Comedian Perry Kurtz has died aged 73 after he was struck by a car in a hit-and-run on Thursday evening.
Kurtz – who had appeared on America’s Got Talent and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno was travelling between gigs when he was killed – his daughter Zelda Velazquez confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post.
TMZ have confirmed that Kurtz was killed in Tarzana, LA after a collision around 11:30pm on Thursday involving a gray Honda Civic.
The Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
Police have arrested an 18-year-old suspect – named as Naithon James – on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death, per FOXLA.
Comedian Perry Kurtz has died aged 73 after he was struck by a car in a hit-and-run on Thursday evening
The star is pictured with James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2018
Police are seen at the scene of the fatal incident on ThursdayÂ
Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said Kurtz was crossing the street at Ventura Boulevard and Melvin Avenue, when a car driven by the teen hit him.
Kurtz was identified as the victim on Friday morning.
James was arrested after a witness contacted authorities an hour after the crash due to seeing the suspect’s vehicle ‘oddly parked with a broken windshield.’
The vehicle matched the description of the car caught on security cameras running over Kurtz.Â
Kurtz appeared on season 8 of America’s Got Talent in 2006 where he rapped about the judges – but received three Nos.
In 2018 he appeared on James Corden’s The Late Late Show where he shocked the audience by playing an instrument with his tongue.
Kurtz began his career in the 1970s with gigs at comedy clubs in LA and New York City.
He had a close friendship with Robin Williams, who he opened for – before the star’s death in 2014.Â
Kurtz is pictured with Jay London and Ice House booker Jan Smith in 2012
Kurtz – pictured with Dana Carvey –Â was travelling between gigs when he was killed – his daughter Zelda Valesquez confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post
Kurtz was killed in an incident in Tarzana, LA after a collision around 11:30pm on Thursday by a gray Honda Civic
Kurtz performed his final show in Los Angeles this week – with a video of his performance posted to his account on Thursday – hours before his death.
His agent, Dante Rusciolelli paid tribute to Kurtz in a statement to the New York Post, saying: ‘Golden Artists Entertainment and myself are personally devastated by this news. Perry was not only a client, he’s been my friend since 1987.Â
‘He has been a staple in the Los Angeles comedy community for decades and will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with his family.’
