Barry Crimmins, a well-known cult comic and a child sexual abuse victim advocate, died Wednesday of cancer at 64, according to Rolling Stone magazine.
Crimmins was the subject of a documentary by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait in 2015 titled "Call Me Lucky," in which Crimmins' career and activism was chronicled.
Crimmins' wife Helen announced her husband's death Thursday on Twitter.
Goldthwait shared of a photo of his friend and documentary subject on Instagram.
Crimmins founded the Ding Ho Comedy Club in Boston that helped start the careers of such comedians as Steven Wright, Denis Leary, and Dana Gould, Entertainment Weekly said. He also played an influential role in developing and promoting a more politically minded and socially aware brand of comedy during his career.
The comedian announced on social media in January that he had cancer and his prospects did not look promising, Entertainment Weekly wrote.
According to Rolling Stone, Crimmins wrote regularly for the now-defunct Boston alt-weekly, The Phoenix, and served as a writer and correspondent for the former talk radio network Air America.
He released two CDs of comedy – "Strange Bedfellows" with Randy Credico, Will Durst, and Jimmy Tingle, and solo record, "Kill the Messenger," Rolling Stone said. He released a new stand-up special, "Whatever Threatens You" in 2016, the magazine reported.
Fellow comedians and fans shared their condolences on social media.
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