search.His obituary states:“John also proudly performed multiple times for U.S. service members overseas, participating in USO tours throughout the Middle East during the Global War on Terror. Those performances were among his proudest moments, allowing him to give back to the men and women serving far from home and to bring moments of laughter and relief in challenging environments.”As a radio anchor, Jon Mulrooney worked in stations across Albany, Cleveland, and NYC, on nationally syndicated shows during the morning and afternoon shifts, before returning to his hometown for comedy gigs.“Never one to stop learning or pushing himself, John was also a recreational pilot who loved the freedom and focus of flying—another expression of his curiosity, confidence, and joy for living,” the obituary adds.For fourteen years, John Mulrooney worked as a police officer for the Coxsackie Police Department and became a “sought-after performer” across agencies, including the fire department. In his role, he also participated in fundraisers and used his stand-up shows to raise donations for the underprivileged community.“John Mulrooney will be remembered as much for being a loyal friend to countless people as for the laughter he brought to a multitude of strangers. His voice, his stories and his spirit will continue to echo in the lives of those he touched,” the obituary continues.John Mulrooney’s family was his “greatest pride” and “constant thread in life,” who was his source of strength, humor, love, and humility. He is survived by his parents, Joan and Bill, his four siblings, Billy, Michael, Joanann, and Mary, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and others.Andrew Dice Clay wrote in his Facebook tribute how 46 years ago, the live audience at the Pips Comedy Club cheered for John Mulrooney.“Crowd Work was his thing long before it became a thing. The owners, Marty and Seth, told me to watch him. He was really amazing at it. He was the last comedian to come out of that club that everybody thought would become a really, really big star!” Clay wrote.He added that his late friend and colleague was a “tall and good-looking” guy, with boxing skills, and the “discipline, drive, want, and willingness” to perform every night to make others laugh and make his way to the top.“After Joan Rivers left a late-night show, there were a few different hosts, one of them was JOHN! … John did a great job, even had me on the show. Had me do my Standup in front of a big old classic Chevy,” Andrew recalled.However, unfortunately, John Mulrooney couldn’t get his own talk show and was replaced by fellow late-night host Arsino Hall.Clay also shared a story where John suggested he would rent and fly a plane himself from LA to NYC during a blizzard as they had to shoot for Valentine’s Day Massacre.“The thing I’m getting at is that he never gave up, he never stopped trying, which is what it’s all about in my book. Not everybody climbs to the top, and not everybody becomes a superstar,” Andrew concluded.Author, broadcaster, and actor Tim Tyrrell also took to X to pay his tribute.“I'm in shock at the news that John Mulrooney passed away. We met over thirty years ago at Mix 105 radio in New York City, and instantly clicked. Through the years, we have done shows for iHeart, Sirius, Howard 101, and many podcasts. He was an amazing and loyal friend,” he wrote.Tyrrell added that many comedians, performers, and writers looked up to John Mulrooney for “advice” as he was “always willing to help” others. He concluded by wishing that Mulrooney’s soul rest in peace.His memorial service is scheduled for January 5 in Staten Island, NY.