NA He-Man Writer, John Fox, 55, Dies Of Colon Cancer

[Tallstar]

Longtime West Coast comedian John Fox, a writer for the 1990-91 series The New Adventures Of He-Man, lost his battle with colon cancer at about 5 p.m. PST on Wednesday. He was 55.

Made by Jetlag Productions, the series was He-Man's second cartoon incarnation. It aired in syndication for 65 episodes, but proved to be too far removed from its parent, Filmation Associates' He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, to be well-liked by fans.

Fox also wrote The Irish Jig Is Up, a 1993 episode of Fred Wolf Films' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

He started his career at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles on June 14, 1979. Only three months later, he was a paid regular. Another six months afterward, he had his first TV appearance.

"He's sort of like the wacked out, weirded, next door neighbor who drops by to borrow a beer and you can't get rid of him type," Variety once said of him. "Everyone has a friend like this. You just can't help liking him."

Fox performed on the 1989 TV special Opening Night of Rodney's Place, which marked the debut of Rodney Dangerfield's new Las Vegas comedy club in Las Vegas. Fox was joined on the show by such famed comedians as Tim Allen and Jeff Foxworthy.

In early March, announced through YouTube: "My name is John Fox, and I'm dying. I have stage four colon cancer, and there's not a stage five…The doctors said I got two weeks to two months to live."

"He was a cantankerous old fart," recalled comedian Tammy Pescatelli, who visited him in hospice a several weeks ago.

"I remembered him from the Rodney Dangerfield specials when I was a kid and then was thrilled to work with him a number of times over the years. He was gruff and jaded, but had the heart of a teddy bear. So many comics of my generation were inspired by him."

During his final few months, Fox was physically weak, subsisting mainly on ice chips and morphine to ease his pain. Knowing that his end was near, he founded the John Fox Memorial Comedians Cancer Fund, aimed at giving financial aid to comedians so that they can get such cancer screening tests as colonoscopies, pap smears and mammograms.

He himself had little chance to fight his late-stage cancer, he explained, because wasn't checked up when the cancer was more treatable.

Donations to the fund can be made at www.johnfoxmemorialfund.org/index.html.

http://forum.bcdb.com/forum/He-Man_w...ancer_P118984/

AND

http://www.laughspin.com/2012/05/31/...er-dies-at-55/

[MegaGearMax]

RIP, John.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

I believe John wrote for the episodes that were story-edited by Jack Mendelsohn and Francis Moss. Hence we never met. I wish we had. Sounds like he was a great guy.

R.I.P.

[Angel-T]

Thanks for your contribution to the MOTU brand. RIP.

[GeologyMule]

He did a few other things other than NA, but I went ahead and moved this to the NA Forum.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

He did a few other things other than NA, but I went ahead and moved this to the NA Forum.

A good and appropriate move, imo. I would think that John -- on whatever plain of existence he presently occupies -- is pleased by this.

[He-Dad]

A very gifted comedian. I had to go back and watch some more of his stand up on you tube after hearing the news. RIP John.

[Heeeere's Olesker!]

n

A very gifted comedian. I had to go back and watch some more of his stand up on you tube after hearing the news. RIP John.

John's untimely and early death is a tragic reminder of the importance of regular health check-ups as we get older. I realize that most orgers are much younger than me and probably feel they are invulnerable. But as one gets older it becomes increasingly important to get those regular check-ups. Prostate and colon check-ups for men should begin at fifty. (As many know on the board know, my Kim is an executive with the American Cancer Society and can passionately recite chapter-and-verse on cancer screening check-ups for women.) A colonoscopy is certainly not a fun procedure -- I can tell you that because I just completed the procedure a few months ago. But knowing that you're fine -- as I am -- and knowing you won't need to have it done again for another ten years makes it worth the temporary discomfort.

Please, everyone watch your health. The old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is so true and so many potentially fatal diseases can be successfully treated if detected and caught early. Stay healthy, everyone.

[Chroniklor]

Sad news. RIP, sir.

[sportsandstuff777]

Sorry to hear this 55 is young still. RIP I Hope he is in a better place.

[Mista Jonz]

I'll miss you dude. You worked on one of my favorite cartoons ever...ever.