John Mulrooney, a stand-up comedian and late-night television host who later became a police officer, died suddenly at his home in Coxsackie, New York, on December 29, 2025. He was 67 years old. The cause of death was not immediately available.
Mulrooney built a career performing at comedy venues across the country and appearing on major television networks, including Comedy Central and HBO. He made his mark on late-night television when he replaced Joan Rivers on The Late Show in 1987 after she was fired from the program.
The Brooklyn native also hosted Comic Strip Live on Fox and appeared on Comedy Tonight during his years in the entertainment industry. His comedy style and stage presence left an impression on fellow performers who came up alongside him in the New York comedy scene.
Adam Sandler recalled Mulrooney’s commanding presence during performances. “I remember Mulrooney would just destroy a room,” Sandler said, describing him as a performer audiences responded to strongly.
Mulrooney was born on August 27, 1958, in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he also competed in Golden Gloves boxing competitions during his youth. These early years in Brooklyn shaped the performer who would later bring his distinctive style to comedy stages nationwide.
He began his comedy career at Pips nightclub in Brooklyn during the early 1980s, working to develop his craft at a time when the New York comedy scene was producing numerous talents who would go on to national recognition. Mulrooney competed on the syndicated television program Star Search, gaining exposure that helped advance his career in the entertainment industry.
Throughout his comedy career, Mulrooney performed several times for United States troops overseas. His work entertaining military personnel stationed abroad represented some of his most meaningful performances, allowing him to connect with service members far from home.
In addition to his stand-up and television work, Mulrooney worked as a radio host for years on the East Coast, bringing his personality to morning and afternoon programs. He also pursued aviation as a recreational pilot, adding another dimension to his varied interests and activities.
At 52 years old, Mulrooney made a significant career change when he was hired by the Coxsackie Police Department in 2010. He served as a police officer for 14 years, from 2010 to 2024, bringing his life experience to law enforcement work in the upstate New York community.
During his time in law enforcement and after, Mulrooney continued performing for first responder communities across the country. He brought his comedy to fundraisers and events for police and fire departments nationwide, blending his entertainment background with his commitment to public service.
The combination of comedy and law enforcement careers made Mulrooney a unique figure who bridged two very different professional worlds. His ability to connect with audiences in comedy clubs and his dedication to serving his community as a police officer demonstrated the breadth of his interests and capabilities.
Fellow performer Andrew Dice Clay, who also got his start in Brooklyn comedy venues, acknowledged Mulrooney’s persistence in the entertainment industry. Clay and Mulrooney both emerged from the same Brooklyn comedy scene that produced numerous notable performers during that era.
Steven Van Zandt expressed shock at the news of Mulrooney’s death. “To talk to somebody less than two weeks ago, and he had mentioned what he was doing for Christmas, and he was looking forward to 2026 because he had a pretty full calendar,” Van Zandt said. Van Zandt had spoken with Mulrooney just two weeks before his death, making the sudden loss particularly unexpected.
Mulrooney’s career in entertainment spanned decades and included multiple television appearances beyond his hosting duties. He worked in an industry that requires persistence and adaptability, qualities he demonstrated throughout his years performing and later in his law enforcement career.
Throughout both careers, Mulrooney maintained connections with people across different communities. His work in comedy brought laughter to audiences in clubs and on television, while his law enforcement service connected him to first responders and the community he served in Coxsackie.
His family described his life as defined by service, laughter, and devotion to the people around him. They noted that he would be remembered both for his loyalty as a friend and for the laughter he provided to audiences throughout his entertainment career.
The entertainment industry continues to recognize performers like Mulrooney who built careers through stand-up comedy and television work during an era when late-night programming and comedy clubs provided important platforms for comedians. His presence on shows like The Late Show and Comic Strip Live helped define an era of comedy television programming.
His family stated that his voice, stories, and spirit will continue to resonate in the lives of those he touched throughout his varied career and personal relationships. The combination of his entertainment achievements and public service created a legacy that spanned multiple communities and professional worlds.
Mulrooney leaves behind memories of performances that entertained audiences, years of service to his community as a police officer, and relationships built over decades in both the entertainment industry and law enforcement. His unique path from Brooklyn comedy clubs to late-night television to police work in upstate New York reflected a life of diverse commitments and pursuits.
The unexpected nature of his passing added to the shock felt by friends, colleagues, and community members who knew him through either his entertainment work or his law enforcement service.
