Bill Hicks

For the American football coach, see Bill Hicks (American football). For the Australian rules footballer, see Bill Hicks (footballer).

Bill Hicks
Hicks at the Laff Stop in 1991
Birth nameWilliam Melvin Hicks
Born(1961-12-16)December 16, 1961
Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 1994(1994-02-26) (aged 32)[1] [2]
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • television
  • music
Years active1978–1994
Genres
Subject(s)
Signature
Websitebillhicks.com

William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994)[1][2] was an American stand-up comedian and satirist. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—was controversial and often steeped in dark comedy.

At the age of 16, Hicks began performing at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s, he toured the U.S. extensively and made a number of high-profile television appearances, but he amassed a significant fan base in the UK, filling large venues during his 1991 tour.[3] He also achieved some recognition as a guitarist and songwriter.

Hicks died of pancreatic cancer on February 26, 1994, at the age of 32. In subsequent years, his work gained significant acclaim in creative circles—particularly after a series of posthumous album releases—and he developed a substantial cult following. In 2007, he was number six on Channel 4's list of the "100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics",[4] and rose to No. 4 on the 2010 list.[5] In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him number 13 on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Biography: Bill Hicks – American stand-up comedian". Britannica.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Bill Hicks (1961–1994)". EncyclopediaofArkansas.net. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bill Hicks Personal Life and Career". Bestcomedyonline.net. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  4. ^ The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups 2007. British Comedy Guide, retrieved February 2, 2016.
  5. ^ The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups 2010. British Comedy Guide, retrieved February 2, 2016.
  6. ^ The 50 Best Stand-up Comics of All Time Archived December 11, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Rollingstone.com, retrieved February 15, 2017.