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Who was stand-up comedian Ralphie May? How did he die? His Wiki: ex-wife Lahna Turner, Net Worth, Family, Career, Story

By William Cox

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• Ralph Duren May was born in 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• He was an actor and stand-up comedian
• His net worth was estimated at $5 million
• He went through numerous tough times growing up
• He passed away in 2017 due to cardiac arrest



Known for movies

Writer

Ralphie May: Austin-Tatious (2008)
as Writer

Writer

Ralphie May: Too Big to Ignore (2012)
as Writer

Writer

Imperfectly Yours (2013)
as Writer

Writer

Ralphie May: Girth of a Nation (2006)
as Writer

Short Info

Net Worth$2,5 millionDate Of BirthFebruary 17, 1972SpouseLahna TurnerMarkHis weight (450 lbs)FactMarried to comedienne Lahna Turner.



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Contents

Who was Ralphie May?

Ralph Duren May was born on 17 February 1972, in Chattanooga, Tennessee USA, and was an actor and stand-up comedian, best known for releasing numerous comedy specials through Netflix and other outlets. He also toured extensively to promote his stand-up act. He passed away in 2017.

The Net Worth of Ralphie May

How rich was Ralphie May? As of mid-2018, sources estimate a net worth that is at $5 million, mostly earned through a successful career in comedy. He also appeared in numerous other television shows, such as “The Wayne Brady Show”, but all of his achievements helped ensure his wealth prior to his passing.

Early Life and Comedy Beginnings

Ralphie grew up having a lot of tough times. He was raised in Clarksville where his mother worked as a florist, but his parents didn’t get along very well and they eventually hated each other, leading to divorce, but meantime he along with his three siblings were often the target of the fallout. She later sued his father for not paying child support. which he eventually stopped sending.

Ralphie and his siblings became very close with their grandmother, whom he credited as the one who really helped him and his siblings in growing up. It was also with his grandmother that he started learning about comedy, but she also taught him how to crochet and quilt. At the age of 16, he was the victim of an automobile accident which led to him breaking 42 bones, which added to his already growing obesity problem. The following year he bounced back, and won a contest to open for comedian Sam Kinison, who would later recommend him to try his hand at developing comedy in Houston. Ralphie subsequently matriculated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment.

A Comedy Career

In 2003, May was chosen to become a part of the first season of the show “Last Comic Standing”, which is a competition between numerous upcoming comedians, which would lead to a television special and a cash prize. He would get second place in the competition, losing to Dat Pha, but drew a lot of attention, and would be featured in television shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Wayne Brady Show”.

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Two years later, he was then invited to become a part of “The Big Black Comedy Show”, which featured Dennis Rodman, Vince Morris and Mo’Nique, the only white comedian invited onto the show. During the same year, he released his first comedy album, entitled “Just Correct”, and would later go on to record four Comedy Central specials, including “Too Big to Ignore”, “Prime Cut”, “Girth of a Nation”, and “Austin-tatious”. He also worked on two Netflix Specials, including 2013’s “Imperfectly Yours” and “Unruly”, and made an appearance in “For Da Love of Money”, and “Gathering of the Juggalos”.

The book Ralphie has been working on for several years is finally available: We hope you love it!

— Ralphie May (@Ralphie_May)

Personal Life and Health Problems

Ralphie married fellow comedian Lahna Turner in 2005, and they would have two children but  filed for divorce in 2015, seeking joint custody of their children, but the divorce was never completed. He is known to have struggled with obesity for most of his life, even reaching 800 pounds after the car accident when he was 16 years old. Due to his obesity problems, he became a part of “Celebrity Fit Club” and underwent gastric bypass surgery, which lowered his weight to 450 pounds. He also lost 40 pounds after battling viral pneumonia in 2011.

During the same year, he suffered a near fatal pulmonary embolism while on a cruise ship, as a blood clot developed in his leg which became lodged in an artery. Two years later, he started a podcast with his wife entitled “Perfect 10”, a project which both of them enjoyed before their marriage started hitting turmoil.

Death

It was noted that prior to his death in 2017, May’s physical condition had been suffering and he showed signs of a deteriorating condition. He had already canceled several shows over the last month before his death, and was scheduled to have events in Las Vegas. He went on a cruise, and during that time contracted pneumonia which he battled for several weeks before dying from cardiac arrest, survived by his wife and two children, his mother, two sisters, a brother, a stepmother, and two step siblings. Later in the year, a memoir about him was published entitled “This Might Get A Little Heavy”. In interviews, he often mentioned that he wanted to help people, and that he preferred not using fat jokes in his routines as he wanted to be known as a comedian who happens to be fat, not a fat comedian.

General Info

Full NameRalphie MayNet Worth$2,5 millionDate Of BirthFebruary 17, 1972Height1.75 mProfessionScreenwriter, Comedian, Film producer, Actor, Las Vegas, NV, United StatesNationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseLahna TurnerChildrenApril June May, August May, Las Vegas, NV, United States

Accomplishments

MoviesLas Vegas, NV, United States, Ralphie May: Austin-tatious, Ralphie May: Prime Cut, Ralphie May: Girth of a Nation, The Big Black Comedy Show: Vol. 2, For Da Love of Money, The Big Black Comedy Show: Vol. 4, Ralphie May: Just CorrectTV ShowsLast Comic Standing, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, Celebrity Fit Club, Las Vegas, NV, United States

Social profile links

FacebookTwitterInstagramIMDB

Marks

#Marks / Signs1His weight (450 lbs)

Facts

#Fact1Married to comedienne Lahna Turner.2Wife Lahna Turner gave birth to daughter, April June May, on September 5, 2007.

