James Franklin Farrell

James Franklin Farrell, age 45, of Oak Park, formerly of Chicago, passed away on February 2, 2021; devoted son of the late James and Linda Farrell; loving brother of Michele (Tom) Visosky, Andrea Farrell, Kirstin (Kevin) Urland, and Renee (Rich) Remington; and caring uncle of five nieces and nephews. James graduated from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in 1998. Although James worked full-time in the restaurant management business, his greatest passion was performing. He studied long form improv at both at Second City and the iO in Chicago. James performed with The Free Associates in Chicago, with the Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest and as a founding ensemble member of Comedy Accident in Chicago. Also, he often performed at open mic stand-up comedy events at Chicagoland venues including Door No.3, Hound Dog Comedy @ 240 Lounge, and Cigar & Stripes BBQ Lounge, in addition to appearing as a guest entertainer on various comedy podcasts. While attracted to playing humorously dark and very flawed human beings, his favorite characters all shared the common traits of being fiendishly clever, wickedly sarcastic (if sometimes just a bit whiny. . .) and expressing profound respect for the truly absurd. His comedic timing and rapid fire wit never failed to make all of us laugh. A kind, hard-working, articulate and valued soul, he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memorial to either the Chicago Theatre Workers Relief Fund @ https://chicagoplays.com/donate/ or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation @ https://www.jdrf.org/donate