Born Name:  Barry Francis Crimmins

Born Date:  July 3, 1953

Born Place:  Kingston, New York

Died Date:  February 28, 2018

Died Place:  Syracuse, New York

Occupations:  Political satirist, comedian, activist

Brief Biography:  Barry Francis Crimmins was often referred to as a "comedian's comedian," he was a central figure in the 1980s Boston comedy scene and a dedicated advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Early Life and Comedy Career:
Crimmins moved to Skaneateles as a child. He began his stand-up career in the early 1970s and eventually moved to Boston, where he co-founded the legendary Ding Ho Comedy Club in 1979 and Stitches in the 1980s.
Mentorship: Crimmins was instrumental in launching the careers of numerous comedians, including Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, and Bobcat Goldthwait.
Style: His comedy was marked by a sharp, caustic wit directed at political and social injustice.

Activism and Advocacy:
In 1992, during a performance at Stitches, Crimmins publicly revealed that he was a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. This moment shifted his life's work toward advocacy:
Online Crusade: In the 1990s, he led a crusade against child pornography on the burgeoning internet, specifically targeting AOL chat rooms.
Congressional Testimony: His expertise led him to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1995, pressuring internet service providers to adopt zero-tolerance policies.
Honors: He received several awards for his activism, including the Peace Leadership Award and the Courage of Conscience Award presented by Howard Zinn.

Media and Later Years:
Crimmins’s life and work were the subject of the critically acclaimed 2015 documentary Call Me Lucky, directed by his lifelong friend Bobcat Goldthwait.
Publications: He authored a book of essays titled Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal (2004) and was a frequent contributor to the Boston Phoenix.
Final Special: In 2016, he released his first hour-long stand-up special, Whatever Threatens You, produced by Louis C.K..