Pictures

Movies

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacterRalphie May: Unruly2015VideoRalphie May Filthy Animal Tour2014TV Movie writerImperfectly Yours2013TV MovieRalphie May: Too Big to Ignore2012TV Special documentaryA Video Diary from Iraq2009Documentary storyRalphie May: Austin-Tatious2008TV Special documentaryRalphie May: Prime Cut2007TV MovieRalphie May: Girth of a Nation2006TV Special documentary1st Amendment Stand Up2005TV Series documentary writer - 1 episodeThe Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 22005VideoJust Correct2004TV Movie

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacterInside Amy Schumer2016TV SeriesRalphieSquidbillies2013TV SeriesPnutThe Best and the Brightest2010Security Guard (uncredited)Cubed2010TV SeriesPizzi's Friend RalphWhoopi2003TV SeriesSammySpy TV2002TV SeriesVariousFor da Love of Money2002Otis

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacterImperfectly Yours2013TV Movie executive producerRalphie May: Too Big to Ignore2012TV Special documentary executive producerA Video Diary from Iraq2009Documentary executive producerRalphie May: Austin-Tatious2008TV Special documentary executive producerJust Correct2004TV Movie co-executive producerMohr Sports2002TV Series associate producer

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacterRalphie May: Too Big to Ignore2012TV Special documentary performer: "Rhythm is Gonna Get You" written by nm0002065 & nm1393657

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacterMy Life with Shaun O'Donnell2014TV Series special thanks - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacterJeff Ross Presents Roast Battle2016TV SeriesHimself - ContestantWGN Morning News2016TV SeriesHimselfJust for Laughs: All-Access2015TV SeriesHimselfGetting Doug with High2014-2015TV SeriesHimselfGotham Comedy Live2015TV Series documentaryHimself - HostRalphie May: Unruly2015VideoHimselfThis Is Not Happening2015TV SeriesHimselfRalphie May Filthy Animal Tour2014TV MovieHimselfThe Stars Are Aligned2014TV Movie documentaryHimselfComics Unleashed2010-2014TV SeriesHimself - GuestComedy Underground with Dave Attell2014TV SeriesHimselfThe Arsenio Hall Show2014TV SeriesHimself - GuestImperfectly Yours2013TV MovieHimselfRon White's Vegas Salute to the Troops2013TV MovieHimselfDog Whisperer with Cesar Millan2012TV SeriesHimself - GuestThe Burn with Jeff Ross2012TV SeriesHimselfRalphie May: Too Big to Ignore2012TV Special documentaryHimselfEntertainers with Byron Allen2012TV Series documentaryHimself - GuestES.TV HD2012TV SeriesHimself - GuestMaster Debaters with Jay Mohr2011TV SeriesHimselfBob Zany: Close But No Cigar2010DocumentaryHimselfExtreme Makeover: Home Edition2010TV SeriesHimselfA Video Diary from Iraq2009DocumentaryHimselfThe Emperor Wears No Clothes2009Documentary shortHimselfCMT Insider2009TV SeriesHimselfCheech & Chong: Roasted2008TV SpecialHimselfRalphie May: Austin-Tatious2008TV Special documentaryHimselfChelsea Lately2008TV SeriesHimselfLive at Gotham2008TV SeriesHimselfGene Simmons: Family Jewels2008TV SeriesHimselfRalphie May: Prime Cut2007TV MovieHimselfRed Eye w/Tom Shillue2007TV SeriesHimself - PanelistThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno2004-2006TV SeriesHimselfRalphie May: Girth of a Nation2006TV Special documentaryHimselfVH1: All Access2006TV SeriesHimselfThe Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 4: Live from Los Angeles2005VideoHimself - Host1st Amendment Stand Up2005TV Series documentaryHimselfThe Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 22005VideoHimselfBaggin'2005TV MovieHimself - HostCelebrity Fit Club2005TV SeriesHimselfCelebrity Blackjack2004TV SeriesHimselfLast Comic Standing2003-2004TV SeriesHimself / Comedian - elimimated / Himself - ComedianThe Sports List2004TV SeriesHimself - Guest SpeakerThe Wayne Brady Show2003-2004TV SeriesHimselfE! 101 Most Starlicious Makeovers2004TV Movie documentaryHimselfJust Correct2004TV MovieHimselfOn-Air with Ryan Seacrest2004TV SeriesHimselfGas2004HimselfSuper Secret Movie Rules2004TV Series documentaryHimself - ComedianHollywood Squares2003TV SeriesHimselfMTV Bash: Carson Daly2003TV SpecialHimselfThe New Face of Late Night TV2003TV Movie documentaryHimselfJimmy Kimmel Live!2003TV SeriesHimselfTough Crowd with Colin Quinn2002TV SeriesHimselfThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn1999TV SeriesHimselfFriday Night1998-1999TV SeriesHimselfMake Me Laugh1997TV SeriesHimself

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