Writer and Humorist David Rakoff Dead at 47

The literary world is mourning the loss of writer and humorist David Rakoff, who has died of cancer at 47. 

Rakoff, a New York City stalwart, amassed an impressive body of work throughout his writing career and also made forays into radio, theater, television, and film. 

Most notably Rakoff was a regular contributor on NPR’s This American Life, as a result of a friendship with writer David Sedaris and NPR’s Ira Glass early in his career. He was also acclaimed for his comical autobiographical essay collections Fraud and Don’t Get Too Comfortable. 

Not surprisingly, Rakoff used his dark and incisive sense of humor to create a candid and genuine approach toward the illness that eventually ended his life.