Comedians pay heartfelt tribute to Ian Cognito after the anarchic stand-up dies on stage
Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of comedian Ian Cognito, who died on stage during a gig on Thursday night.
The anarchic cult comic was performing at the Lone Wolf Comedy Club night at the Atic bar in Bicester when he fell ill and took a seat. Some members of the audience reportedly thought that it was part of the act but paramedics were called to the venue and he was pronounced dead.
There were many heartfelt and sometimes very funny tributes paid to him on Twitter, of which these are just a few.
1.
Veteran stand-up comedian Ian Cognito has died on-stage – literally. The audience thought it was part of the act. Died with his boots on. That’s commitment to comedy. I’ll never forget his kindness when I started out & how god damn funny he was.
— Jimmy Carr (@jimmycarr) April 12, 2019
2.
https://twitter.com/JamesAcaster/status/1116715432231096320
3.
https://twitter.com/RufusHound/status/1116653404632354816
4.
5.
Oh bless that Ian Cognito, who expired in his natural home last night, on stage. He was a difficult awkward hilarious troubled brilliant sort; a proper comic.
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) April 12, 2019
6.
I am so very sad that comedy has lost one of its most visceral voices, Ian Cognito. He was the King Lear of our circuit. When he was good, he was very very good. When he was bad, he was trying to piss out of the passenger side window on the M5. RIPCogs
— John Robins (@nomadicrevery) April 12, 2019
7.
Aw Ian Cognito has died. He was a brilliant fearless comedian, hugely admired by his fellow comics. I hope he knew that. RIP Ian
— Arthur Smith (@ArfurSmith) April 12, 2019
8.
Ian Cognito – you were a great performer, thank you and goodnight! You often proved that people love the truth especially if they don't have to say it!
— Milton Jones (@themiltonjones) April 12, 2019
9.
In shock at the news of Ian Cognito's sudden passing. He was always kind to me when I started out, and brilliant and provocative and entirely original onstage. What a loss.
— Matt Lucas HQ (@RealMattLucas) April 12, 2019
10.
https://twitter.com/GaryDelaney/status/1116751254842220546
11.
Damn, Ian Cognito has died. He headlined the first London stand up night I ever went to. Ladbroke Grove, early 90s. Think @mrmichaelsmiley was MC? IC was hilarious, threatening and utterly live. That set had a huge effect on 17 year old me. Thanks, Ian Cognito.
— rufus jones (@rufusjones1) April 12, 2019
12.
https://twitter.com/KatyFBrand/status/1116658596031365121
13.
"I spend so much money on things I don't need…"
[points to the guitar he's been wearing throughout the entire gig]
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS!"RIP Ian Cognito
— Dan Thomas (@ItsDanThomas) April 12, 2019
14.
Fucking hell, Ian Cognito, an absolute firecracker of a man, he once stayed over at mine and when we woke up in the morning he was gone. It was a second floor flat and the front door was deadbolted. I asked him how he said he had no recollection. Sleep well friend xx #RIP
— Bethany Black (@BeffernieBlack) April 12, 2019
15.
Ian Cognito has passes away. Gigged with him when i first started out and he was always so much fun, had his own mythology on the circuit his exploits where legendary. A true maverick. Hope he’s found somewhere to hang his coat in heaven.
— Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) April 12, 2019
16.
https://twitter.com/TheTall_Bot/status/1116667889359249409
17.
Terrible news about Ian Cognito, a true force of nature on the UK comedy circuit. He scared the hell out of me and I liked that. He would walk on stage, hammer a nail into the wall, then take his coat off and hang it up. He made the room his. Bye bye, Ian xx
— Michael Legge (@michaellegge) April 12, 2019
18.
https://twitter.com/Craigjamesmith/status/1116650680649953281
19.
“The Guardian called me ‘dangerously explosive’ – no fucker turned up to the Belfast gig”
RIP Ian Cognito
— Danny Sutcliffe (@dannysutcliffes) April 12, 2019
20.
Rest in peace, Ian Cognito. I did so many gigs with him when I lived in Cardiff. He was blistering. A huge, huge talent, who will be missed. I can honestly say I have never met anyone like him.
— Elis James (@elisjames) April 12, 2019
21.
Ian Cognito dying makes me think of all the wonderful comedians in our community over these 20 years. I love you all. I mean that. Time goes by and we don’t gig together and i think that eventually we will…and then this happens.
— Shaparak Khorsandi شاپرک خرسندی (@ShappiKhorsandi) April 12, 2019
22.
“Never trust a cult leader who smells of petrol” #IanCognito
— Bethany Black (@BeffernieBlack) April 12, 2019
23.
I only spoke to Ian Cognito once, on the phone, in maybe 1995. I can’t remember what he said, but I do remember being terrified. #iancognito
— Danny Wallace (@dannywallace) April 12, 2019
24.
RIP Ian Cognito. Always absolutely lovely to me. A proper comedy legend.
— Jim Smallman – ジム・スモールマン (@jimsmallman) April 12, 2019
25.
Can't believe the news. Cogs was a true one off who stayed true to himself. Watching him terrify the people of Maidstone will forever be one of my all time favourite memories. RIP Ian Cognito. The pleasure was all ours.
— Rich Wilson (@IamRichWilson) April 12, 2019
26.
In heaven they’ve already banned Ian Cognito for hammering a nail into a picture of Jesus and hanging his coat on it.
— Ignacio Lopez (@comedylopez) April 12, 2019