Comedians pay heartfelt tribute to Ian Cognito after the anarchic stand-up dies on stage

Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of comedian Ian Cognito, who died on stage during a gig on Thursday night.

The anarchic cult comic was performing at the Lone Wolf Comedy Club night at the Atic bar in Bicester when he fell ill and took a seat. Some members of the audience reportedly thought that it was part of the act but paramedics were called to the venue and he was pronounced dead.

There were many heartfelt and sometimes very funny tributes paid to him on Twitter, of which these are just a few.

1.

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 god damn funny he was.

— Jimmy Carr (@jimmycarr) April 12, 2019

2.

I’d heard so many stories before I met him. I got to a gig & the promoter said “Ian’s here & is in the dressing room”. I didn’t know which Ian he meant, opened the door & a man was pissing in the sink and smiling at me. I remember thinking to myself “I think this is Ian Cognito”

— James Acaster (@JamesAcaster) April 12, 2019

3.

https://twitter.com/RufusHound/status/1116653404632354816

4.

https://twitter.com/NickMotown/status/1116663556278247425

5.

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.

— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) April 12, 2019

6.

I am so very sad that comedy has lost one of its most visceral voices, Ian Cognito. He was the King Lear of our circuit. When he was good, he was very very good. When he was bad, he was trying to piss out of the passenger side window on the M5. RIPCogs

— John Robins (@nomadicrevery) April 12, 2019

7.

Aw Ian Cognito has died. He was a brilliant fearless comedian, hugely admired by his fellow comics. I hope he knew that. RIP Ian

— Arthur Smith (@ArfurSmith) April 12, 2019

8.

Ian Cognito – you were a great performer, thank you and goodnight! You often proved that people love the truth especially if they don't have to say it!

— Milton Jones (@themiltonjones) April 12, 2019

9.

In shock at the news of Ian Cognito's sudden passing. He was always kind to me when I started out, and brilliant and provocative and entirely original onstage. What a loss.

— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) April 12, 2019

10.

You have to feel sorry for the next comic who dies, because nobody ever wanted to follow Ian Cognito.

— Gary Delaney (@GaryDelaney) April 12, 2019

11.

Damn, Ian Cognito has died. He headlined the first London stand up night I ever went to. Ladbroke Grove, early 90s. Think @mrmichaelsmiley was MC? IC was hilarious, threatening and utterly live. That set had a huge effect on 17 year old me. Thanks, Ian Cognito.

— rufus jones (@rufusjones1) April 12, 2019

12.

Sad to hear about Ian Cognito. I hung with him a good few times in the past, and he was always fascinating and hilarious company. RIP Cogs

— Katy Brand (@KatyFBrand) April 12, 2019

13.

"I spend so much money on things I don't need…"
[points to the guitar he's been wearing throughout the entire gig]
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THIS IS!"

RIP Ian Cognito

— Dan Thomas (@danthomascomedy) April 12, 2019

14.

Fucking hell, Ian Cognito, an absolute firecracker of a man, he once stayed over at mine and when we woke up in the morning he was gone. It was a second floor flat and the front door was deadbolted. I asked him how he said he had no recollection. Sleep well friend xx #RIP

— Bethany Black Acceptance Month (@BeffernieBlack) April 12, 2019

15.

Ian Cognito has passes away. Gigged with him when i first started out and he was always so much fun, had his own mythology on the circuit his exploits where legendary. A true maverick. Hope he’s found somewhere to hang his coat in heaven.

— Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) April 12, 2019

16.

Really sad to hear about the death of Ian Cognito. The thing that’s making me smile is that if Cogs was reading the obits, he’d be going

“Cunt”
“Hate him”
“Another Cunt”
“Oh, I’ve got a story about her”
“Cunt”
“That Cunt owes me money”
“Who the fuck is he?”
“Cunt”

— Christian Talbot (@TheTall_Bot) April 12, 2019

17.

Terrible news about Ian Cognito, a true force of nature on the UK comedy circuit. He scared the hell out of me and I liked that. He would walk on stage, hammer a nail into the wall, then take his coat off and hang it up. He made the room his. Bye bye, Ian xx

— Michael Legge (@michaellegge) April 12, 2019

18.

He’s gone. A photo I took of a friend of mine Ian Cognito. #iancognito #cognito pic.twitter.com/dWml7I8lCx

— Craig Smith Jones (@Craigjamesmith) April 12, 2019

19.

“The Guardian called me ‘dangerously explosive’ – no fucker turned up to the Belfast gig”

RIP Ian Cognito

— Danny Sutcliffe (@dannysutcliffes) April 12, 2019

20.

Rest in peace, Ian Cognito. I did so many gigs with him when I lived in Cardiff. He was blistering. A huge, huge talent, who will be missed. I can honestly say I have never met anyone like him.

— Elis James (@elisjames) April 12, 2019

21.

Ian Cognito dying makes me think of all the wonderful comedians in our community over these 20 years. I love you all. I mean that. Time goes by and we don’t gig together and i think that eventually we will…and then this happens.

— Shappi Khorsandi (@ShappiKhorsandi) April 12, 2019

22.

“Never trust a cult leader who smells of petrol” #IanCognito

— Bethany Black Acceptance Month (@BeffernieBlack) April 12, 2019

23.

https://twitter.com/dannywallace/status/1116747783254487042

24.

RIP Ian Cognito. Always absolutely lovely to me. A proper comedy legend.

— Jim Smallman (@jimsmallman) April 12, 2019

25.

Can't believe the news. Cogs was a true one off who stayed true to himself. Watching him terrify the people of Maidstone will forever be one of my all time favourite memories. RIP Ian Cognito. The pleasure was all ours.

— Rich Wilson (@IamRichWilson) April 12, 2019

26.

In heaven they’ve already banned Ian Cognito for hammering a nail into a picture of Jesus and hanging his coat on it.

— Ignacio Lopez (@comedylopez) April 12, 2019