STAND-UP legend James Gregory has died aged 78.<\/p>\n
The comedian, who called himself \u201cthe funniest man in America\u201d, had suffered \u201ccardiac complications\u201d.<\/p>\n
Confirming his death on May 9, James\u2019 family said he \u201cbrought laughter and joy to countless lives\u201d.<\/p>\n
They said: \u201cToday, with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of the Funniest Man in America, comedian James Gregory.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe brought laughter and joy to countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy and those who loved him.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames\u2019 three nieces who referred to him as \u2018Uncle Bubba,\u2019 Martha Anne, Mary Jane, and Candie, along with their families, were instrumental in caring for him through his last days and weeks.<\/p>\n
Born in 1946 in his parents\u2019 kitchen in the town of Lithonia, Georgia, James started work aged 11 in the family grocery shop.<\/p>\n
He went on to be a postman and joined the US Marines aged 18 \u2013 but was medically discharged weeks later.<\/p>\n
After an 18 year career in sales he got his break into comedy aged 36 after signing up to a local stand-up night in Atlanta, Georgia.<\/p>\n
He quickly rose through the ranks to establish himself as one of the southeast USA\u2019s most adored comedians.<\/p>\n
His career spanned 41-years, during which he toured the world performing for US troops on air craft carriers and at military hospitals.<\/p>\n
James\u2019s autobiography, A Bushel of Beans and a Peck of Tomatoes: The Life and Times of \u201cThe Funniest Man in America\u201d, will be published in November.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STAND-UP legend James Gregory has died aged 78. The comedian, who called himself \u201cthe funniest man in America\u201d, had suffered \u201ccardiac complications\u201d. Confirming his death on May… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance"],"yoast_head":"\n