Michael Lehrer, comedian and Second City alumnus, dies at 44
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Michael Lehrer (left) performs a sketch as a member of The Second City. Photo courtesy of Beth Kligerman
Comedian and Second City alumnus Michael Lehrer died Tuesday after a long battle with ALS. He was 44.
Context: Lehrer was diagnosed with ALS in 2017, and his health had since deteriorated. He was most recently bedridden with motor function difficulties.
- He moved from Austin, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, last week to voluntarily end his life under the Death with Dignity Act.
- "My life led here no matter how I lived it," Michael recently posted. "It's simply bad luck."
Driving the news: When news broke that Michael was voluntarily ending his life, tributes and memories poured in on social media, giving the beloved entertainer a "living wake."
What they're saying: Former Second City producer Beth Kligerman visited Michael last weekend in Portland. "I can't say how we felt being together, but I can say it was good to be with him," Kligerman tells Axios.
- "He was super funny up until his last moments."
Flashback: Lehrer toured with The Second City, performing on stages in Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta, and was an ensemble member on the Second City ETC.
- In his last Second City performance, he got a tattoo live on stage.
💠Justin's thought bubble: I performed with Michael Lehrer on stages in Chicago. He was a talented free thinker who tested the boundaries of the craft. My heart breaks for his family and for the comedy community that loved him so much. F*** ALS.