Director, editor and writer Neil Mahoney, who has worked on Key & Peele, Portlandia, Drunk History and more, died on Friday at age 43. Jonah Ray shared the sad news on Saturday in an Instagram tribute, writing “I’m sorry to announce that one of the all time best people in the world is no longer with us. Sometime yesterday, Neil Daniel Mahoney fell asleep and didn’t wake up. Ask anybody, they will tell you that Neil was the best guy. He cared so much about his friends. He kept up with every friend he’d ever made. He was a legendary comedy editor who worked on your favorite shows. He liked to whittle, watch Molly’s Game and Letterkenny and Hockey. He was mine and Cash’s brother. He was so funny. He was so beautiful. Oh god, I love you neil. I love you so so much.”
If you’re not familiar with Neil’s name you are probably familiar with his work if you’ve followed comedy over the last 15 years. He was best known as an editor, having worked on episodes of Key & Peele, Portlandia, Drunk History, Another Period, Ghosted, and more, and he directed a number of classic Funny or Die shorts, including Tiffani Thiessen Is Busy and Aziz Ansari’s Raaaaaaaandy Declares War on Justin Bieber, and co-directed and edited feature-length UCB musical Freak Dance.
Tributes from the comedy world have been pouring in on social media. Paul F Tompkins wrote in a long Twitter tribute, “He was a wonderful person & I am proud to have been his friend. I am stunned and sad and angry.” UCB co-founder Matt Besser wrote, “Way too young, way too talented, and way too nice to die so young. Fantaseez forever my friend.” Scott Aukerman wrote, “RIP to my friend Neil Mahoney, who I met while working on Mr. Show twenty years ago. We hung out a lot in those days- especially during the filming of Run Ronnie Run. After that, he used to come over to my house every Thursday to watch CSI, and we would try to guess when The Who song would start. He edited the Between Two Ferns NYC special. Great guy, who will be missed.”
A number of musicians have paid tribute, too, including Har Mar Superstar who wrote, “He was one of the funniest, kindest, and most supportive people I met while living and working in LA. Always a smile on his face and ready to make you laugh. We lost a friend and true talent.” Ted Leo wrote, “Absolutely shocked to hear that friend @NEILMAHONEY died yesterday. Love to all his family and friends, especially to everyone in LA, who saw him as often as I wish I could have. Rest in peace, Neil.”
Rest in peace, Neil. Watch some of his work, and read more tributes from Georgia Hardstark, Kurt Braunohler, Emily Gordon, Brian Posehn, Lance Bangs, Allie Goertz, Steve Agee, Jon Daly, Tom Scharpling and more, below.
Yesterday my friend Neil Mahoney suddenly passed away. He was a wonderful person & I am proud to have been his friend. I am stunned and sad and angry.
— Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) January 10, 2021
Neil Mahoney passed away yesterday. Way too young, way too talented, and way too nice to die so young. Fantaseez forever my friend. pic.twitter.com/UyMC9auv3t
— Matt Besser (@MattBesser) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/jondaly/status/1348082161946017794
RIP Neil Mahoney. He was as funny as he was kind, and more talented than most of us. I mainly knew Neil through doing podcasts and seeing him at shows, but every time I had an interaction with him I’d walk away saying “I like that guy”. The world is worse off now that he’s gone.
— kurt braunohler (@kurtbraunohler) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/thebrianposehn/status/1348070096359444480
Absolutely shocked to hear that friend @NEILMAHONEY died yesterday. Love to all his family and friends, especially to everyone in LA, who saw him as often as I wish I could have. Rest in peace, Neil.
— Continuity Ted Leo Account 🍉 (@tedleo) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/emilyvgordon/status/1348064897121148929
Neil Mahoney is as sweet as they come. Legitimately funny and amazingly talented. A friend to everyone. What a kind soul.
I finally got to work with him last year and came away knowing he was the funniest editor I've ever worked with. Grateful for his presence in my life. RIP.
— scharpling (@scharpling) January 10, 2021
Absolutely shocked to hear that friend @NEILMAHONEY died yesterday. Love to all his family and friends, especially to everyone in LA, who saw him as often as I wish I could have. Rest in peace, Neil.
— Continuity Ted Leo Account 🍉 (@tedleo) January 10, 2021
I’m caught by complete surprise hearing that our friend @NEILMAHONEY passed. He was one of the funniest, kindest, and most supportive people I met while living and working in LA. Always a smile on his face and ready to make you laugh. We lost a friend and true talent. Bye, Neil.
— Har Mar Superstar (@HarMarSuperstar) January 10, 2021
This guy @NEILMAHONEY was great, and my life improved with every conversation we had. #NeiledIt pic.twitter.com/yPpMgujd16
— Lance Bangs (@lancebangs) January 10, 2021
Absolutely gutted by the loss of Neil Mahoney. Such a warm, funny, and good-hearted weirdo who I wish so badly was still around. We love you, Neil. https://t.co/INiT6iebLv
— Allie Goertz (@AllieGoertz) January 10, 2021
Please Rest In Peace beautiful soul Neil Mahoney – ❤️one of the only truly good, decent, and kind people in a world of assholes such as myself.
— JEN KIRKMAN (@JenKirkman) January 10, 2021
We're absolutely heartbroken to say goodbye to Neil Mahoney, director of our concert film and, foremost, a great friend. Neil was part of the TAH family, a supporter and collaborator and friend. We'll miss him dearly and deeply. RIP Neil.
— Thrilling Adventure Hour (@ThrillingAdv) January 10, 2021
Really, really sad to hear of the passing of @NEILMAHONEY. I remember always being glad if he was at a party because it meant there’d be a guy to stand in the corner with and just talk and laugh. Heartbreaking.
— Matt Gourley (@MattGourley) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/GerryDuggan/status/1348077240135819265
Oh my god I just got on Twitter and found out my old friend Neil Mahoney died yesterday. I can’t really process yet. I just want to add to the chorus that Neil was the best. Met him 20 years ago & he’s always been a real, sweet guy and so talented and humble.
— Ryan Case (@film114) January 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/steveagee/status/1348124349488795649
I must add to the massive chorus mourning the loss of Neil Mahoney, who edited/put up w/me/made me laugh through our project last month. Like everyone, I’m struggling to accept that he’s suddenly gone. He was a brilliant editor and wonderful human being. pic.twitter.com/fVs62p8E2w
— Janet Varney 🏳️🌈 (@janetvarney) January 10, 2021
I treasure the memory of @NEILMAHONEY conspiring to pull a fun prank on @jonahray’s podcast last year. Neil was a gifted comedy editor. As the news of his sudden passing is now on social media this is just one of many tweets you’ll see. My heart goes out to everyone. RIP Neil.
— Jake Fogelnest (@jakefogelnest) January 10, 2021