My unique friend Dave Lerman vanished from Facebook in mid-October. I knew he was having numerous health problems, and had been depressed since he lost his mom a few years ago, with whom he was very close. He told me a few years ago that he felt he was going to die within 5 years, and I assured him that this didn't have to be true. However, as saw his condition deteriorate, I did wonder how long it would be until I had to write a post like this. I attempted to verify his death when he was missing from Facebook for a few weeks, but came up with nothing. Tonight I tried again, and came back with the unfortunate bad news when checking the county death records. Dave passed away on November 21, at the age of just 55.
Dave was a very interesting guy. I got to know him about 12 years ago, but it turned out I had seen and heard him on TV and radio for decades. A self-described "showman", Dave loved performing. He had an usual comedy act with Doug Bady, who stood just 30 inches tall and suffered from muscular dystrophy. The pathetic-looking Bady would shock people with his sharp wit and foul mouth, while Lerman played the straight man. These two jokers ended up as frequent guests on Howard Stern, Wally George, and toured for years with Sam Kinison. They were even stars in an independent film called "Starbaby", which was once on YouTube, but appears to be gone now.
After Bady's unfortunate death from his disease in 1996, Lerman reinvented his career, appearing all over daytime television reality, court, and game shows. It was from Dave that I learned that nothing you see on television is real -- even what is purported to be "reality". Dave even appeared on news broadcasts, standing in for people who had experiences they wanted to share, but didn't feel comfortable on camera.
Dave's Facebook is full of pictures of him and Doug Bady with A-list 1980s celebrities.
Unfortunately, three deaths shook Dave's life and career. Sam Kinison's car accident death was the first, as this put an end to Lerman and Bady's comedy tours with him. Four years later, Bady's death severed their unique comedy team, and with the "gimmick" part of their act gone, Dave had to start anew. Dave was also thrown into depression from Bady's death, as Doug was also his best friend, and not simply a comedy partner. And a few years ago, Dave's mother passed away in her late 80s. Dave kindly took his very elderly mom around the country for "bucket list" activities she always wanted to do but never did, and even arranged for her to meet her favorite actor, Kiefer Sutherland.
Anyone who knew Dave would describe him as a memorable character, and a guy who always brought humor and performance to even the most mundane of situations.
Unfortunately there was no official obituary for Dave, as he had only one living family member left, with whom he was estranged. Therefore, I hope this can serve as Dave's obituary, as I know a lot of you here knew him -- or at least knew of him.
If you'd like to see some of Dave's antics on TV, simply enter the name "Dave Lerman" on YouTube, and a lot of it will come up.
RIP my friend.
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