Comedian Perry Kurtz has died at age 73 after being hit by a car Thursday night.
Kurtz, who had appeared on America’s Got Talent and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, was traveling between concerts when he was killed, his daughter Zelda Valesquez confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post.
TMZ They have confirmed that Kurtz died in an incident in Tarzana, LA, after a collision around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.
A gray Honda Civic struck and killed a pedestrian. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Police arrested an 18-year-old suspect, named Naithon James, on suspicion of hit-and-run causing death, according to fox.
Comedian Perry Kurtz has died at age 73 after being hit by a car in a hit-and-run crash Thursday night.
![Perry Kurtz dead at 73: America's Got Talent comedian dies after being hit by car in hit-and-run 7 The star is pictured with James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2018.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723835463_739_Perry-Kurtz-dead-at-73-Americas-Got-Talent-comedian-dies.jpg.webp)
The star is pictured with James Corden on The Late Late Show in 2018.
Los Angeles Police Department officials said Kurtz was crossing the street at Ventura Boulevard and Melvin Avenue when he was struck by a car driven by the teen. When emergency responders arrived, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kurtz was identified as the victim on Friday morning.
James was arrested after a witness contacted authorities an hour after the crash because he saw the suspect’s vehicle “parked oddly with a cracked windshield.”
The vehicle matched the description of the car captured on security cameras when it hit Kurtz.
Kurtz appeared on season 8 of America’s Got Talent in 2006, where he rapped about the judges, but received three nods.
In 2018 she appeared on James Corden’s The Late Late Show, where she surprised the audience by performing the
Kurtz began his career in the 1970s with performances in comedy clubs in Los Angeles and New York.
He maintained a close friendship with Robin Williams, for whom he opened before the star’s death in 2014.
![Perry Kurtz dead at 73: America's Got Talent comedian dies after being hit by car in hit-and-run 9 Kurtz is pictured with Ice House booker Jay London and Jan Smith in 2012](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723835467_481_Perry-Kurtz-dead-at-73-Americas-Got-Talent-comedian-dies.jpg.webp)
Kurtz is pictured with Ice House booker Jay London and Jan Smith in 2012
![Perry Kurtz dead at 73: America's Got Talent comedian dies after being hit by car in hit-and-run 11 Kurtz, pictured with Dana Carvey, was travelling between gigs when he was killed, his daughter Zelda Valesquez confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1723835471_808_Perry-Kurtz-dead-at-73-Americas-Got-Talent-comedian-dies.jpg.webp)
Kurtz, pictured with Dana Carvey, was travelling between gigs when he was killed, his daughter Zelda Valesquez confirmed in a heartbreaking social media post.