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Image caption Stand-up comedian Ian Cognito was performing at a comedy club in Bicester when he fell ailment on-stage
Veteran stand-up comedian Ian Cognito has died on-stage during a performance.
The 60 -year-old comic sat down on a stool while breathing heavily, before falling silent for five minutes during his show on Thursday.
Compere Andrew Bird said the crowd at the The Atic bar in Bicester had thought it was a joke, and continued to laugh, unaware something was wrong.
South Central Ambulance Service corroborated Cognito was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Bird, who runs the Lone Wolf Comedy Club event at the venue, said Cognito had not been feeling well before the gig started, but insisted on going on-stage.
“He was like his old self, his voice was loud. I was thinking ‘he’s having such a good gig’, ” Mr Bird said.
Mr Bird said Cognito had even joked about his health during his set, telling the audience: “Imagine if I died in front of you lot here.”
It was Mr Bird who first went on-stage to check if his fellow comedian was ok.
“Everyone in the crowd, me included, thought he was joking, ” he said.
“Even when I walked on-stage and touched his arm I was expecting him to say ‘boo’.”
‘Proper comic’
Once it became clear something was wrong, two off-duty A& E nurses and a police officer began chest compressings and an ambulance was called.
Audience member John Ostojak said: “Only 10 minutes before he sat down he joked about having a stroke.
“He said, ‘imagine having a stroke and waking up speaking Welsh’.”
Mr Ostojak said: “We came out feeling really sick, we just sat there for five minutes watching him, laughing at him.”
Mr Bird said dying on stage would have been the way the veteran comic “would have wanted to go”, “except he’d want more money and a bigger venue”.
Cognito, whose real name was Paul Barbieri, was born in London in 1958, and had been performing since the mid-1 980 s.
Fellow comedians have paid tribute, describing it as a “proper comic” and praising his support for up-and-coming acts.
Eight Out Of Ten Cats presenter Jimmy Carr paid tribute to Cognito, saying: “I’ll never forget his kindness when I started out…”
Veteran stand-up comedian Ian Cognito has died on-stage – literally. The audience thought it was part of the act. Died with his boots on. That’s commitment to comedy. I’ll never forget his kindness when I started out& how deity damn funny he was.
Oh bless that Ian Cognito, who expired in his natural home last night, on stage. He was a difficult awkward hilarious troubled brilliant sort; a proper comic.
Such a sad shock. Ian Cognito has died. One of the people who made this job brilliant from the very beginning has gone. I got so excited to be on bills with him and watch him work and have a beer after. And those eyes! Those beautiful eyes. Much love to all friends and family xx
Mitch Benn, known for his appearances on The Now Show, said he had known Cognito for 25 years and when he saw him last month he “looked better than I’d seen him in years”.
Birmingham’s Glee Club comedy venue also paid tribute.
We’re all very sad to hear of the passing of the legendary Ian Cognito. He was original, always hilarious, sometimes offensive and the true definition of’ one of a kind ‘. R.I.P Cogs x pic.twitter.com/ KxV7hyTt 6b
Image caption Stand-up comedian Ian Cognito was performing at a comedy club in Bicester when he fell ailment on-stage 