Comedian Greg Giraldo Dead of Drug Overdose

Stand-up comedian Greg Giraldo passed away yesterday after overdosing on drugs. The precise cause of death is still unclear, but Giraldo was found unconscious in a hotel room in New Brunswick, NJ on Saturday evening. He was due to perform that night at a local club.

Giraldo is best known for his turn as a judge on Last Comic Standing and regular appearances on Comedy Central. He earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard before deciding to become a comedian. His brand of comedy was sharp and socially relevant but it also had a a dark side. He frequently referenced bouts of heavy drinking in his stand-up act, but recently spoke of sobering up in interviews— though he admitted occasional slip-ups.

The Bronx, NY native, who's parents hailed from colombia and Spain, was just 44 years old when he passed.