Diane Ford was a stand-up comedian known for her HBO comedy specials and for appearances on such shows as “An Evening at the Improv.”
- Died: April 30, 2024 (Who else died on April 30?)
- Details of death: Died in Sarasota, Florida of cancer at the age of 68.
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Diane Ford’s legacy
Born in rural Minnesota, Ford enjoyed a sunny childhood until both of her parents were killed in a car accident when she was 14 years old. With no plans made for her and her siblings’ care, she bounced from relatives to foster care to a boarding school. Despite her struggles, Ford completed high school and found her way to a job in sales for a chicken company. But she was unfulfilled until she discovered comedy.
Ford began doing comedy in the mid-1970s and worked her way up through comedy clubs in Los Angeles and beyond. Her TV debut came with the 1988 HBO special “Women of the Night II” alongside fellow comedians like Joy Behar and Andrea Martin. She also performed in the 1990 HBO special “Command Performance” and appeared in two episodes of the cable network’s “One Night Stand.”
Ford was in several TV episodes of “An Evening at the Improv” and, in 1991, was a panelist on “Match Game.” She also wrote a 1994 episode of the Tim Allen sitcom, “Home Improvement.”
Notable quote
“I was gaining confidence from comedy. I was able to face my parents’ death through jokes.” — from a 1991 interview for the Los Angeles Times
Tributes to Diane Ford
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
